Santa Fe Public Schools Superintendent Bobbie Gutierrez, top, and De Vargas Middle School Principal Diane Garcia-Piro, bottom, say the school is safe, over objections of Board of Education members such as Steve Carrillo, middle.
Halfway through lunch period at De Vargas Middle School on Feb. 1, an announcement came over the
intercom directing all eighth-grade teachers to report immediately to the cafeteria.
One student was “screaming ‘f— you,’ at the top of his lungs” when De Vargas teacher Pat Dixon, who spoke to SFR on condition her real name not be used, arrived at the cafeteria, and several Santa Fe Police officers were on scene. Principal Diane Garcia-Piro and Assistant Principal Anthony Salcedo, who were both off campus at the time of the incident, showed up, and Garcia-Piro “told the kids something to the effect like they have to make better choices and that she respects them,” Dixon says. “And at that point, several students yelled back at her that in fact [she] doesn’t respect them, and they got hauled off into some other area.”
According to Santa Fe Police Department Capt. Aric Wheeler and police reports, officers responded to a fight at De Vargas between two groups of students who had a disagreement; five kids were referred to Juvenile Probation and Parole for possible charges. The grandmother of a De Vargas student said in an anonymous voicemail to Santa Fe Public Schools Board of Education Member Steve Carrillo that the fight was a “mini-riot” during which a teacher and security guard were punched and kids were threatened with a knife.
“I have never in my life been so appalled and disgusted and frightened,” the grandmother said.
After the fight, a kid in Dixon’s class gave her a note saying he was scared of being targeted next and wanted to leave campus.
The blowup at De Vargas didn’t happen out of the blue. As SFR previously reported, teachers say fights have occurred more frequently there since former Vice Principal Jonathan Brannon was transferred to another school [news, Jan. 18: “Dangerous Mind”]. Last week, some De Vargas students started a petition to bring Brannon back, Dixon says. But after the fight, the school lost another faculty member who had earned students’ respect. De Vargas teacher José Duran was put on leave after the incident, even though Wheeler tells SFR that Duran was neither charged nor accused of any wrongdoing and that he broke up the fight before it escalated.
Garcia-Piro would not comment on why Duran was put on leave. But he’s not alone: Ortiz Middle School teacher Darryl Waller—who, according to his letter of resignation, was put on administrative leave after defending himself from a student’s “physical and verbal assault”—is resigning effective Feb. 29 [SFReporter.com, Feb. 3: “SFPS Teacher Resigns, Citing Unsavory Practices”].
“A dangerous situation is developing in Santa Fe Public Schools,” Waller wrote in his resignation letter.
SFPS Superintendent Bobbie Gutierrez says it’s not unusual for staff to be put on leave following a fight in order to protect both the students and faculty.
“When there’s been an altercation or physical contact with a student, we sometimes place employees on leave while we investigate,” Gutierrez says. “If parents hear this teacher grabbed this kid and did X, Y and Z, there may be truth in that; there may not be truth in that; but we need the opportunity to investigate,” Gutierrez says.
Duran declined to comment for this story. BoE Vice President Glenn Wikle, however, didn’t mince words when commenting on SFPS’ decision to put Duran on leave.
“I can’t understand why teachers would be off the job as a result of assaults instigated by students,” Wikle writes SFR in an email. “It’s not acceptable to allow violence to prevail.”
Wikle also added a discussion item on middle school discipline to the agenda for the Feb. 7 board meeting.
After the incident, De Vargas teacher Mike Molinari circulated a letter among school staff, alleging that neither Duran nor any other teacher was interviewed before he was put on leave—only the students’ side of the story was considered.
“This is disconcerting because…It appears that she trusts any student over any teacher, no matter who the student is and what their rap sheet is,” Molinari’s letter reads.
After SFR reported on Brannon’s removal from De Vargas, Carrillo met with some of the school’s teachers, who told him that De Vargas leadership “shifts the responsibility [for school security] onto the teachers, when this is clearly an administrative responsibility,” Carrillo says.
Dixon says that, after the Feb. 1 fight, Garcia-Piro castigated De Vargas teachers in a meeting and blamed them for the incident.
“She basically said the reason the kids started this brawl was because of the letter [signed by De Vargas teachers Jan. 6 protesting Brannon’s removal] and the newspaper article, that we were talking about the
newspaper article in our classes and stirring up their adolescent mentality to start this fight,” Dixon says.
In Dixon’s view, the real reason for the fight stems from tensions between Mexican nationals and native New Mexican Hispanic students, which have been simmering at the school since last year. Last week, Dixon says, things got out of control after the latter group wrote notes using anti-Mexican racial slurs.
Garcia-Piro vehemently denies blaming the Feb. 1 incident on the teachers.
