Date: Mon, 16 Jun 2008 19:12:27 -0400
From: Newt and Karen Heilman
Subject: Note from PHS teacher
Melissa Green asked me to forward this note to the chatlist.
Hi Everyone,
Valgean Mitchell, the principal of Perry Harrison School, sent a note home on the last day of school regarding teacher reassignments for next year. In this note, it was written as if my position, or basically, as if I was asked to resign my position as a teacher at PHS.
As a result, I have had several parents approach me to offer support & sympathy. While I sincerely appreciate this concern and kindness, I was not asked to leave. I turned in my resignation in February after accepting a
third grade position at Woods Charter School.
It was a very difficult decision because my heart and soul have belonged to PHS since I first stepped into that school as an ITS volunteer in 1997. I am leaving because of the pressure that all traditional state schools are under regarding standardized testing. (Yes, Woods has to administer the tests, but they aren’t under the insane pressure “to teach to the test” as traditional schools are.)
So, why I¹m thankful for the concern I have been offered, I made the decision to leave. And, a hard one it was – I LOVE PHS. I was in tears all day my last day at Harrison (which were set off by a farewell hug by that
sweet-sweet man, Ronnie Gilmore.)
One more thing, for those of you who saw the actual letter, NO, my name is NOT spelled with an “e” on the end.
Thank you,
Melissa Green
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