Webster Teacher Keeps Her Job
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
NORTH WEBSTER - Phyllis Roberts will keep her job with the Wawasee School Corporation.
The North Webster third-grade teacher was overheard making stereotypical racial remarks in her classroom earlier this semester. She elected to take an early retirement rather than face a hearing before the school board.
The administration's stand on the situation caused an outcry in the Wawasee community, including petitions being circulated in support of the 31-year teaching veteran.
More than 300 people attended Tuesday's school board meeting to hear the board's official decision on the action.
The public was given 20 minutes to address the board before the board voted on the issue.
President Carol Swartzendruber said the board was there to hear public comments, but the meeting was not a public hearing and patrons should not discuss individual employees.
The first man to step to the microphone, a Roberts supporter, drew a standing ovation.
"I believe the statement was blown out of proportion - every race has a stereotype in some way," said Vincent Baker. "Something was said and was just taken out of context, and this lady's being crucified for no reason."
A woman spoke who helped in Roberts' class and on field trips. "In all the time I was there, I never once heard anything that was inappropriate for my child. (Roberts) is a wonderful teacher, loved by the students," she said.
Walt Corbin thanked the board "for putting up with us," saying he knows their job is difficult, then added, "I've known Phyllis for 20 years, and I know in her heart she would not knowingly do anything wrong. If she made a mistake - and I'm not sure she did - she should be punished, but I'm not sure the punishment fits the crime."
Jill Baker also thanked the board for listening and said the majority of board members she talked to said they had already made up their minds. "We elected you; you are our voice," she said. "Did you come into this with an open mind?"
Several people also spoke out in favor of Roberts' retirement.
"It's very easy to take sides in this issue," said Jose Vasquez, "but what is at stake here is not a race issue, it is an equality issue. ... I appeal to teachers, parents, the board to stand on the side of justice."
"It's unfortunate what happened," said Emily Thomas, "... but we must hang on to the fact that the kids are the bottom line, and the decision being made by this board - by all of us - will reflect on our kids and our grandkids."
"I know this teacher is a loving person ... but we're not living in 1950. We're moving into the 21st century, and we've got to stop living in 1950," said another woman.
Following the public comment period, Superintendent Mark Stock recommended that the board accept Roberts' letter of resignation. Board vice president Jeff Wells moved to table Stock's recommendation; that motion was accepted 4-1, with board member Mike Kern dissenting.
Wells then read from a memorandum agreed upon by "a majority of the Wawasee Community School Corporation Board of School Trustees."
The memorandum states that Roberts "acknowledges teaching a racially insensitive lesson," and asks that she complete a diversity training program and draft a "growth plan" to prevent a recurrence of the situation, as well as formally apologize.
The notice further states that Roberts will be suspended without pay from Jan. 1 to March 15 and may return to the school corporation after meeting the above requirements.
Further, the board directed the administration to strengthen its position on racial issues, including the following steps:
• Conduct diversity training for all instruction staff by Feb. 10 and other school personnel by June 1.
• Expand the Working Group on Race and Poverty so each school has its own committee.
• Research board-sponsored community forums on diversity issues.
The administration is asked to report to the board with an action plan by the end of February.
After Wells read the statement, board member Dave Carey moved that the board "withdraw and reject" Roberts' letter of retirement. The vote again was 4-1, with Kern voting against the motion.
The board then approved Swartzendruber's motion to accept the memorandum as read.
Later in the meeting, Kern said he was resigning from the board. Swartzendruber said they just received Kern's letter of resignation Tuesday, and that they accepted his resignation with regret.
She said later that it's been "a real hard time" for the board and she would like to see Kern reconsider.
Not surprisingly, reactions on both sides of the issue were heard later in the evening.
"I think this decision will heal this community quicker than anything the board could have done," said a North Webster teacher. "Everyone thought something should be done, but early retirement was too severe."
"I know it was a very difficult decision to make," said Meredith Mignery. "... We have to be good examples for our children, and good examples are following the rules and going by the rulebook.
