Wicker Park Principal sends letter on behalf of 30 principals to Lewis and Brizard

A letter advocating principals' rights to retain their authority over who they can hire in the classroom was sent to Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) President Lewis yesterday and forwarded to Chicago Public Schools (CPS) CEO Jean-Claude Brizard this morning, Sept. 11. The letter is from Dr. Joenile Albert-Reese, Principal of Wicker Park's A.N. Pritzker Elementary School on behalf of 30 CPS principals.

One of the sticking points in negotiations between the CTU and the CPS Board is the pool of teachers that should be utilized in hiring. Should principals be able to hire at their own discretion or should they be required to hire teachers who have lost their jobs due to school closures.

Reese's letter reads:

"Re: Important item for the bargaining table

Dear Ms. Lewis:

We have been following closely the negotiation process between Chicago Public Schools and the Chicago Teachers Union. We think it’s imperative that principals be given the autonomy they need in the hiring process to do what is necessary to support our students and their learning. This autonomy is necessary to ensure that principals can hire the most qualified and best fit candidate for the position and our kids. Without this autonomy, principals may be forced to hire individuals whose skill set and value systems are not conducive to the school’s culture, mission, and vision. Please consider how important it is that we all work together to put the best educators in place for our students. While bargaining for the recall of displaced teachers I implore you to keep these underlined thoughts in mind."

The other principals who signed the letter are:

• Titia Crespo, Waters Elementary
• Nate Pietrini, Hawthorne Elementary
• Katherine Plocher, Burley Elementary
• Barry Rodgers, Northside College Prep
• Chris Dignam, LaneTech High School
• Sabrina Gates, Shoesmith School
• Cheryl Watkins, Pershing West Elementary
• Antonia Hill, Pershing East Elementary
• Juan Ocon, Benito Juarez High School
• Femi Worrill-Spearman, Al Raby High School
• Patricia Gonzalez, MAS High School
• Maria McManus, STEM Elementary
• Ethan Netterstrom, Skinner North Elementary
• Mauricio Segovia, Darwin Elementary
• Michael Beyer, Morrill Elementary
• Kelly Moore-Shelton, Poe Classical School
• Matthew Ditto, Andrew Jackson Elementary
• Greg Jones, Kenwood High School
• Sheldon House, Simeon High School
• Heather Yutzy, Belding Elementary
• Adam Parrott-Sheffer, Peterson Elementary
• Olimpia Bahena, Talcott Elementary
• Michelle Garcia-Jones, Chopin Elementary
• Eliot Konz, Rudolph Elementary
• Faren D'Abell, Frazier International
• Dr. Loretta Brown-Lawrence, Leland Elementary
• Dr. Natasha Buckner-Pena, G.R. Clark Elementary
• Suzana Ustabecir, Sayre Academy
• Beulah McLoyd, Michele Clark High School
• Shirley Scott, Ellington Elementary