Tenure charges are complaints the school district files to get rid of its worst teachers, whom the union defends. Any time charges are filed, they become public record -- as does the amount of money paid out to get some teachers to leave.
Out of Newark’s nearly 4,000 unionized, tenured teachers, only 15 were brought up on tenure charges between 2001 and 2005. Are there really that few teachers who shouldn’t be teaching kids? Or is the union making it too difficult to get rid of bad teachers? Read the tenure charges (acquired from the district) and decide for yourself.
All 15 sets of tenure charges (plus settlements, resignations, retirements, and firings) filed by Newark Public Schools against tenured teachers between 2001 and 2005 are available for download here. Everything posted is public record under New Jersey state law.
| Charges |
Resolution |
Download |
Slapped student in the face, raising welts and sending teacher's nail into the student's eye (Division of Youth and Family Services investigation said it substantiated abuse); hit student on the mouth with open hand; Maced a second-grader; put a stapler on a second-grader's lips and threatened to staple them shut
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Allowed to remain in her job for more than six months after charges were filed |
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Absent for 154 days in one school year
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Fired |
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30 parents signed a letter saying that their kids were being harmed by her failure to ever show up to class; continues to draw a $91,275 salary
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Unresolved |
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104 pieces of evidence to document “inefficiency”
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Fired |
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Pretended to be sick from one district job, but showed up to work at another to collect its paycheck; “willfully and intentionally misrepresented her medical condition and medical status to the District”
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Retired with no consequences seven months after charges were filed |
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Struck student in the head with an umbrella -- Division of Youth and Family Services investigation determined it constituted physical abuse
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Received 60 days of pay, plus was allowed to work for the district (though not with students) from 7/12/2001-12/31/2001 |
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“I'm going to kick your a--, b--ch,” with investigation two days later noting her slurred speech and unsteady walk; slapped student in the face for having received an (accidental) minor injury
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In exchange for resigning, received nine months of pay plus the value of unused days off |
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75 pieces of evidence to document “inefficiency”
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Received four months of pay (without having to work) in exchange for her resignation |
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Absent for 93 days in one school year; 35 pieces of evidence collected to support charges
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Fired |
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Screamed at another teacher and threatened to dump water from a cooler on her; shoved a student out of his classroom into a hallway; verbally abusive towards students; refused to let certain students enter his classroom despite a written order from his vice principal; hit a student twice with a door
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Retired, but allowed to work for the balance of the school year (more than seven months) |
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28 pieces of evidence to document “inefficiency”
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Retired with no consequences nine months after charges were filed |
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Record sealed due to involvement with the Division of Youth and Family Services
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Fired |
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Record sealed due to involvement with the Division of Youth and Family Services
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Unresolved |
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“You should get that now before she gets older”; “Look at those things”
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Resigned and retired but received pay from 4/23/2002 (when he gave notice) to 9/1/2002 (when he actually left); settlement includes school board's agreement to “provide only dates of employment and title of last position held” to prospective employers of his -- even if he'd be working with young girls again
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| 40 pieces of evidence to document
“inefficiency” |
Suspended with pay as of 1/26/2001, resigned but received pay through 10/1/2001
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