School Administration Support (work, school district, single)

[CESpeed]

I've almost decided to teach when I come to Arkansas, but I have a couple of questions: How is school adminstration support? Are the prinicpals and school districts supportive of teachers? Do parents try to work with teachers? (I realize that there will be a parent who works and can't participate or the deadbeats who don't care, but I'm talking about for the most part.)

Thanks!

[rackensack]

In the areas you've mentioned working in, it's tough. It'd be unfair to generalize about the schools without knowing a lot more than I do about any of them, as there's a lot variation from district to district, school to school, and even within a given school. That said, impoverished rural areas are going to have more than their share of mediocre to poor administrators and teachers, including many who began their careers enthusiastically determined to make a difference but who have been ground down by circumstances that made any progress slow and halting and provided plenty of setbacks. The parents will likewise be a mixed bag, but I wouldn't be expecting uniform support -- lots of single parents, lots of families with very limited resources (and in many cases, limited educations themselves).

[vrussell]

Excellent post rackensack - well stated and very true!

[CESpeed]

I'm thinking the Delta Region.