Ep 035 | Your Child's Beginning Education at Collins Elementary School

Jan 23, 2018

Elementary school can be a scary time. Not just for kids who are going to school for the first time, but for parents as well, who worry about how their child will hold up on their own in school. What makes the process easier is having access to the best schools with the best teachers who know how to put your child in the best position to succeed in the long run. My guest today is Denise Pinney, principal of Collins Elementary in Pinole, as we continue our series on local Bay Area schools.

 

Getting Started

• 3 years at Collins Elementary, started teaching as a second career
• was a teach, then vice-principal in Pittsburgh School District before coming back

Why Teaching

• Would play library as a kid, always enjoyed school
• Knew at a young age would be a teacher

Margaret Collins- Pinole Historical Society 2011

• Collins family were Pinole natives
• Margaret was a teacher, principal and eventually super intendant
• Collins was the original school site
• Long time role in neighborhood and schools

Academics

• Bay Area ranking- in the middle
• Progressing, getting better
• Technology, tablets for every student
• Coding days for kindergartners

Problem Solving

• Common Core Standards
• Find the learning themselves
• Discover, analyze and create
• Different ways to get the same answer
• STEM: Science, Technology, Engineering and Math
• Focus on critical thinking
• Common core explanation

Parents

• Monthly events for parents
• Family fun nights
• Get parents involved, see how learning happens

Other Events

• Boo-hoo breakfast
• Meet and greet parents, very excited on first day of school
• Kindergarten is a full day

Technology and Students

• Monitor social media
• No cellphones
• Filters on Tablets and Youtube

Collins Involvement

• PTA very involved
• Fundraisers and activity days, writing contests
• Band for 5th and 6th grade

Typical Day

• School day starts at 8:30a
• Students handle announcements and the pledge
• All classes have an agenda
• Library, drama, art and PE classes
• Try to be present around students
• Have a “Teach in Charge” when off campus, no vice-principal

Curriculum

• Working with teachers
• District has curriculum guidelines, not a mandatory script
• Play off teacher styles

Reflection

• Hardest part of being principal
• Every day is the best part
• Overall lesson from teaching

Wrap up/ Information