“There is no way teachers could have been blamed for the incident in the lunchroom,” Garcia-Piro says. “Teachers were not to blame for the incident in the lunchroom. That is not what I said.”
Garcia-Piro would not comment on how she did explain the fight, saying she can’t because “there’s always potential for litigation in situations that are pretty involved like this.”
Although the Jan. 6 letter—signed by seven De Vargas teachers—states that students are “clearly running the school,” and SFPS acknowledges there has been no staff member to supervise the in-school suspension room since December, Gutierrez and Garcia-Piro say they believe the school is a safe environment for students and teachers. Garcia-Piro says De Vargas follows the SFPS code of conduct, with consequences for misbehavior ranging from parental notification to suspension. But Dixon says the vacancy in the in-school suspension room leaves teachers without options; with nowhere else to send kids who are acting out, the teachers have to simultaneously manage the disciplinary issues and continue to teach the class. Although Gutierrez says hiring someone for that position is a priority, Garcia-Piro says the vacancy shouldn’t prevent teachers from controlling their students.
“Most students shouldn’t be sent out of classrooms when there’s good classroom management,” Garcia-Piro says. She acknowledges that teachers are responsible for classroom management—but still claims that she’s not blaming teachers for student discipline problems.
Carrillo notes that parents to whom he has spoken have unanimously praised De Vargas teachers’ dedication and abilities. Dixon says Duran was one of the school’s most popular teachers and was proactive in rewarding students for positive behavior. The letter that circulated after Duran was put on leave urges De Vargas staff to write letters supporting him, emphasizing “how valuable he has been to our staff over the years.”
Gutierrez has a different solution to the problem: creating a new administrative position. A dean of students at De Vargas would “help with student discipline, with working with parents and engaging parents in finding the support they need in the community,” Gutierrez says. She will not consider bringing Brannon back.
“Why they got rid of [Brannon] I will never know, but everything is just blowing up at that school,” the De Vargas grandmother said in her voicemail. “There is no leadership; there is no control; I can’t ever get a straight answer from Miss Garcia…That principal has got no control over those kids. Please, Mr. Carrillo, go over there; find out what is going on; get rid of the problem.”
Carrillo says he will heed the call.
“I’m going to take action,” Carrillo says. “I’m going to do what’s necessary to save this school.”
I cannot speak to the fight as I did not witness it. However, to assert that it has anything to do with Mr. Brannon is just not true. I would tend to agree with the annonymous Mrs. Dixon's interpretation given in this article.
As to the issue with Mr. Duran, I feel for his plight. I know him to be a great teacher and his circumstances alarm me. However, per the CBA -article 12, section VIII, "When in the judgement of the superintendant or designee it is in the best interest of the of the District and/or employee to place an employee on administrative leave, such leave shall be with pay pending determination of the actionto be taken." Now is this the right thing to do? That can be argued but the procedure is in line with the CBA and District policies.
What grinds my gears is how the students were handled. I agree with the comment made about administration seeming to side with students over teachers. These kids that were involved were not suspended on the spot with no charges explained and Mr. Duran, in effect, was. This shows something scary on the horizon. I just hope that I never get caught in a situation where I was trying to help and I am asked to leave with no explaination.
As for Ms. Abbott. I invite her to come to the school and get her facts in order and quit trying to chase red herrings. Brannon is not the cause and bring him back at this moment is not the solution.
Shame on you Ms. Garcia Piro, for lying to Wren Abbott. There were witnesses when you blamed the teachers and the letter and the SFR article for the brawl at DeVargas. And shame on you too, Bobbie Guiterrez, DeVargas doesn't need another of your stellar administrators, besides, if the new Dean is any good at all, Ms. Garcia Piro will trump up charges and be rid of him/her in short order. What needs to happen is a consistent fair discipline protocol and a teacher to administer it. But alas, no one wants to work with Ms. Garcia Piro. She needs to go somewhere where there are no behavior problems. That place would not be a school. Oh...and she really needs to stop lying.
Dear Migual,
If I was going to defend my mother for her inability to be a good leader I would want to show that she was first a good mother, which I'm sure she is, so I know she can not possible condone your vocabulary. I'm sure she taught you to use better language then the curse words you have been using. Defend your mother but please don't use such words
I feel that this incident is ridulous, school should be a place where students(and teachers) should be able to feel safe and unthreatened. maybe some cameras are due here. maybe a whole new administration. the fact that things like this can happen at a school is kind of frightening.
I am the son of Ms. Garcia Piro and from first-hand account I know this article is bullshit. My mother works so hard to straighten that dysfunctional school that she just moved to. The only reason the teachers who are behind this disaprove of her is that she is the first principal in a while to actually try and fix things in that school and those Teachers dont like change. My mother worked so hard last night, I fell asleep before she got back From Devargas. I am A freshmen at SFHS and I can see the truth that grown adults and this reporter can't.
