Arizona Principal Suspended for Sarcastic Letter

"The math we do is really easy.

If your child is either too lazy or too stupid

to finish it in class, I'm sending it home

so that you can work with them and judge for yourself

whether it is laziness or idiocy that inhibits your child's progress."

--Litchfield Elementary School principal Ron Sterr

This from Fox News:

An Arizona school principal who penned a sarcastic letter that chided parents for children who were either "too lazy or too stupid" to complete their assignments in class was suspended after the missive was mistakenly sent home...

Ron Sterr has called each parent individually to apologize and take responsibility, the Litchfield school district said.

The letter sent home Jan. 26 with second graders also contained passages about students with peanut allergies and emotional problems stemming from puppy deaths.

Sterr explained that the letter was a "joke" written in response to comments made by "an individual" and was intended to mock those views. A teacher sent it home.

Sterr told the Associated Press that nothing in the letter represents his views toward children.

"I have always loved the kids, and I believe they know it. For anyone to assume
that I have those kinds of views is uninformed."

But Superintendent Dr. Julianne Lein, who one assumes is informed, said the district apologizes for the incident and removed Sterr from Litchfield Elementary as he faces demotion and possible termination.

Hat tip to James Smith.

Fort Bend principal resigns in Bachelor backlash

She approved teacher's taking time off

to appear on the TV show

The principal disciplined after one of her teachers appeared on the television show The Bachelor has resigned her position.

Tammie Carpenter sent a letter of resignation to Fort Bend Independent School District officials saying she was stepping down effective June 29.

Two parents expressed displeasure two weeks ago about Alchalabi's absence, especially since it happened while students were preparing for the state-mandated TAKS tests.

Fort Bend Independent School District spokeswoman Mary Ann Simpson said district officials reviewed the matter involving the principal and took appropriate disciplinary action. Simpson said the district cannot reveal what type of action was taken. However, Carpenter had publicly said she was being reassigned to another campus, parents said.

The decision had angered many parents who support Carpenter, saying she did nothing wrong in allowing Alchalabi to tape the show. School officials said 10 of the missed days were unpaid.

No action has been taken against Alchalabi, 23, a fourth-grade teacher at Colony Bend Elementary School, who has done well on the show.

This from the Houston Chronicle.

Crowd wants principal back

Supt. let her go; council can rehire her

This from the Cincinnati Enquirer:

A raucous crowd of about 300 students, teachers, parents and alumni at Monday's board meeting could not convince Campbell County Schools Superintendent Anthony Strong to give Ginger Webb her job back.

But she may get it back anyway.

Webb, in her third year as principal of Campbell County High, was informed Friday by Strong that her contract would not be renewed for the 2007-08 school year.

Nearly three dozen people addressed Strong and the school board Monday, all in favor of Webb. Nobody spoke in favor of Strong's decision. Many speakers received standing ovations, including eight members of the site-based council.

If Webb reapplies for the job after Strong posts it, the council can essentially overrule Strong and rehire her.

"I'm leaning heavily toward reapplying," Webb said after the meeting, saying she would make a definite decision in the next few days.

And though Holthaus' term ends after this school year, he said he's confident the new council will rehire her.

Campbell Co. principal fired...or demoted?

Ginger Webb, principal of Campbell County High School, has been released from her contract, effective June 30.


"I really don't understand why this has happened," Ginger Webb said. "He told me he felt it was the best decision in order to move the school forward, but the school has moved forward in every respect."


Superintendent Anthony Strong said he could not comment on personnel matters. Administrative contracts are one-year contracts and can be renewed each spring for the following school year.


Webb said in Strong's last year as principal, the overall Commonwealth Accountability Testing System index for the school was 73.8. In her first year, she said it went up to 74.7. Last year it jumped to 77.4.


"We've also had less teacher turnover and less discipline incidents," Webb said.


Several teachers, parents and students have voiced their displeasure through e-mails, phone calls and visits to Strong last week, and several are expected to speak out at today's 7 p.m. board meeting at the central office.

This from the Cincinnati Enquirer.



Note: Administrative tenure was eliminated with KERA and principals can be demoted easily, but they retain their tenure, and consequently their due process rights, as teachers. Demoting principals has become more common in recent years. Firings...not so much. Strong's reference to an "administrative contract" leads me to assume this is really a demotion.