Chicago Teacher Questions Ethics, Professionalism of CPS Removal

Oct. 1, 2008 – After her removal as a teachers' representative on a local school council (LSC), a veteran educator with over two decades of experience wants answers.

Sonia Flores said that on Sept. 5, she was called out of her sixth-grade classroom at Maria Saucedo Scholastic Academy and summoned to the assistant principal's office. There, in front of the principal, the assistant principal and six other LSC members, a Chicago Public Schools (CPS) official told Flores she was being replaced on the council. Flores is questioning the reason for her removal, the method by which it happened and asking to be reinstated.

Flores, who has taught for 25 years at the West Side school in the Little Village neighborhood, pleaded her case to the Chicago Board of Education last Wednesday at its monthly meeting. She asked for a "clear explanation for why this action was taken and why the action was handled in a manner that disrespects my service and reflects poorly on the ethics and the professionalism of your office."

Flores was one of 11 members of the LSC representing Maria Saucedo, having joined the council in June. Local school councils at each of Chicago's public elementary schools consist of the principal, six parent representatives, two community representatives and two teacher representatives. Teachers at Maria Saucedo selected Flores to represent them, having done so previously six years ago, when she served a two-year term.

The two community representatives on Maria Saucedo's LSC are both related to Flores: her sister, Mayra Bravo Gonzales, and her mother, Lourdes Bravo Flores. Flores mentioned this to the board, a fact which Board President Rufus Williams confirmed, though he offered no other comment.

Patrick Rocks, who serves as general counsel to the board, said he would look into the matter and the treatment of Flores, telling her "we will get back to you quickly with answers."

Neither Jose Alvarez, who serves as the district's director of the Office of the Local School Council and Community Relations, nor Abundio Zaragoza, who delivered the letter notifying Flores of her removal, returned phone calls seeking comment.

However, the CPS website explaining LSC elections mentions a "non-binding advisory poll of faculty and staff," the results of which "are sent to the Board, which will approve two teacher representatives to each LSC."

The website says relatives of the principal are not eligible to serve on an LSC. However, there is no mention of restrictions or limitations on the number of related family members eligible to serve together on a local school council.

An official from an educational advocacy group was not surprised to hear about Flores being removed.

"This has been happening on a regular basis with teachers' representatives," said Wanda Hopkins, an assistant director for Parents United for Responsible Education (PURE), an organization founded during the school strike in 1987, which provides assistance and information to parents on educational issues and offers training for local school council members.

"When a person runs and wins it means their peers think they are the best person for the job. The principal could believe this person will be a thorn in their side," said Hopkins. She said principals communicate with the board, and a principal could be against a teachers' representative for any number of reasons.

"It could be that the principal's contract [renewal] is coming up, or they just don't want to deal with them. They'll say it's just not a good fit. Of course, they will deny all of this," said Hopkins.

The principal of Maria Saucedo Scholastic Academy said she didn't know Flores was being replaced until it happened.

"I was informed the same day and hour [as Flores]," said Principal Leticia Gonzales. "I have to enforce and respect the principles given to me." She declined to elaborate further on the issue.

Flores said she suspects she was removed because the principal's contract is up for renewal.

Local school councils monitor the principal's performance, evaluate the principal using a board-approved evaluation form every year and determine whether to renew the principal's contract every four years based upon the evaluations.

Flores refused to discuss Gonzales' performance as principal or offer any specifics. "I don't have a problem with her. The only thing I can say to be ethical and fair is some of the things that are happening are not going well. I am concerned with the environment, tension going on at the school and the happiness. Right now I'm not in a position to go into more detail."

Flores, who said she's been teaching at the K-8 school since 1983 through three different administrations, did say "the environment of the school is not what it used to be."

Gonzales, in her fourth year as principal, refused to speculate on the reasons for Flores being replaced on the LSC. She said "there are so many beautiful things happening" at the school, noting the high percentage of students exceeding state standards on ISAT composite scores. She said the school, located at 2850 W. 24th Blvd. in Chicago, is filled predominately with Mexican-American and black students who "are doing wonderful."

In 2007, over 80 percent of Maria Saucedo elementary students met or exceeded state standards in math and science, while 78.3 percent of students achieved composite ISAT scores which met or exceeded state standards. This is up from 64.1 percent in 2004.

For now, Flores will continue teaching and hoping the board will reinstate her to the LSC.