SOUTH SHORE — Powell Academy Principal Derek Jordan was abruptly reassigned, but not to any particular school, leaving the Local School Council baffled.
CPS removed Jordan on Aug. 14 from his post at the school at 7511 S. South Shore Drive, but has not reassigned him to another school and he remains at home at full pay, officials said.
“At this point, no one is giving us answers,” said LSC Chairwoman Shasta Johnson. “Everyone is saying it’s a personnel issue, it’s a legal matter that’s out of their hands.”
Adding to the confusion, Assistant Principal Angela Peagler left her job at the school to take a job in China four days before Jordan’s reassignment.
“When she left, she didn’t leave a paperclip behind,” Johnson said.
Johnson said Jordan's contract was renewed in June for another four years and CPS brought up no concerns with his performance at the time.
Johnson and others said they now feared shakeup in school leadership could jeopardize Powell’s level one status, which Johnson credited with getting the school off a list of schools to be closed in 2013.
Sheila Barlow has been appointed as interim principal. She was previously the interim principal of Clay Elementary in Hegewisch and was principal of Curtis Elementary in Pullman prior to that.
“CPS has high standards for its principals, and the district has determined that a change in leadership at Powell Elementary is in the best interest of students and staff,” said Bill McCaffrey, a CPS spokesman. “The district has appointed an effective, proven leader to serve as Powell’s interim principal, and we are committed to ensuring a smooth transition into the coming school year.”
McCaffrey declined to comment on the reasons for Jordan’s removal.
Jordan has faced discipline by the district in the past.
In 2013, he was formally warned by the Board of Education that “he has engaged in unsatisfactory conduct.”
Jordan was also the defendant in a 2012 lawsuit by Darryl Starks Sr., who was seeking $100,000 and claimed Jordan and CPS had failed to properly defend his son, Darryl Starks Jr., from bullying at Powell.
Judge Daniel Gillespie ruled in favor of Jordan and CPS in June.
Efforts to reach Jordan were unsuccessful.
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