I am a Computer Science teacher in a public high school, and I have been teaching for 15 years.
Recently, I had a letter of reprimand placed in my personnel file by our Asst. Supt. The reprimand was for voicing my dissent on a policy in an email to a committee (of which I was a member) regarding a policy that is part of a technology plan to be presented to our school district's Board of Education for approval. My email was a reply to his new CIO/Data reporter, and the entire committee was cc'd. I purposefully omitted a salutation so that the email was not for any one person. I stated, "Philosophically, we can agree to disagree, I'm okay with that concept- we obviously have a difference of opinion on the impact of the suggested new policy," and was followed by the polite closing, "Have a good afternoon." Throughout the email I was professional, and polite, and never demonstrated any escalation of anger or intent to harm any person or any person's reputation. That email was followed by an email from the Asst. Supt. ordering me to meet with him- that email was cc'd to the entire committee, whom recognized his intention to reprimand me in some way. The next email suggested I bring a union representative to the meeting, but did not cc the committee. In an email exchange started by my union rep, to the Asst. Supt. and I the next day, my union rep stated his failure to recognize a problem in the email and the need for a meeting. I stated I was puzzled as well, and we had a meeting in which I received letter of reprimand, which would be placed in my personnel file. In said letter, he made the following statements:
"The purpose of this communication is to convey my disappointment in the way that you have expressed your displeasure with certain administrative decisions."
"I must take exception with you that the spirit of your email was intended to be a polite philosophical debate. Rather, I believe that your correspondence was rude and disrespectful as you veiled your disagreement in a threat to involve Board of Education members."
"It is my position that you have in fact injected your position into the school when you decided to use a threatening tone with Mrs. _____ by potentially involving the Board of Education."
"Please also be advised that any community member or staff member is always welcome to address the Board of Education in writing or in a public meeting regarding concerns that they may have."
"In summary, your behavior regarding this incident was inappropriate and counterproductive."
As a teacher, or a member of any other profession, my reputation is extremely important. Furthermore, if my position were to be eliminated, a prospective school district could see my personnel file, and the file could be used in a proceeding to have my certification revoked (not likely).
I wrote a rebuttal, and said rebuttal was not placed in my personnel file- I found out when I asked to see the file. I printed another copy of my rebuttal, sent it to the Superintendent of Schools for our district, and then the union (whom I cc'd on the letter as well) was told by the Asst. Supt. that my letter was accidentally left out.
Our Asst. Supt. is vindictive and sneaky- the common perception amongst the union membership. During the meeting he raised other issues, such as my going over his head on certain issues (his lack of knowledge in technology is bewildering [and he is in charge of it]), and that I don't get along with his technology department- a very common situation between Computer Science teachers and the tech department in most schools. I followed the chain of command, and he was always rude and/or dismissive, which forced my going to the Superintendent for the needs of my students, curriculum, and classroom. I have never been written up in all my prior years. I am appalled by the letter and his vindictiveness, and view the reprimand as defamation of character. Do I have legal recourse?
Recently, I had a letter of reprimand placed in my personnel file by our Asst. Supt. The reprimand was for voicing my dissent on a policy in an email to a committee (of which I was a member) regarding a policy that is part of a technology plan to be presented to our school district's Board of Education for approval. My email was a reply to his new CIO/Data reporter, and the entire committee was cc'd. I purposefully omitted a salutation so that the email was not for any one person. I stated, "Philosophically, we can agree to disagree, I'm okay with that concept- we obviously have a difference of opinion on the impact of the suggested new policy," and was followed by the polite closing, "Have a good afternoon." Throughout the email I was professional, and polite, and never demonstrated any escalation of anger or intent to harm any person or any person's reputation. That email was followed by an email from the Asst. Supt. ordering me to meet with him- that email was cc'd to the entire committee, whom recognized his intention to reprimand me in some way. The next email suggested I bring a union representative to the meeting, but did not cc the committee. In an email exchange started by my union rep, to the Asst. Supt. and I the next day, my union rep stated his failure to recognize a problem in the email and the need for a meeting. I stated I was puzzled as well, and we had a meeting in which I received letter of reprimand, which would be placed in my personnel file. In said letter, he made the following statements:
"The purpose of this communication is to convey my disappointment in the way that you have expressed your displeasure with certain administrative decisions."
"I must take exception with you that the spirit of your email was intended to be a polite philosophical debate. Rather, I believe that your correspondence was rude and disrespectful as you veiled your disagreement in a threat to involve Board of Education members."
"It is my position that you have in fact injected your position into the school when you decided to use a threatening tone with Mrs. _____ by potentially involving the Board of Education."
"Please also be advised that any community member or staff member is always welcome to address the Board of Education in writing or in a public meeting regarding concerns that they may have."
"In summary, your behavior regarding this incident was inappropriate and counterproductive."
As a teacher, or a member of any other profession, my reputation is extremely important. Furthermore, if my position were to be eliminated, a prospective school district could see my personnel file, and the file could be used in a proceeding to have my certification revoked (not likely).
I wrote a rebuttal, and said rebuttal was not placed in my personnel file- I found out when I asked to see the file. I printed another copy of my rebuttal, sent it to the Superintendent of Schools for our district, and then the union (whom I cc'd on the letter as well) was told by the Asst. Supt. that my letter was accidentally left out.
Our Asst. Supt. is vindictive and sneaky- the common perception amongst the union membership. During the meeting he raised other issues, such as my going over his head on certain issues (his lack of knowledge in technology is bewildering [and he is in charge of it]), and that I don't get along with his technology department- a very common situation between Computer Science teachers and the tech department in most schools. I followed the chain of command, and he was always rude and/or dismissive, which forced my going to the Superintendent for the needs of my students, curriculum, and classroom. I have never been written up in all my prior years. I am appalled by the letter and his vindictiveness, and view the reprimand as defamation of character. Do I have legal recourse?