Sousa Elementary School

I have had it with Sousa. I have given them many chances to help fix issues with how they schedule their online sessions with students and it was to no avail. I’m not the only one with complaints I have met with other parents and we share the same concerns.
Here are the issues we continue to have:
1. The 1st grade teachers are impatient with the students and the parents.
2. They do not hold live classes for every subject instead they hold reading and writing with little time for students to ask questions and understand. There are no accommodations for students with different learning needs.
3. The principal is the most unprofessional and weak leader I have ever met. She justifies the teachers lack of performance and lack of caring for the students.
The teachers need to quit they give teachers a bad name, so does the principal. This issue will be escalated.

I had high hopes for Sousa since we just bought our home nearby. I have had issues with the disrespectful way a 1st grade teacher speaks to my child and other children. This teacher has been with Sousa for years and I have connected with other parents that are experiencing the same issue. When I first brought it up she did not care.
The teachers are allowed to make negative learning environments. The principal is weak and supports this type of behavior. I have since found a better school with a principal that cares about the students and with a competent 1st grade teacher.

My son and I were really excited to go to this school considering it is across the street from our home.
He was being teased for playing with a little girl and after so many days, he defended himself saying to his friend “girls are dogs and dogs drink out of toilet bowls”
When I picked my son up from school he was crying, devastated, saying that he got written up. He told me what happened and what was said. We talked why he did it and why it wasn’t ok.
The teacher messaged me on class dojo explaining what happened and that my son was very honest with her immediately, she talked to him and she could tell he was genuinely sorry. That he chose to make a difference by writing an assignment on anti bullying,
I explained that he was sorry and the he said he wouldn’t do it again..and that was the end of the discussion.
I though it was over and dealt with until
I picked my son up the next day and he was devastated crying AGAIN.....Nobody there with him to explain why he’s so upset.
He told me that he had to stay in a room and eat his lunch while writing an assignment on what Sousa’s Expectations are from him, for using unkind words AND then had to sit on a bench for recess while everyone else got to play! That was his punishment for the rest of the week!
Mind you, nobody ever informed me of him getting this kind of treatment!! I thought it was dealt with the day before!
When I called the school to understand the situation both the principal secretary and principal were incredibly rude to me, pretty much called me a liar at one point.
The principal said things like “you must feel like you guys are higher and above everyone else to think he shouldn’t get this kind of punishment” (even tho my son was the only one punished in this “incident”) and
“if he was using kind words, he wouldn’t be in this situation” instead of trying to make the situation better and being on the same page. It was their way or find another school!
This school since then has deleted my reviews and won’t even reply back to my emails. I’ve never dealt with something like this before and wouldn’t wish it on anyone. The lack of respect is unreal. It was the first time he was ever in trouble! The punishment was too harsh for something so small.
I was understanding the first day but it is not ok to treat any child this way and/or any parent for that matter.
I have gotten plenty of advice from plenty of mothers and also see other ratings that state almost the same things to know my feelings are also justified and that this is not ok and they are perfectly fine with showing they DO NOT CARE! We no longer go to this school! Shame on Sousa Elementary School!!

Excellent school run by an amazing Principal , my son was extremely happy going here and excelled .

This is probably one of my favorite schools out there in Arizona. The teachers were pretty nice to me, and the community was very friendly. I had attended there since 2003 for 6 years, and this school was never problematic.

My child has been in Sousa since kindergarten. We started having issues with Sousa around 2nd grade. I have had many issues with staff including the Principal. Also, one of the 4th grade teachers seems to be a "teacher bully" and after doing research on "teacher bully" she fits the mold perfectly. She is claimed (by the principal) to be one of their best teachers but what I have found is she is the best at manipulating the system and make families lives miserable. I have asked for help in trying to figure out the issues with my child and have gotten no where. I've spoke with many parents about this school and have heard several horror stories that they have gone through as well. Several have removed their child or children from Sousa to find better schools. When you go to the school the teachers seem to have a gloomy look about them and don't seem happy. I feel I am now forced to make the choice to find a better school that will work with me and my family instead of making us dread each day. I do not feel my child is safe or protected from staff that are bullies and that feel the need to punish for normal child behaviors. If you are a parent and having issues with this school, you are not alone. Talk with other parents and you will find that out very easily. Good luck to all the families who are stuggling and hope you find this so you know you are not alone and your feelings are justified.