"Even though I'm disappointed, I still have hope for the future." [[In-content Ad]]
NORTH WEBSTER - Phyllis Roberts will keep her job with the Wawasee School Corporation.
The North Webster third-grade teacher was overheard making stereotypical racial remarks in her classroom earlier this semester. She elected to take an early retirement rather than face a hearing before the school board.
The administration's stand on the situation caused an outcry in the Wawasee community, including petitions being circulated in support of the 31-year teaching veteran.
More than 300 people attended Tuesday's school board meeting to hear the board's official decision on the action.
The public was given 20 minutes to address the board before the board voted on the issue.
President Carol Swartzendruber said the board was there to hear public comments, but the meeting was not a public hearing and patrons should not discuss individual employees.
The first man to step to the microphone, a Roberts supporter, drew a standing ovation.
"I believe the statement was blown out of proportion - every race has a stereotype in some way," said Vincent Baker. "Something was said and was just taken out of context, and this lady's being crucified for no reason."
A woman spoke who helped in Roberts' class and on field trips. "In all the time I was there, I never once heard anything that was inappropriate for my child. (Roberts) is a wonderful teacher, loved by the students," she said.
Walt Corbin thanked the board "for putting up with us," saying he knows their job is difficult, then added, "I've known Phyllis for 20 years, and I know in her heart she would not knowingly do anything wrong. If she made a mistake - and I'm not sure she did - she should be punished, but I'm not sure the punishment fits the crime."
Jill Baker also thanked the board for listening and said the majority of board members she talked to said they had already made up their minds. "We elected you; you are our voice," she said. "Did you come into this with an open mind?"
Several people also spoke out in favor of Roberts' retirement.
"It's very easy to take sides in this issue," said Jose Vasquez, "but what is at stake here is not a race issue, it is an equality issue. ... I appeal to teachers, parents, the board to stand on the side of justice."
"It's unfortunate what happened," said Emily Thomas, "... but we must hang on to the fact that the kids are the bottom line, and the decision being made by this board - by all of us - will reflect on our kids and our grandkids."
"I know this teacher is a loving person ... but we're not living in 1950. We're moving into the 21st century, and we've got to stop living in 1950," said another woman.
Following the public comment period, Superintendent Mark Stock recommended that the board accept Roberts' letter of resignation. Board vice president Jeff Wells moved to table Stock's recommendation; that motion was accepted 4-1, with board member Mike Kern dissenting.
Wells then read from a memorandum agreed upon by "a majority of the Wawasee Community School Corporation Board of School Trustees."
The memorandum states that Roberts "acknowledges teaching a racially insensitive lesson," and asks that she complete a diversity training program and draft a "growth plan" to prevent a recurrence of the situation, as well as formally apologize.
The notice further states that Roberts will be suspended without pay from Jan. 1 to March 15 and may return to the school corporation after meeting the above requirements.
Further, the board directed the administration to strengthen its position on racial issues, including the following steps:
• Conduct diversity training for all instruction staff by Feb. 10 and other school personnel by June 1.
• Expand the Working Group on Race and Poverty so each school has its own committee.
• Research board-sponsored community forums on diversity issues.
The administration is asked to report to the board with an action plan by the end of February.
After Wells read the statement, board member Dave Carey moved that the board "withdraw and reject" Roberts' letter of retirement. The vote again was 4-1, with Kern voting against the motion.
The board then approved Swartzendruber's motion to accept the memorandum as read.
Later in the meeting, Kern said he was resigning from the board. Swartzendruber said they just received Kern's letter of resignation Tuesday, and that they accepted his resignation with regret.
She said later that it's been "a real hard time" for the board and she would like to see Kern reconsider.
Not surprisingly, reactions on both sides of the issue were heard later in the evening.
"I think this decision will heal this community quicker than anything the board could have done," said a North Webster teacher. "Everyone thought something should be done, but early retirement was too severe."
"I know it was a very difficult decision to make," said Meredith Mignery. "... We have to be good examples for our children, and good examples are following the rules and going by the rulebook.
"Even though I'm disappointed, I still have hope for the future." [[In-content Ad]]