Fun article. That one social worker who "is looking forward to the challenge of learning Spanish" as a new member of the Windom Spanish Dual immersion school kind of sticks out. I'm thinking there has to be a qualified social worker somewhere who speaks Spanish. Why don't they have this job? Is there a seniority thing going on here? While this fellow is learning Spanish, don't the students and families get less service? If he can't learn (he's not 25), what happens then? Just seems like a weird situation. I'm sure that somebody will take a look at and make sure that a Spanish speaker has this job, if a Spanish speaker is to be found, regardless of seniority.

Look out Southwest! Washburn is coming to take the gold medal!

(In other words, Mrs. Cousins is an unusually excellent principal who knows exactly what needs to be done to help challenge students but also provide support for struggling students. I live half a block from Washburn and took a few classes there to complement my homeschooling, and I am exceptionally grateful for Mrs. Cousins' and Washburn's embrace for alternative education and addressing the individual needs of every student. Even 9th and 10th will get the IB Middle Years' Programme to offer a further challenge to younger students.)

Arrmatage Montessori Principal is Joan Franks.