Dr. Zeoli, also known as Dr. Z, has been fired from Preston High School because she is not a "good fit". This is surprising to the Preston student community as Dr. Z has worked at Preston High School for 4 years, has spoken at numerous school-wide events, and works extremely well with students. Dr. Z became head of the science department, despite her being relatively new to the Preston community, which just proves how impactful she truly is.

She is especially close with the Class of 2020, and was even chosen by students to be the faculty speaker at their Junior Class Ring Night (which she did an incredible job with). Dr. Z is everything a teacher should be. She fights for her students, puts in the extra hours, takes the extra time on hard lessons, and truly understands and engages with her students.

Dr. Z is notorious for fighting against racism in the Preston Community and has always stood up against the harsh, excessive force used against students of color, especially black students. Dr. Z has brought a more diverse staff into the science department. She even helped facilitate the school-wide inclusion of LGBTQ+ students and tried to facilitate an alliance, which was shot down by administration. She has also advocated for more adequate sexual education to truly educate students on the facts and risks that come with sexual health. Unfornately, this has clashed with administration as they refuse to acknowledge real life issues. 

Preston High School has showed their true colors time and time again, and we are done with the constant hate and exclusion. The administration are extremely hypocritical, and refuse to faciliate real inclusive action into the community. Preston has shot down any and all attempts to change hateful rules. This includes not letting Muslim students wear hijabs to school, and not letting LGBT students bring their partners to prom. This isn't to mention the constant microaggressions from faculty and staff POC experience daily, even digitally. Preston MUST move into the 21st century and do more to protect its students. If Preston doesn't stand up for its students, no one else will. 

Amazing teachers should not be fired just because they choose to stand up for real isses that affect Preston students. They shouldn't be penalized for respectfully standing up to administration for the sake of students' safety and rights. This is not the first time this has happened. Preston has also censored the school newspaper when students tried to right about these issues in the community. It goes to show that Preston only cares about reputation. 

Do you know who still works at Preston? Athletic Staff that makes racist comments to students at sports games. That can't bother to remember their students' names. A math teacher fresh out of college that makes advances towards students and ecourages them to go to private "extra help" when the student has an A in the class. When parents complain (which they have), Preston does nothing. Preston High School does not care about its students when things get rough, only when they are finally called out for the institutionalized hate they spew. 

As students, we demand justice for Dr. Z and all of the Preston staff that has been censored because of Preston's instutionalized racism and homophobia. Preston is not off the hook this time, and we won't forget about this regardless of any Instagram post or shallow assembly. Make an action plan to combat racism and homophobia. Allow girls to take other girls to prom. Stop excessive punishments against students of color. Hire more diverse staff. Preston High School, New York is watching, and we are prepared to show them how you truly are and how you can facilitate change if you truly wanted to. Do better for your students. 

1 Corinthians 12:12: For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ.

Colossians 3:25: For the wrongdoer will be paid back for the wrong he has done, and there is no partiality.