Previous Dear Friends Letters: October 26, 2006, January 16, 2006 and November 28, 2005
John F. Kennedy High School was in the news AGAIN!
The New York Teacher placed Ms. Maria Colon, former UFT Chapter Leader of John F. Kennedy High School on their front page. The January 18, 2007 article titled Whistle-Blower Exhonerated describes how Ms. Colon and the union defeated the attempts of school principal Anthony Rotunno and the Department of Education to fire her.
In November, 2006, The New York Times reports that teachers at a Staten Island High School have come forward to complain of grade tampering on the Regents exams, the article cites John F. Kennedy High School in May 2005 as a previous incident in which "school administrators had exceeded their authority by improperly changing 16 student grades to passing from failing on the English Regents exam that January."
This May, the New York Times wrote about administrative cheating in 'Cheapening the Cap and Gown'. (Riverdale Press, Newsday and the New York Times had written on the issue as well). Later that week, the Riverdale Press wrote 'Crackdown at Kennedy - School is cited as one of the city's most violent'.
Ms. Maria Colón (former JFK HS teacher's union leader and social studies teacher) spoke out on behalf of whistleblower protection legislation at the City Coucil hearings on March 2, 2006. Her testimony described her harrassment, the destruction of the bi-lingual program and her job re-assignment after she organized a protest of the JFK HS Spring 2005 English Regent's Exam test score changes. The United Federation of Teachers' New York Teacher covered the story. In it, guidance counselors Francis Strutt and Susan Werner are mentioned. These counselors, as well as two others were excessed by the JFK HS administration once the administration-lead grade change irregularies became known. These staff excessings prompted a student riot at the school which was reported in the Daily News, New York Post and New York Times. The Riverdale Press and the Riverdale Review published articles describing harrassment reprisals and whistleblower punishments that JFK High school teachers have been experiencing at the hands of Principal Anthony Rotunno and his administrators. The New York Times printed an article titled "In Bronx, a Possible Case of High School Cheating, but not by Students". It implicates the current JFK HS administration for changing student grades on the Spring 2005 English regent's exams. The February 8, 2006 NY Times article places the past year's events in perspective.
On February 16, 2006 the Riverdale Review reported that the State Assemblyman "found the entire situation of grades being altered shocking and outrageous". 'Dinowitz outraged over cheating incident at JFK High School' goes on to question how Rhokesha Ford, the current English AP who, with Principal Anthony Rotunno's approval raised scores on the English exam; rose so quickly in the ranks, having no experience. Dinowitz questions Ford's'appointment to the position and wonders how the 31 year old Ms. Ford might have gotten the job "under Rotunno" in a merit-based system free of patronage and cronyism.
Much has happened; and more is still to come…
Matters resolved:
The results of the mandated psychiatric evaluation demanded by Mr.
Rotunno’s
supervisor, Ms. Kathleen Pollina (at his request) are in. The doctor
finds me fit for duty.
I now have managed to obtain most of my personal belongings that were left
at the school since my sudden departure on October 26, 2005. It
required a police
escort and a Bronx Supreme Court
order. I finally
got a
chance to retrieve my things on January 25, 2006.
My lawyer has informed me that once a document has been sent to you,
it is yours; - you own it. Since both copyright law and the
first amendment are with me in this; I thought that I might share a
few letters with you...Below are accusatory letters by Mr. Rotunno and my replies. As
I am engaged in adversary proceedings against Mr. Rotunno,
I addressed
my
reply to
his boss, Local Instructional Superintendent, Ms. Katleen Pollina.
Videotaping;accusation
letter and my Videotaping
Reply
Misconduct;accusation
letter and my Misconduct
Reply
October Events;accusation
letter and my October
Events Reply
November Events;accusation
letter and my November
Events Reply
December Events;accusation
letter and my December
Events Reply
I also received Written Statements by Mr. Kevin Kent and Anonymous Students:
KentStatement1, KentStatement2, Student1, Student2, Student3 and Student4.
Of course, I responded with a Reply to the Statements.
I received yet another letter from Ms. Pollina on February 21, 2006 (dated February 7). In it, she accuses me of misconduct and insubordination, she also threatened me with ‘disciplinary action’. Particularly, she states that I may receive a ‘U’ rating for the 2005-2006 school year. [ I believe that a Board Of Education’s claim that I am in any way “unsatisfactory” must be countered with the acknowledgement that I received the Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers Award during 2004-2005.] John F. Kennedy High School has been informed of my reciept of this honor. My February 26, 2006 reply letter to Ms. Pollina denies any wrong doing and includes a list of reference letters which support my claims.
I had faced two trespass charges – for
being at or near my place of employment. On the first occasion, I held
a parade permit; on the second, I held a permission letter to retrieve my property.
The Criminal Court Complaint lodged by a security guard at the school is an outright perjury. I had requested to the Court that the cases be dismissed in the interest of
justice. My motions to the Crimal Court clearly explained what was really going on.
It is clear that the administration has been criminalizing our youth
at John F. Kennedy High School for some time. Now it seems, the same
tactics
are being applied to its teachers.
The news reports and complaints about what has been going on at JFK High School have reached the attention of the Chancellor's office. My most recent letter from the DOE's Office of Special Investigation informs me that a matter has been referred to them.
Still fighting for you,
Ms. Natalie Williams
