Dear Board of Trustees,

I am a former Associate Principal at Lanier High School. I resigned my position

as of May 1, 2018 due to an injury caused by a student at Lanier High School. I
underwent my first back procedure on Saturday, May 12, in order to fix several
serious issues, so I will be unable to attend the Monday, May 14, Board meeting.

The information I am about to give you is important and must be heard for the
sake of SAISD success.

In the fall of 2017, all administrators were given a list of teachers that the
principal, Ms. Cooper, said we must “get rid of” through various forms of
documentation. I am still in possession of these names, but I will say Ms. Cooper
often added people to the list. She was very clear that the list could not get out, be
discussed outside of administrative meetings, put in emails, or any other forms of
communication. The teachers were not to know of this list.

Ms. Cooper also directed us often to provide various walk-through

documentation in order to build a negative case against teachers, even teachers the
administrators were trying to “coach up” for improved instruction. She was very clear
that central office personnel and district lawyers were pushing her to keep up with this
documentation since they were also in possession of this list and wanted immediate
action.

As an educator of twenty-five years, I was growing very concerned by this

“gotcha” mentality which was beginning to destroy the positive culture on campus. I
was especially alarmed when Ms. Cooper was very upset with me for giving a teacher
on the list several ratings of proficient on her formal TTESS evaluation. I was very
clear in my response to Ms. Cooper that giving the teacher a score other than what I
observed was unethical and dishonest; that was something I would not do to a teacher
who was trying her best to improve her craft.

I was even more dismayed when Ms. Cooper told me that I was not to give any
proficient scores to a teacher that was also on the list. Again, my conscience and
professionalism could not agree to do this to a teacher whom I had not even observed.
Finally, after Spring Break when I was out with crippling back pain, Ms.
Cooper explained to me that because I had not had final scoring observation meetings
with some of the teachers, they would have to be re-evaluated by her. I explained to
her that the teachers and I were willing to do phone meeting while giving them access
to the scores I gave them. Instead of being professional and responding to me, she
chose to ignore my explanation/request and instead took me out of the district TTESS
system. She did not have the common courtesy to let me know she had done this. I
was very aggravated because teachers that I had already scored with proficient marks
seemed to be the observations she chose to redo. I was also informed by teachers she
had not, like me, had the final observation scoring meeting by the district due date. I
was, and still am, confused by these suspicious actions. How is it equitable for the
teachers who have already been evaluated with proficient scores given the
requirement to redo the process? Again, this is a highly questionable and biased action
taken by the principal based on what she claims were necessary actions by central
office personnel and district lawyers.

Board members, I ask you: is this the atmosphere you wish to support and even
create in your district? I have worked with some of the best districts in this county and
beyond and have never seen such disdain for teachers. In all districts I have worked
in, the code was coach them up or coach them out, meaning help teachers meet their
potential or help them understand education may not be their calling. I can assure you
few and far between felt the need to leave education. It is also important for you to
know this process involved transparent communication, positive coaching and
relationship building, and structured goals that both teacher and coach/administrator
created together. Unfortunately, what I saw in my near year at Lanier High School
were many behind-the-scenes, cloak-and-dagger operations that have caused fear and
discouragement amongst the teachers. What a sad and shameful reflection on campus
and district administration.

Please let me respectfully remind you that the teachers are the heart of your
campuses. If you do not grow them, support them, and respect them, you have
nothing. No student success, no community trust, and no admiration from the
educational family.

I ask you to consider what has happened and what is happening and ask your
leaders to re-evaluate their decisions. Many other districts must deal with the same cut
backs and employment issues you are, but these leaders are choosing to treat teachers
with respect and are even having teachers be part of the district solutions. For the sake
of the district success and reputation, please hear what your teachers are
communicating and please work for positive solutions.

Thank you for your consideration,

Lisa Marie Gonzalez