A.P.E. Anonymous

Clayton County Public Schools:

Types of Violence Against Teachers at Flint River According to Teachers

The forms of violence directed at teachers in schools can vary significantly. While serious incidents like shootings or those resulting in death or severe injury are rare, teachers do experience other types of violence, including:

     •     Verbal Harassment: Being subjected to derogatory comments, profanity, and intimidation from students.

     •     Physical Harassment: Instances of actual physical attacks against teachers by students.

     •     Theft: Theft of school or personal property belonging to teachers.

     •     Property Damage: Damage to school or personal property of teachers.

     •     Bodily Harm: Actions such as pushing, shoving, hitting, spitting, or having objects thrown at staff.

A.P.E. Perspective:

O.C.G.A. 20-2-753: Disciplinary Hearing Officer Panel or Tribunal

(a) In addition to any proceedings authorized in Code Section 20-2-752, local boards of education must appoint a disciplinary hearing officer, panel, or tribunal of school officials to conduct a disciplinary hearing following any instance of an alleged violation of the student code of conduct. This applies when the principal recommends a suspension or expulsion longer than ten school days or in cases of alleged assault or battery by a student against any teacher or school official, if requested by that teacher or official.

(b) Nothing in this Code section shall infringe upon any rights provided to students with Individualized Education Programs.

DeKalb County School District:

Concerns About Duty-Free Lunch for Elementary Teachers

A.P.E. Perspective:

O.C.G.A. 20-2-218 (2010): Duty-Free Lunch Period

(a) Every teacher employed in grades kindergarten through five for more than half of the regular school day must be provided a daily duty-free lunch period of at least 30 consecutive minutes, during which they cannot be assigned any responsibilities. This lunch period is included in the total hours worked, and local boards of education cannot increase the number of hours worked as a result of granting this lunch period. This duty-free time cannot be counted as part of any daily planning period or non-instructional time.

(b) This Code section does not prevent teachers from exchanging their lunch period for compensation or benefits agreed upon with the local superintendent or their agent, provided that such terms are consistent for all teachers within the school.

(c) Implementation of this Code section cannot extend the school day.

(d) In cases of extreme economic conditions or unavoidable personnel shortages, a local unit of administration may require a teacher entitled to a duty-free lunch to supervise students during that time, but only for one day per week.

(e) The General Assembly is not obligated to appropriate funds for the duty-free lunch program; however, any funds allocated for this purpose must be used for duty-free lunch periods for classroom teachers in grades kindergarten through five.

Vermilion Parish Schools in Louisiana:

Shame on the Vermilion Parish School District for allowing one of your teachers to be handcuffed for questioning a pay raise, in my opinion, for the “lazy superintendent Jerome Puyau.”

A.P.E. Perspective:

Atlanta Public Schools just don’t seem to understand! Attempting to fire an A.P.E. member is unacceptable. I’m growing weary of these school systems transitioning to charter schools and thinking they can bypass the law. I don’t care about your charter—if a teacher has tenure, you cannot simply “eliminate earned rights!” Those rights are private and contractual. This violates the anti-impairment-of-contracts clause in the Georgia Constitution. Tenured educators have vested rights protected by the Georgia Constitution, and APS has a duty to uphold these rights. These rights were earned under the Fair Dismissal Act!

Atlanta Public Schools:

Dear Association of Professional Educators,

Principal Kara Stimpson of Jean Childs Young Middle School has fostered an extremely chaotic environment under her leadership. The school’s climate has descended into pandemonium among students, resulting in a significant decline in staff morale. A tumultuous and toxic atmosphere now prevails.

The situation at Young Middle School has reached an unprecedented low in its history. Principal Stimpson continues to violate special education laws and mandates at her discretion, along with improper and unlawful hiring practices. Here are some examples of her discrepancies:

     •     Principal Stimpson authorized class schedules for students, ignoring the IEP requirements for several special education students who should have been placed in small group settings, instead placing them in large groups.

     •     She assigned special education teachers to teach in areas where they lack certification, which is against the law.

     •     Principal Stimpson confined special education students (brothers in 6th and 8th grades) in a self-contained room, violating their IEPs without parental knowledge or consent.

     •     She has assigned two to three special education teachers to one room while some non-instructional staff have classrooms to themselves, misusing rooms meant for instruction.

     •     Principal Stimpson has instructed the Special Education Lead Teacher (SELT) to chase down students and contain them in the SELT’s office, creating confidentiality issues regarding IEPs and meetings.

     •     A classroom has been converted into a game room for students, reducing the number of instructional spaces available.

     •     There has been a troubling increase in assaults by students against staff, with little to no consequences for the offenders, leading to numerous staff absences and resignations. Staff members are often blamed for these incidents.

     •     While Principal Stimpson spends $40,000 on school aesthetics (such as blinds and wall art), teachers are left without essential resources like software programs, functional Promethean boards, and classroom printers.

Atlanta Public Schools has done a disservice to students, parents, faculty, staff, and the community by appointing Kara Stimpson as principal of Young Middle School. Her leadership has created discord and division within the school. Surely, there were qualified candidates with integrity who applied for the principal position. The leadership qualities of Kara Stimpson are not what the students, parents, faculty, staff, or community need or want.

Sincerely,

#IntegrityCounts