Teachers play an integral role in developing and influencing the minds of youth in our education system. When I think of mentors in my own life, Mr. Donovan is the first that comes to mind. Mr. Donovan started teaching social studies and coaching basketball at California High School in 1983. He later went on to lead various peer helping classes, evolving into the role of Support Coordinator. These peer helping classes were particularly effective; he taught students important relationship-building communication skills, such as reflective listening, mediation, and conflict resolution. Foremost, however, the most prominent gift Mr. Donovan gave his students was his own integrity as an example.

The forced resignation of Mr. Donovan uncovers a break in the evaluation system of SRVUSD that disrupts the learning ecosystem. Because a minority of parents was unhappy with decisions made by an experienced coach of ten years, he was forced to step down. This was after years of “investigations,” anonymous complaints, and false accusations, complaints and accusations which were all found to be false and that Mr. Donovan was cleared of by SRVUSD. Unfortunately, Mr. Donovan’s situation is not unique, as the women’s varsity basketball coach, Eghosa Obaiza, and varsity baseball coach, Dan Ward, also resigned after similar situations. While it is a blessing to have an involved parent community in our schools, our teachers must also be supported by the District. Yes, it is the District’s responsibility to maintain an environment in which parents’ concerns are addressed. But the District also must have a responsibility to maintain an environment in which teachers are not susceptible to the threats made against them by any party. If teachers and coaches do not feel supported, ultimately, it is the students who are denied an opportunity to be educated in the classroom and beyond by talented mentors.

These events reveal an underlying issue in which SRVUSD's lack of an effective process in the handling of parent complaints has directly harmed students and student-athletes. Please sign my petition asking SRVUSD to clearly establish procedures to fairly evaluate parent complaints against teachers and coaches employed by our schools.