Your support for your mother is admirable, young man. There is no doubt that your Mom works hard and works long hours like all SFPS principals. The problem is not however, how hard she works; its her inabliity to garner the respect from students and the majority of the staff, who have lived under her decisions during her year and a half at DV. The custodian at our school works hard too, but that doesn't mean he's the best choice to lead a school in crisis. It takes more than hard work to be able to be effective as the principal of a school. She is out of touch with students (ask about the time less than 2 months ago when she stopped the Holiday dance in the middle of a song and had students sit in the bleachers because she didn't like the way they were dancing). Her few supporters among the staff are mostly those 1st or 2nd year teachers (like Mr. Walnuts up there) whom she hired and spend half of their time in her office, kissing her butt so they can assure they are asked to come back next year. The fact are the facts and if her 610 supervisors/superintedents were not her good friends, they could look objectively at the leadership and conditions at DV and have the wisdom and courage to see the problem and make the necessary changes. Your comment about her taking over a dsyfunctional school is consistent with her demeanor and attitude. She seems to believe that she has come to a dsyfunctional school with incompitent teachers and that only she has the solutions and the most experienced teachers should be systematicly removed. This is the truth that grown up adults do see and the supportive, loving son cannot.
I would kindly ask that you keep your slanderous toung behind your teeth, HELLO. Defaming me does nothing for your cause but make you seem bitter. I have not once in any of my comments addressed my feelings about Mrs. Garcia Piro and resent that you or any one would label me a kiss-ass.
I am not blind to the problems of our school, I just prefer action over inaction. Furthermore, if I am in the front office it is certainly not to talk to Mrs. Garcia Piro but to carry in other business as is in my perview. I do not have the use of my classroom during my prep and break rooms offer suitable accomadations to plan and colaborate. And as tot he comment of returning to this school. If I do it is because I am doing my job and because I like the people I work with. I am blessed by 3 outstanding team members and kids that make putting up with all this hub-bub worth doing.
I want you to consider this. Just because I want to work with someone does not mean I always agree with them or that I cannot see their faults. It means I understand we are human and that I can look past short commings in order to do what I can to make it better. In the case of this current issue, I feel that there are a lot of crazy things going on and we as a staff and community need straight answer and direct action. I am waiting for both and welcome the facts as they come my way.
HELLO, feel free to seek me out, if you are so bold. I have no problem speaking to you face to face.
Good Day
Since I dont know who you are,,, you may not be the teacher to which am inferring that seems to be in her office constantly I apologize if you are not that teacher. Rest assured that I will seek to talk to you personally so you can know who I am and we can discuss this. Peace.
HELLO, Just because a teacher is willing to work with my mom doesn't mean he or she is a Kiss-ass, it means he or she is taking an innitiative. Thanks for criticizing people trying to work with their principle and not even having the courage to use your real name when doing so. And PS. No shit a priciple would stop a dance if their dancing inapropriately. Do you condone kids dancing inapropriately? If so there is something very wrong with your teaching skills and their should be an article written about you instead.
Really, all of them? They were not dancing inappropriately. Where you there? I was. I've never seen that happen, have you? I thought so.
There are so many erroneous statements in this article and in several of the comments.
The reporter gives only one side of the story. Though Ms. Garcia-Piro was interviewed, her responses did not make it into the article. Hmmm...
It is SFPS District Policy- as it is in most districts across the country- to suspend a teacher when there is an investigation into an incident where a staff member is "named" by a student. Jose Duran IS loved by many, and is a great asset on our campus. The principal of a school does NOT make this determination, and blaming her is just another example of lack of knowledge. He will have his day, and I trust that all will turn out well for him.
I will use that to segue into Mr Brannon's transfer to another school because of Ms. Garcia-Piro and the comment that that are now more fights at DVMS: neither is true. The transfer decision was made at a higher level of administration, and there are NOT more fights at DVMS since he left. Again, people do not have the whole story.
As the new Positive Behavior Support classroom teacher at DVMS, I have had nothing BUT positive support from my principal. I spend more time in the front office with my students than anyone else does, and have experienced first-hand how discipline is handled by Ms. Garcia-Piro, since I sit in on every meeting with my students and parents.
Teachers were NOT blamed for the incident last week in the cafeteria: rather, they were held accountable for talking around or with students about their issues with the principal. it IS unprofessional for teachers to share or be heard sharing issues that belong to the adults. We are professionals, and we must act like professionals at all times.
And it is NOT a majority of teachers at DVMD who have a problem with Ms. Garcia-Piro; rather, it is a minority, but that is all it takes to make a lot of negative noise.
