Ex Principal Minerva Zanca, who was removed from the troubled and struggling Pan American International High School was charged by the U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara with a civil rights lawsuit of racial discrimination. The lawsuit claims "systematic harassing and demeaning of black teachers" at her school. The lawsuit also accused Superintendent Juan Mendez of protecting Ms. Zanca's actions and retaliating against an Assistant principal who refused to go after the teachers. Eventually, Minerva Zanca was removed, due to the school's poor academic performance and disappeared in the DOE. However, it is now known that Ms. Zanca was placed as a guidance counselor at a majority black school (83% black) in Brooklyn, the Fredrick Douglas Academy IV Secondary School.
Believe it or not, a Principal who was accused of racial discrimination against black teachers was quietly sent to a majority black school to work with black students. Only in the DOE would this be acceptable and reasonable. What were they thinking of at Tweed? To read about other posts about Minerva Zanca read them Here and Here.
Unfortunately, this is not an isolated case. Remember, the Robert Wagner Principal, Annie Schmutz Seifullah, who was charged with sexual liaisons at the school? She was quietly sent to Automotive high school to teach a mostly male population until some of her students blew the whistle who then fled the classroom and back into DOE Central. Then there was the infamous James Brown who was convicted by a jury of his peers to sexual harassment and other charges against a female subordinate that cost the Long Island school district over one million dollars and ended up .as Principal of Flushing High School shortly after Chancellor Dennis Walcott claimed "zero tolerance" for sexual misconduct allegations against teachers. After a year as Principal, he was removed and disappeared into DOE Central as well. Finally, let's not forget some of the Principals who are still running their schools despite numerous allegations against them Here. Here, and Here.
The bottom line is that there is a "double standard" when disciplining teachers and principals and under the DOE, its simply business as usual.
How about the lesbian AP, Pelly Papoutsis, from Bryant high school who, according to the female student she had relations with, had an ongoing relationship with her her senior year. Pelly Papoutsis was was removed only to be reinstated after a bogus SCI investigation. Now she's around children again. Great message for the children and parents of that school. DOE wake up and do the minimum of removing 'alleged' predator principals/assistant principals. Teachers get dismissed...why not administrators?!
ReplyDeleteChaz, you mention James Brown? Do you know where HE is now? Mr. Brown is a deputy superintendent for New Visions. Yes, Deputy Superintendent Brown is a New Visions warrior. how bout New Visions Chaz?
ReplyDeleteI was there under her rule. Both she and the assistant principal were literally the evil twins of injustice. So many good teachers were tormented, driven away and fired for no reason. Her AP is now under fire for ruining a school in Manhattan.
ReplyDeleteDo not plan to work in the DOE for 25-30 years if you are just starting out. I think at most you might get away with five years or so before they fire you using the Danielson's disaster rubric. Teaching is soon to be a temp job for 22 year olds, no longer a viable career.
I think you have the Wagner info wrong. The Wagner principal is male and have had male principal for years. What's the name?
ReplyDeleteWhy is it that she was "placed" as a guidance counselor. WHy is she not in the ATR pool rotating around like the rest of the excessed guidance counselors??
ReplyDeleteNot to veer away from our education comment section but related with regards to the supreme court decision to block shady Obamas amnesty for illegal immigrants there is one really, really interesting point to note. The supreme court ruled 4-4 deadlock similar to the deadlock when the court ruled 4-4 in the case of paying union dues. The interesting thing in the illegal immigrants ruling is that amazing enough, 4 justices voted for illegal immigrants to be able to break the law and stay backing the executive order from obama. How is it that the supreme court was tied 4-4?? It clearly should have been 8-0!!!! THe law in this case put forth to the supreme court is as clear as a bell!!! Yet, 4 justices voted to "break" the law and keep these illegals here. Just another example of how corrupt of a society we actually are living in where even the supreme court is making decisions based on politics. So sad and really scary for us educators as the validity of law basically means nothing these days.
ReplyDeleteChaz I have a question for you or anyone else on your blog that can answer my question and the question is wny does a schools UFT rep not get immunization from the schools principal. How is it that a principal gets to rate a UFT rep?? This clearly takes away the power of the UFT rep to honestly point out the problems in the school and the way it is run!!! By giving UFT reps immunity this would clarify any issues which are currently running rampant in our schools today such as teaching without licences, teaching out of license, treating atrs like shit, squishing 5-6 people into one office talking over each other, gym classes with over 100 kids per class and on and on. WIth a UFT who is protected from the grim douche power we have given principals would that not provide for cleaner, safer more professional run schools??
ReplyDeleteDo not accept any assignments from Richmond Hill H.S. Administrators will try to mess up your career, if you are veteran teacher.
ReplyDelete