THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, November 17, 1995 TAG: 9511170185
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JON GLASS, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 93 lines
A teachers group on Thursday called for the dismissal of an elementary school principal, calling the administrator a ``tyrant'' and accusing her of ``gross unprofessional conduct.''
The Education Association of Norfolk, which represents 1,700 teachers and school employees, held a news conference in its offices to demand that school administrators immediately suspend Tidewater Park Principal Jean C. Alexander, a 34-year veteran of Norfolk schools.
``This is the first time, ever, that we've done this,'' said John Medas, an EAN official. ``We've had many complaints about principals over the years, some minor and some major, but, without a doubt, this exceeds any reasonable bounds of action by any kind of administrator.''
Alexander did not return a phone call to her school Thursday afternoon. Reached later at home, she said, ``I do not wish to respond, and if anyone wants to talk about this matter, they can call George Raiss' office.'' Raiss is spokesman for the school system.
Raiss called the EAN's action a ``nonstory.''
``I know of no plans for her suspension,'' Raiss said, adding though, that ``we would take seriously these charges and look into them.''
The allegations made by Medas against Alexander are derived from the records and reports of a school system hearing of a dispute between the principal and a second grade teacher at her school, Catherine Rouse.
The dispute began in April when Alexander recommended to the school superintendent's office that Rouse be fired for insubordination and for failing to adequately prepare for her classes.
Rouse challenged Alexander's recommendation and argued her case before a three-member fact-finding panel during 2 1/2 days of hearings in August and September. In October, on a 2-1 vote, the panel found ``sufficient support for the charges'' of insubordination.
The panel consisted of a school guidance counselor selected by Rouse, a principal selected by Alexander and a neutral third party acceptable to both sides.
The panel ruled that Rouse demonstrated a ``willful pattern of disregard for authority'' by defying School Board policy and directions from Alexander.
On Tuesday, the Norfolk School Board decided to uphold the panel's recommendation to dismiss Rouse. She has taught for 22 years. Rouse made two complaints in writing to administrators about Alexander since July 1993, the hearing report states.
Based on recorded testimony at the hearing, the teacher repeatedly defied Alexander's requests to bring lesson plans to class. School Board policy requires teachers to prepare such plans so principals can evaluate their performance and substitutes have guidelines to follow.
Later, when Alexander presented Rouse with a ``plan of action'' to improve the teacher's performance, Rouse refused to sign it, the hearing reports state.
Rouse testified at the hearing that she reacted the way she did because of poor treatment by Alexander.
In a 27-page report, released to the media by the EAN, the panel acknowledged that there was ``ample evidence'' to suggest that Alexander was ``generally a tyrant,'' and ``has, apparently, gotten away with using this style for years.''
But, the report concluded, while Alexander's management style ``would be considered as archaic and unproductive by modern management gurus, she is not accused of being in noncompliance with any policy, directive or philosophy of the Board of Education.''
The panel said Rouse failed to follow procedure for filing a grievance against Alexander and that her defense for defying the principal ``is spurious at best when applied to the actions of a mature adult and veteran teacher.''
After the School Board dismissed Rouse on Tuesday, Medas said that EAN thought it was necessary to make public the findings about Alexander in the hearing report.
At their press conference, EAN officials cited testimony from five current and former school employees who once worked for Alexander. The panel's report included these examples:
A 15-year teacher who said Alexander was ``disorganized and very controlling.''
A 24-year school media specialist who said Alexander once ``paddled my hand,'' apparently because the principal was concerned ``over someone using my telephone.''
A guidance counselor who described the school as having ``an atmosphere of fear.''
In testimony, however, Rouse acknowledged that ``concerns about Alexander are not unanimous among the faculty.''
EAN President Shirley George said a group of Tidewater Park teachers ``risked their careers'' in winter 1994 to meet with a school district administrator to discuss Alexander.
``Their concerns were ignored,'' George said.
KEYWORDS: NORFOLK SCHOOL BOARD EDUCATION ASSOCIATION OF NORFOLK
PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT by CNB