Interview with Metropolitan Preparatory Academy PARENT, Theda Zigomanis
Theda, a parent at Metropolitan Preparatory Academy, praises the school for nurturing individuality and encouraging respectful communication. She highlights the excellent teacher-student relationships, the diverse community at the school, and the approachable administration. She also values the inclusive environment which encourages students to pursue varied interests.
Highlights from the interview
What stands out to me as a parent about Metro Prep are the excellent teachers. My kids’ relationships with all of their teachers has been phenomenal. They really have enjoyed being around them. I am really, really grateful for the amazing teachers that they've had at Metro Prep. They've developed a real respect and understanding for people that are in the profession of teaching, because of their experience at Metro Prep.
The review process showed that they were more interested in learning about our children as individuals, rather than wanting to see whether they fit into a mold that they predetermined was necessary to attend that school. And that was very important for us, that the individual and what they had to bring was the focus, and not whether they fit the mold for that particular school. The school values a kind of education that is for the individual, not having to fit in a particular mold.
It’s a safe environment to express your opinions and your own values, and encourages respect of others' values and opinions that may be different from yours. That is something that is very impressive at Metro Prep.
What surprised me most about the school was the opportunity to meet students from all around the world, actually. My kids have met people from different parts of the world. They've gone to school with them. They've built relationships with them. They continue to build relationships with them. And that was one of the most surprising things about Metro Prep.
My children have very different interests and they have both been able to pursue their interests–that's what's fantastic about Metro Prep. My son was able to take part in all the sports that the school offered, and be part of many teams, and yet keep a very, very high academic average. My daughter, very artistically inclined, was part of the Smith program, while still loving math and science, and excelling at those.
I found the administration and the teachers very accessible at Metro Prep. They take the time to have conversations with each parent, whether with any concerns or whether just to check in to say hello. Anytime you need to get in contact with them, you could do it by email, by giving a call. Administration as well, they are all very accessible, and easy to talk to.
Three things other parents should know about Metro Prep are: one, the teachers are phenomenal. Two, It's a small private school, so it offers a really intimate environment for your children to learn as well. And, three, the central location. It's located at a very convenient spot.
The secret to finding the best school for your child is to really listen to your child, and making sure that you give them an environment, choose a school with an environment that will allow them to be who they really are in a safe place.
