On page 23 of tonight’s Board Book, it lists that Ms. Cortes resigned for, “no reason given.”
April 19, 2022 Patron Presentation, Damon Barone
Greetings, Damon Barone, Alief ISD parent, taxpayer, and alumnus.
Over the last few years, Superintendent Henry David Chambers Jr., Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources Elizabeth Veloz-Powell, and AFT Union President Veronica Thibideaux have been discussing teacher recruitment, retention, and multiple years of ongoing teacher shortages here in Alief.
If we review the actual data, teacher shortages are not the problem, retention, keeping our teachers is the real problem here in the district; in fact, Alief ISD has the highest teacher turnover rate in the state of Texas.
In a TASB survey Alief staff were asked what their top reasons for teachers leaving the district were.
Number one was administrative personnel, i.e., leadership, number two was not feeling supported by leadership, and number three was a lack of resources being provided to teachers. These were the top three reasons why we can’t keep our teachers. Notice that money was not the number one reason despite that being the narrative repeated everywhere.
Do our teachers deserve better pay, absolutely? But the real reason that Alief teachers leave our district is because of the results of decisions made by district leadership.
If you were to review the district’s Board Books, one would notice that it says resignation letters were received by the following employees and lists different options which include, retirement, relocation, personal reason, and no reason given.
Let’s focus on the alleged no reason given responses. Are we to assume that a staff members took the time to create or fill out a resignation documents stating that they quit for no reason, then subsequently submitted this almost blank document to Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources Elizabeth Velloz-Powell?
On April 11, 2022, a teacher from Best Elementary, Marie Cortes, stated on Channel 13 News that she left the district due to safety concerns for staff and students, regarding the multiple child abduction attempts during recess at the campus playground during school hours.
On page 23 of tonight’s Board Book, it lists that Ms. Cortes resigned for, “no reason given.” Instances like this always bring me back to Superintendent Chambers infamous words when he first got to the district, that he and his administrators can make data say whatever they want it to say.”
Given that there are so many people who have resigned over the last 11 years under Superintendent Chambers watch for no reason given, I question how the district has received the “Houston Chronicle’s Top Workplace” awards year after year.
I guess when you have a culture of falsifying data to make it say whatever you want it to say, you can create narratives to fit whatever version of the story district leadership wants to publicize.
Damon Barone, Alief ISD parent, taxpayer, and alumnus.
April 19, 2022 Patron Presentation, Domonique Barone
Greetings, Domonique Barone, Alief ISD Taylor High School student
It’s been over six years since this February 17, 2016 meeting with AFT Union President Veronica Thibodaux, Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources Elizabeth Veloz-Powell, Principal Carmilla Nandlal, and Educator Damon Barone.
My family and I are still waiting for a response from the district regarding this hour and thirty-two-minute-long meeting.
Turning off the audio recording during a grievance conference is like a police officer turning off his body camera to conceal evidence.
No justice, no peace!
Alief ISD School Board Policy DGBA (LOCAL):
PERSONNEL-MANAGEMENT RELATIONS / EMPLOYEE COMPLAINT S/GRIEVANCES / AUDIO RECORDING
As provided by law, an employee shall be permitted to make an audio recording of a conference or hearing under this policy at which the substance of the employee’s complaint is discussed.
Elizabeth Powell, Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources: Ok, any other questions? Alright then I am going to go ahead and turn off the tape recorder, stop the grievance. Now, I asked that we meet informally so I am not going to record this next part…… I would like to try to get some resolution to some things that I think have been going on for quite a while. I don’t know if Veronica shared with you what I would like to try to do this afternoon.
Damon Barone, Educator: No.
Veronica Thibideaux, AFT Union President: Well, this is around the uhm, the harassment, that issue.
Damon Barone, Educator: Ok.
Elizabeth Powell, Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources: Just the issues that, basically I want you to put on the table the concerns that you are having. And with the two of us here we want to see if we can try to resolve some of it.
Veronica Thibideaux, AFT Union President: Uh-hum.
Elizabeth Powell, Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources: Because we have got quite a bit of time left from here until the end of the year that we want success on that campus. And whatever we can do to make that happen I want to assist that. So, I have received lots of concerns from you in regards to Carmilla bullying, Mrs. Nandlal not treating you, in your eyes with respect and you happened, you believed since the carnival [fall festival event].
Damon Barone, Educator: Yes.
Elizabeth Powell, Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources: So why don’t you tell, and I don’t know that Carmilla knows how you feel and I think it’s important that she knows so that hopefully that can be corrected if that’s the case.
Damon Barone, Educator: Ok. Uhm, I’m feeling like there is differential being, going on. I’m feeling like there is deception going on. Policies and procedures are not being abided by. Uhm, documentation is being falsified. Uhm.
Elizabeth Powell, Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources: Ok, let’s talk about that so that she knows exactly. When you say procedures not being followed by the administrative staff?
Damon Barone, Educator: Yea.
Elizabeth Powell, Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources: Ok. Like what?
Damon Barone, Educator: Such as over observing individuals without proper feedback. Uhm, disrespectful when she communicates to me in private meetings, her tone, her insinuations; stating [to me] that in a court of law, really just badgering me and speaking to me as if I am beneath her because she is the supervisor, or the principal of the school. Openly talking about my personal business in front of employees. And.
Elizabeth Powell, Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources: Ok let’s take one at a time and so I can.
Damon Barone, Educator: Ok.
Elizabeth Powell, Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources: See how we can help you. Let’s talk about the one about the employees, talking in front of other employees.
Damon Barone, Educator: Uh-hum. Yes.
Elizabeth Powell, Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources: So where did that happen? What was going on with that?
Damon Barone, Educator: Someone told me that she [Principal Nandlal] was in after, she had a, again the only reason I know that is because it was told to me, that she was in the front talking to Ms. Hightower, about personal information regarding to me as students, parents, and staff were walking bye during the entire conversation.