UPDATE: 97.9 The Hill/Chapelboro has since updated wording in this story after reviewing the email from the family who requested a change in teacher’s assistants at East Chapel Hill High School. The family, who is being kept anonymous to protect sensitive information about their child, did not include any phrasing regarding race or gender in their request. Additionally, the teacher’s assistants in this story confirmed to 97.9 The Hill/Chapelboro they were never showed the email with the parent’s request. Phrasing in this article has since been updated to reflect this information. Find the follow-up to this story with new information here


The Exceptional Children department at East Chapel Hill High School is in turmoil, with several department educators expressing concern over recent administrative actions.

According to these educators, several complaints have been filed with the Human Resources Department at Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools as two Teacher’s Assistants (TAs) were asked by administrators to move out of a classroom because of their race.

Darrell Parker has been a Teacher’s Assistant in East Chapel Hill’s Exceptional Children department for nearly 20 years. Recently, however, Parker said he has been pushed in and out of his regular classroom after administrators said one parent requested their child not work with African American males.

“So, I’m saying to myself, since when can parents pick and choose who works with their children,” Parker said.

On October 4, Parker said a department-wide meeting was called by Assistant Principal Ileana Herrera and Adaptive Curriculum teacher Constance Leder. Adapted Curriculum students fall under the Exceptional Children umbrella, consisting of those with special needs or varying levels of learning disabilities. At that meeting, Parker said administrators chose to support what they said was a parent’s request to remove Black males from Leder’s classroom.

“The actual principal himself wanted me to move,” Parker said. “And I’m like, ‘No, I’m not moving,’ and I left it like that. I said I’m not moving because this is not right. I have not done anything. I can’t help that I’m Black.”

Tonya Stanley is an Adapted Curriculum special education teacher at East Chapel Hill High. She said department educators asked that the email from the parent making the request be shown, however it “was not produced.”

After that October meeting, Stanley told 97.9 The Hill that she filed her own grievances with the district’s Human Resources Department, advocating for Parker’s right to stay in Leder’s classroom.

Stanley said she left the meeting confused as to why the administration would try to honor what they said was a parent’s request to remove African American TAs from their child’s classroom – and that Assistant Principal Herrera’s comments at the meeting only added to the confusion.

“She made the reference to saying that it was like a gun put to her head because she was going to have to do this,” Stanley said, “and she didn’t have any other choice.”

An email from Assistant Principal Ileana Herrera to Adapted Curriculum staff discussing potential TA changes ahead of the department-wide meeting (email via Tonya Stanley)

On October 7, Stanley sent a formal letter to East Chapel Hill’s Senior Human Resource Director. In that letter, she said she spoke with Herrera and asked the assistant principal not to support the parent’s request as shared by administrators. According to Stanley, however, Herrera “said she had no choice due to the legal ramifications behind this family and lawsuits.”

Stanley’s letter addressed to CHCCS’ Human Resources Department airing her grievances and calling for action (letter via Tonya Stanley – snapshot taken by 97.9 The Hill)

It is not uncommon for families of students with special needs to have legal representation. Under a federal law known as the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, every child who is eligible to receive special education services must have an Individualized Education Program (IEP).

If a student’s IEP is not being met, there could be grounds for TA removal or transfer. Parents may also be able to pursue a lawsuit or other legal action against the school to further advocate for their child’s right to a fair education; however, 97.9 The Hill has not received confirmation of a violation.

In an email obtained by 97.9 The Hill, Herrera told Parker he could either leave Leder’s classroom or go work with the general ed population, away from the exceptional children he has dedicated his career to.

“These kids that [are] in the program do not adapt well to change,” Parker said. “There has to be a consistency because it takes time for these kids to build relationships with you and to trust you. To suddenly take that away from them, they don’t do well, and you see subtle changes in them.”

The email from Herrera read, “We are currently on dire straits, and we can’t wait any longer. If you decide not to [move classes], then the other option is for you to work with the general ed population, but at this point, we need to know.”

