WEST HARLEM — Parents of students at Teachers College Community School, where a principal committed suicide during a state exam scandal, have rallied around their new leader after an anonymous letter questioning her qualifications was leaked to the press.
The unsigned letter criticizing new principal Michelle Verdiner, addressed to Chancellor Carmen Fariña, claimed to represent all parents of TCCS and was sent to more than 30 media outlets on Jan. 16. The following day, The New York Post wrote an article about the letter.
On Monday, Randle and four other parents penned a response letter to Fariña, stating their support for Verdiner and highlighting some positive changes she has brought to the school.
“The letter does not represent the views and opinions of the entire parent body,” said Shaqua Randle, president of the Parent Association Board.
Verdiner had responded to the anonymous letter during a PTA meeting Thursday, explaining no parent should ever feel that they have no place to voice their concerns and vowed to keep her doors open.
“We have to come together,” she said. “We are with each other for the long haul.”
The principal said she spent the days following the Post’s story away from the classrooms fielding phone calls from concerned parents who wanted to know where the letter came from.
Verdiner feared the negative press may make it difficult for the school to attract qualified teachers in the future because a quick Google search would lead them to the story.
Nevertheless, she was confident that the school would grow from the episode.
“I believe this can bring us together,” she said.
Parents who did not agree with the letter criticized the unknown author(s) for claiming to represent all of the parents of the school.
“How dare someone say they represent me to anyone anonymously,” said parent Christine Kovich. “What do we do now? Because there are many parents that do not agree with the letter, so what can we do to mitigate the damage and move on?”
None of the parents at last week's meeting claimed responsibility for the letter.
Some parents said they should take advantage of the letter and use it as an opportunity to talk about some of the issues in the school.
“We have to figure out a way to open up the conversation,” said Shaneeka Wilson. “I don’t like what they did. I wish they wouldn’t have done it, but it got us talking.”
Some of the issues involve the April suicide of former principal Jeanene Worrell-Breeden, parents said. An investigation conducted after her death substantiated allegations that she had forged some of the answers on the third-grade tests, according to the DOE.
Other parents are concerned about the district’s overall low test scores, despite the fact that their superintendent makes $215,000 a year and is among the highest paid DOE employees.
