Recently, Portland Public Schools sent a letter to families stating that the district was planning to cut $30 million from its budget for next year. Because of this, some teachers and staff members are now on the verge of having their jobs and pay taken away from them. However, in Jefferson High School, our beloved ballet teacher, Cynthia Tosh, was unfortunately notified of being put on leave for next year, despite being part of the school and its dance program for years. Having our ballet teacher taken away from us can take a toll on the Jefferson Dancers programs and the potential of students. For more than 40 years, the Jefferson Dancers program has enabled students the opportunities to show their full potential and perform their relentless dances through genres of ballet, jazz, hip-hop, African, tap, and modern. Even dancers that were a part of the program won dance competitions and some of the alumni went on to become successful professional dancers. This is all thanks to the dance teachers who have been working countlessly to help improve the techniques and abilities of students. But, what happens when somebody who has been part of the program for years, helped hundreds of students in which some became professionals, and wanted students to show their full potential, was about to have her position taken away? What happens to the dance program without a loving and caring teacher who wants to share her passion for ballet with other students? Would the students not even be able to reach their full potential without someone who would be willing to help them? Would the 40+ years of the program would now just go to waste? We ask all people, students, families, and communities to help sign this petition. Not only would you help out our ballet teacher, but you could see our ballet teacher willing to share her passion and help students unlock their full potential again.

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