An email from Assistant Principal Ileana Herrera to Darrell Parker asking for his decision on changing classrooms. Principal Ken Proulx is cc’d (email via Darrell Parker)

Darrell Parker wasn’t the only TA affected by these administrative actions. According to Stanley, Adam Watkins, another African American TA at East Chapel Hill, turned in his resignation after he too was asked to leave Leder’s classroom.

“It goes back to understanding why they’re allowing the conduct of a teacher in that classroom to continue to lose TAs,” said Stanley. “And then also why they’re supporting a parent who’s requesting that no African Americans be in the room. So, it’s like a two-part series in that room. One is surrounding the teacher and her conduct and the second is the request of a parent.”

After having worked in the school system for more than 10 years, Watkins’ last day was November 4, as confirmed by CHCCS.

When Stanley initially voiced her concerns to Herrera regarding inter-department TA movement, the discussion was turned over to East Chapel Hill High Principal Ken Proulx. On September 20, prior to the department-wide meeting which sources said was postponed several times, Proulx sent out an e-mail stating that Adam Watkins would move from Leder’s classroom – however, Stanley said Watkins resigned before that could happen.

“He was an awesome jewel at Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools,” Stanley said. “He was a coach. He was a bus driver. He was a TA. He was a mentor. He was all those things to all students, not just students with disabilities.”

An email from Principal Ken Proulx to OCS and Adapted Curriculum teachers announcing the change of TAs – prior to Adam Watkins’ resignation (email via Tonya Stanley)

Earlier this month, Proulx announced that he is set to leave East Chapel Hill High School at the end of the calendar year to become the new principal of Newport Middle School. Proulx has worked at East Chapel Hill High since the 2018-19 school year.

As of November 23, Stanley told 97.9 The Hill that this issue has still largely remained unaddressed by the administration as a whole. While she has met with the Lincoln Center to review her grievances and begin an investigation, Stanley said the summary of investigation findings has still not been released to her.

“It’s been three years and I’ve not had a pleasant school three years at all being at this district,” said Stanley. “I love working at Chapel Hill, but no employee should have to endure as much harassment and loss or threat of employment as I have in this district.”

After weeks of back and forth and ongoing requests to move from his current department, Parker said he is still in Leder’s classroom, with confirmation from the district that no TAs are being reassigned to different classrooms at this time.

CHCCS district leadership provided an initial statement to 97.9 The Hill before sharing an updated statement following publication:

“We encourage, respect and appreciate when employees share their concerns and feedback, particularly when raising issues about how to best serve our students. However, students are not well served when staff do not work through those issues with their colleagues, or when aspects of those issues are inaccurately described in a local news report. Unfortunately, in this instance, we feel some of the quoted interview statements do not present a fair or entirely accurate picture of ongoing efforts to best meet the needs of our students, and wrongly mischaracterize the actions of some, as well as the timeline of events.

We appreciate that attempts were made to hear from others involved in this matter, but out of continued respect for the privacy of students, parents, and employees, we cannot comment further. We will continue to address the matter directly with the individuals involved.

Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools believes wholeheartedly that teacher and staff diversity enhance the learning experiences of all students. We are committed to anti-racist actions and supporting school environments that are free from discrimination in all forms while cultivating welcoming, affirming and high-quality learning environments for all.”

Although, while Parker gets to continue working in Leder’s classroom, serving the students he has come to know very well, he said he expects more from the school district.

“To see our educational system result to this, I feel bad and I shouldn’t, but I do,” he said. “I feel bad. I’m from Chapel Hill. My kids graduated from Chapel Hill. I graduated from Chapel Hill and to see that the school system is at this state now, it’s deplorable.”

97.9 The Hill reached out to Constance Leder for comment but has received no response.

97.9 The Hill and Chapelboro.com will continue to follow-up with educators and provide additional context as we learn more about the working culture at East Chapel Hill High. Find the follow-up story here

 

Editor’s Note: The Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools district shared an updated statement with 97.9 The Hill on Tuesday. It has replaced the initial statement in the article.

Editor’s Note 11/29: A paragraph explaining the legal rights of special needs families/students was added under the second photo.

Lead photo via WRAL.


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