For years upon years, Leo has been the backbone of not only SND, but BASIS Peoria as a whole. His recent termination following his refusal to engage in actions he believed unethical has not only emotionally devastated students, families, and teachers alike, but has resulted in our entire High School Chemistry program collapsing, and potentially the same fate for high school debate.

He consistently went above and beyond to not only teach chemistry but to inspire students to think critically, engage with the material, and embrace learning as a lifelong endeavor. 

Not only has our high school chemistry program collapsed, with students left wondering how they will meet their educational requirements without his guidance, but the debate program, another area that required experience and dedication that Leo has, is now at risk. The students are losing a mentor who not only taught them academic skills but also instilled in them the principles of ethics and integrity.

We believe that Leo's termination was unjust and not in the best interest of the educational community. It's paramount for educational institutions to support teachers who stand up for ethical standards rather than penalize them for their commitment to integrity. While the central office of BASIS most evidently does not appreciate their teachers, we, as the students, parents, or other teachers, actually do.

Additionally, with Leo gone, and the potential for our debate team to collapse, along with doubts as to whether the entirety of the SND team will be able to compete in more prestigious, national circuit tournaments because of the difficulty that goes behind organizing them, this means that you, the students, or your children, are missing out on important scholarships awarded at tournaments. 

Upon conversation with Leo, he has made it clear he would only consider reinstatement if the BASIS central office formally acknowledges that they made mistakes in the handling of the situation and offers a public apology. Trust cannot be rebuilt without responsibility. The office, being far removed from the Arizona and BASIS Peoria community, doesn't realize the significant of what they've done and the magnitude in which they've affected their students. 

Wanna go even further? Send angry emails to Central office (not Briggs or any deans), get your parents involved to do so, spread awareness. Or, at the very least, please join us in urging BASIS Peoria to bring Leo back by signing this petition. Your support can make a significant difference in the lives of the students and the community.

For more info;

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1E7cMlvnan3vqdd-AEF3VJ6BSUxFr8UBxuMqskqTAxQA/edit?usp=drivesdk