SOME ADVICE FOR TEACHERS: RESIST BULLIES AND KNOW YOUR RIGHTS (REMINDER)

CONTRIBUTOR ADVICE:

Teachers, Prepare yourself for the coming school year by knowing the law

Welcome back to the 2017-2018 school year.  FWISD continues to be the model for dysfunctional government that, unfortunately, seems to be the “new normal” for our country.

But don’t give up.  Educating and advocating for the education of children is still the noblest of efforts and there are federal protections still in place that you need to be aware of, especially if you encounter the kind of bully principals and administrators that CIAFWISD has exposed over the years.  So, here’s some advice for gathering documentation and “keeping your head while others lose theirs”.

1)     Know that two federal laws protect you and your students- The 1964 Civil Rights Act signed by President Lyndon Baines Johnson, ensures equal employment opportunity and equal educational opportunity rights for people based on race, national origin, age, color , religion, sex, disability, and retaliation.  Employment law protects you as an employee and educational law protects your students and their parents from being treated differently in regards to one or more of those bases.  Retaliation comes into play after you have reported a possible violation (as long as your report is sincere and well-intentioned; you don’t even have to prove the discrimination) to a law enforcement agency (i.e. Dept. of Ed., Dept. of Justice, FBI, etc.).  Reporting to FWISD’s Equity and Excellence, Human Capital Management, and/or Office of Professional Conduct is counter-productive and dangerous.

2)     YOU CAN RECORD MEETINGS WITH YOUR SUPERVISOR/PRINCIPAL.  But you’d be stupid to do it openly!  Texas law allows for anyone who is party to a conversation to record that conversation.  Don’t confuse that with eavesdropping where an outside party illegally records two other peoples’ conversation (in other words, it’s illegal to “bug” your principal’s office; but you can record any conference that he/she has with you, because you are a party in that conversation.

3)     Be wary of teacher associations that do not offer client/lawyer privilege  From your first conversation with an association, talking to a staff member, who is not an attorney, DOES NOT give you client/lawyer privilege.  Be aware that one of the largest teacher associations in Fort Worth uses staff members to get all of your information.  This is a for-profit association that is  allowed to distribute their weekly information using FWISD paid employees duties.  You have to wonder what’s the payback for free labor and advertising?

4)     Okay, so you don’t feel comfortable recording your principal, then document, document, document  Be sure that after a meeting where you feel that your rights were being violated or you are being ordered to violate someone else’s rights (such as a student or their parent), take immediate notes and include names of who was in the meeting, time and day that it took place, what was asked of you and your response, and how you felt after the meeting.  If you feel compelled to do so, in as unthreatening a manner as possible, respond to your principal in an email that summarizes what you heard he or she was asking you to do.

5)     If you are physically touched or verbally threatened with harm call the police  Tell someone who you trust right after it happens--- while calling the police.  Once police show up, record your conversation with the officer and identify them by asking for their business card or write down their name and badge number.  Don’t play with this and don’t be afraid to call the police.

6)     If you are made to cry by your principal or a supervisor, immediately go tell a trusted co-worker  If they are trusted by you, they shouldn’t have a problem with you recording your conversation with them (but let them know, remember, you trust them and they trust you, so do not say something that can get them in trouble).  Remember, at this point, both of you have civil rights protection against retaliation.

7)     Don’t taunt your principal/supervisor with the law  The law is especially protective of victims who were “victimized”.  It becomes a little “greyer” when you are perceived as the bully.  So, know your rights but don’t go pushing them.  Believe me, there already are plenty of bully principals/supervisors in FWISD who think that they are demi-gods and come after their employees without provocation.

8)     The more that teachers know how to fight, the more that outside entities, such as the federal government, will have to respond.  With sheer volumes of complaints, hopefully the feds will intercede in FWISD. 

Via CIAFWISD, I can try to answer some questions that you might have.  Click into the comment section and send your question (CIAFWISD protects your email identity and you can post a different name) and I will do my best to answer.

TURMOIL IN ADMINISTRATION

We get tired of saying we told you so but we love to be right!!

Robert Ray resigned as principal of Maude Logan, for unknown reason, but from sources it appears that there is a big cultural divide of no support, discipline issues and so on. 

There are staff who have left, are leaving or will leave in the future from the academies like Mitchell Boulevard.  So recall that the process to lead the failing schools was very much publicized, getting the best person on the job, etc. etc.  

Then they turn around completely and hire Ray and other principals from within the district.  So the premise was never to hire anyone else who may have a different view or way of doing things because it would mean they would actually have to support them based on the plans handed to TEA.  

So to maintain control over it all, they chose differently and their boat is sinking.  We knew this would happen!

Then Scribner is having a few fights of his own within his administration.  He can't control them, which means the old guards are fighting for a position back into the decision making.  The likes of Sheri Breed and for sure a push from Washington to gain power.

Also the district has hired a consultant, Luz Martinez, unknown who she is supporting within the district but she is involved with engage 2 learn, an organization that goes in to offer training and support.  Wonder about that contract and when that happened.  She is also part of Mike Miles, former super of Dallas, company on consulting.

So, as Trump would say, Little Scribner's lunch has been eaten over and over by the dinosaurs!!

¡CHALE! SCRIBNER

What is chale?  Chale in some areas of Latin America is a slang term like dang, etc.  So Scribner in his infinite wisdom went to speak to the outsourced workers and use the term chale tamale when he said that it was rumor that they were losing their jobs to an outsourcing company.  Well the term is very demeaning and a talk down to the workers.  This is not what leadership is and he just wanted to add more insult to injury.  Cavazos used his mother as an example of someone who worked in auxiliary jobs to make it look like he cares, was your mother outsourced?

This is also how transportation has been outsourced to Durham bus services who can't fill positions.  It appears that the central admin is bloated with extra personnel when they have outsourced the jobs.  So where is the reduction?  You need directors and executives for all positions when another company is doing their job?

Scribner is touted as the hispanic super when he doesn't even use Paredes other than when he feels he needs to shout it.  You should be looking out for Cavazos and his lack of supervision with the custodial group who have been selling items for their own profit on the side.  It looks like a garage sale!

Scribner should also be looking out for the Ramos mafia who have to buy suits even for his own kids, pay for college and now buy his kids clothes on the backs of really needy students?

This administration has no shame which mirrors the current political system in Washington.

ACHIEVE 3000-NOT MEETING EXPECTATIONS

We ranted about the use of Achieve 3000 and the cost of it and now we are seeing no real results.  Sutherland posted how the admin can't give data that shows how students are performing and how they will do when it comes to STAAR.  We told you so!


Read for yourself!

ANOTHER DELAY FOR PALAZOLLO

The district represented by the expensive lawyers have yet again filed for an extension of 30 days.  They keep using their tactics to keep the truth from coming out.  Now the next date is November 13.  The reason the lawyers gave is that because they have unexpected medical leave from their attorneys they need time to get stuff together.

So after, how many years?  They can't get their stuff together and let the court decide.  They are surely afraid but no worries FWISD taxpayers have plenty of funds.

NUTRITION SERVICES DEALS

The Director of Nutrition Glenn Headlee is apparently receiving kickbacks for unnecessary equipment in the cafeterias.  It turns out that he has relatives and friends who own cafeteria equipment businesses.  He arrived at FWISD with baggage as having race issues with Latinos.

On top of that, we learned that UEA, who funds board member campaigns, got together with cavazos and the board to silence cafeteria workers and keep them from going to the last board meeting.  UEA loves to play both sides but in the end screws members to get what they want personally.  They have never stood up for an issue and fought it because they are not lawyers and have no means to go all the way.