Teacher Rejects Charges of Hispanic 5th-Graders: FWISD: Parents Say She Punished Students for Missing School May 1
Posted on: Wednesday, 10 May 2006, 12:07 CDT
By Toya Lynn Stewart, The Dallas Morning News
May 10--Allegations that a Fort Worth teacher singled out and disciplined Hispanic students for missing a day of school are without merit, her attorney said Tuesday.
Tanya Dawson, an attorney for United Educators Association of Texas, said the teacher, Jan Shannon, "will be vindicated, and the truth with come out."
Ms. Shannon, a fifth-grade teacher at T.A. Sims Elementary School, has been removed from the classroom while the district investigates parents' accusations that she disciplined students who missed school on May 1 by having them sit in the sun and read for two hours without water or bathroom breaks. The parents also allege that the teacher called students derogatory names.
Ms. Shannon is a 20-year educator and has been at the school for about eight years, her attorney said.
"Ms. Shannon is fully cooperating with the district and will comply with that," said Ms. Dawson, adding that the teacher can't respond to questions or share her version of what happened during the investigation.
"Teachers are at a disadvantage because they're encouraged not to talk," Ms. Dawson said. "It could be viewed as insubordination."
Parents, on the other hand, can say what they want, she said.
Barbara Griffith, spokeswoman for the Fort Worth school district, said she couldn't release information about the alleged incident because it's a personnel matter. Ms. Griffith could only confirm that there is an investigation at the school.
Two parents said the mistreatment of their children happened May 2 after they returned to school. The parents said Ms. Shannon singled out their daughters and about eight others for missing school on May 1.
May 1 was the day when thousands of immigrants missed school and work to participate in "Day of Action" rallies and voter registration drives across the U.S.
The parents said they decided to keep their daughters home from school to work on a project.
Parent Aracelia Moreno said Ms. Shannon told her child that she would get a zero on the assignment, even though it wasn't due until May 3, "because they went to the stupid marches."
Ms. Moreno went to the school to talk to the teacher but was told that the teacher wasn't there because she was under investigation.
The district wouldn't confirm whether the teacher was placed on paid administrative leave or suspended with pay. However, board policy states that either option could happen during an investigation of alleged misconduct or if the superintendent determines that it's in the district's best interest.
E-mail tstewart@dallasnews.com
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Source: The Dallas Morning News
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