FAIR TREATMENT OF DURHAM COUNTY TEACHERS NOW
The Issue
I am reaching out to you for support and to ask that you consider adding your name to this petition to be presented to the Durham Public Schools Board.
• I am petitioning the Durham School Board to reinstate me in my previous position as Tech Director at Riverside High School and to reveal why the decision to dismiss me was made.
• I call for policies that guarantee transparency and due process for all teachers so that these sorts of closed-door decisions do not leave educators devastated and without recourse.
• I ask the school board to ensure the students of Durham will have teachers who feel empowered to do their best, most creative work without fear of unpredictable actions.
On Friday August 28th, 2015 without warning or explanation, I was pulled from my classes and told that the Durham Public Schools Board had not approved my contract. After having taught in DPS for four years and teaching nearly a full week of classes at a new DPS school this year, I was out of a job with no recourse. I have been given no explanation at all as to why this occurred, which has caused extreme confusion and worry throughout my network of friends and family, many of whom are also DPS educators.
This year would mark my tenth as a theatre teacher in North Carolina. For the past four years, I taught rigorous courses, provided educational travel opportunities, and directed productions that won statewide awards at Durham School of the Arts. While there, I also advised two student organizations and was Lead Teacher for theatre in Durham County. Since 2011, I have also worked with the NC A+ Schools Program, providing arts integration training to hundreds of teachers across the state. I hold a BFA in Theatre Education from The University of North Carolina at Greensboro and an MA in Theatre Education from Emerson College. I am a proud North Carolina Teaching Fellows alumnus. In short, I am a highly qualified educator with a clear record of dedication and professionalism.
I am absolutely confounded by the Board's decision and the lack of transparency involved in this process. The families and educators of Durham County deserve better.
Thank you for adding your support to my request
Tom Nevels, Theatre Arts Educator
The Issue
I am reaching out to you for support and to ask that you consider adding your name to this petition to be presented to the Durham Public Schools Board.
• I am petitioning the Durham School Board to reinstate me in my previous position as Tech Director at Riverside High School and to reveal why the decision to dismiss me was made.
• I call for policies that guarantee transparency and due process for all teachers so that these sorts of closed-door decisions do not leave educators devastated and without recourse.
• I ask the school board to ensure the students of Durham will have teachers who feel empowered to do their best, most creative work without fear of unpredictable actions.
On Friday August 28th, 2015 without warning or explanation, I was pulled from my classes and told that the Durham Public Schools Board had not approved my contract. After having taught in DPS for four years and teaching nearly a full week of classes at a new DPS school this year, I was out of a job with no recourse. I have been given no explanation at all as to why this occurred, which has caused extreme confusion and worry throughout my network of friends and family, many of whom are also DPS educators.
This year would mark my tenth as a theatre teacher in North Carolina. For the past four years, I taught rigorous courses, provided educational travel opportunities, and directed productions that won statewide awards at Durham School of the Arts. While there, I also advised two student organizations and was Lead Teacher for theatre in Durham County. Since 2011, I have also worked with the NC A+ Schools Program, providing arts integration training to hundreds of teachers across the state. I hold a BFA in Theatre Education from The University of North Carolina at Greensboro and an MA in Theatre Education from Emerson College. I am a proud North Carolina Teaching Fellows alumnus. In short, I am a highly qualified educator with a clear record of dedication and professionalism.
I am absolutely confounded by the Board's decision and the lack of transparency involved in this process. The families and educators of Durham County deserve better.
Thank you for adding your support to my request
Tom Nevels, Theatre Arts Educator
The Decision Makers
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Petition created on September 5, 2015