Ms. Garcia-Piro is a progressive principal who wants to make positive changes that will better support the needs of our students, and some teachers who have been at DVMS for years do not like these changes, whether they were implemented by her or not.
What I am tired of is what I feel is a witch-hunt at my school, which is making it very challenging for DVMS to do what we are all there to do- teach and learn, grow and change, and fill our students' minds with wondering, a desire to seek and succeed, and the knowledge to do so.
There is MUCH more I could add to this- MUCH more, and if anyone from DVMS wishes to speak with me, I will welcome the conversation.
That is my job. That is what I am there to do. And Ms. Garcia-Piro has my total support and admiration for acting with dignity while some denigrate her and her efforts on a daily basis.
My final words: when there is an issue in your life, take an honest look first at yourself, determine what YOUR role is in the situation, and work on that first,. THEN look outside yourself for answers if the situation is not resolved. I hope my fellow teachers come to understand that THEIR negativity is tearing apart our school, and recognize that THEY need to set the standards for students behavior, and be the role modles our students need. We are there for the STUDENTS!
Are you that first year teacher that spends a good deal of time in the office, instead of the classroom, making sure you have a job?
be carefl when Ms Garcia-Piro turns the corner, your nose might snap off.
Teachers WERE blamed for the incident on 2/1. You were NOT at the meeting.
Since Kris Sleicher was not at the meeting when Ms. Garcia met with the 8th grade teachers the day after the cafeteria incident, I am wondering where she is getting her information. It is clearly second or third hand information.
And please, KS, don't claim you know who or how many "have a problem with Ms. Garcia. I doubt anyone would confide in you because they do see just how much time you spend in her office. If Ms. Garcia supported ALL staff members as she supports you, perhaps she wouldn't have so many teachers doubting her administrative skills.
Amen Aon 6. Ms. KS Read the comments and talk to students, like before you make statements that are not accurate . There were less problems with students, call them fights or not, when Brannon was there. You are not paying much attention if you think its better w/o Brannon. You know what scares me , is that some readers might actually think that what you claim is true. How long have you been at DV?
I read the article, "Rebels with a Cause" with great interest. I am an employee at DeVargas Middle School and feel the newspaper article has a number of inaccuracies. I would like to set the record straight regarding the incident which happened at DVMS on February 1, 2012. I will go through the article and address the misconceptions on the points of which I have personal knowledge.
The Article stated: ". . . several Santa Fe Police officers were ont he scene." There were NO police oficers in the cafeteria at the time of the incident. The arrived well after the students involved in the incident had been removed from the cafeteria to the front office.
The article stated: "several students yelled back at her (Ms. Garcia) that in fact (she) doesn't respect them and they got hauled off into some otehr area." One (1) student yelled, "You don't respect us!" and yes, he was asked to go stand by the cafeteria serving line counter, away from his friends in order to prevent more heckling.
The article stated: " . . . a grandmother . . . left an anonymous voicemai for SFPS Board Member Steve Carrillo that the fight was a "mini-riot" during which a teacher and a security gurard were punched and kids were threatened with a knife." While there was a lot of yelling and posturing on the students' side, tensions were high and the situation was volitile, but there was NO actual fight. Security guards and teachers intervened before a fight ensued and no one was hurt.
The article stated: " . . . kids were threatened with a knife." There was NO weapon of any kind -- seen or unseen -- on campus. The rumor was started earlier in the morning about a totally different student not involved in the noon incident and was followed up by security and a counselor. They conducted a search and investigation and did NOT find a weapon of any kind.
While morale may be at an all-time low and there may be some philosophical differences on how the school is run, I venture to say ALL staff members agree that our ultimate goal is to provide an atmosphere conducive to learning which includes providing a safe environment for all students. I truly believe that on that front, the staff is definitely united.
Since the article and the previous article referring to DVMS both had some inaccuracies, I have this advice for the SFR reporter who happened to write both stories: Check your facts and then recheck them again. Do not make this school look like it is in total chaos. We know that DVMS is not perfect and, like any other school in the district, the city, the state, and indeed, the nation, we are experiencing some problems. However, I believe continuous articles like this contribute to give the school a bad reputation and are counter productive to what the staff is trying to accomplish. We have excellent staff members who have devoted their lives to educating the children of Santa Fe. It saddens me that many of my colleagues feel demorilized. DVMS staff members are professionals who deserve to be supported not only by site and district administrators, but by parents and the community at large.
Here here, Ms. Pepper! the staff is united on one goal; Educate our kids and keep them safe. I agree completely with your assessment and hope the community and administration will support us at this school. We are doing what few have the courage to do.
I second that and would agree all that was stated. I can confidently say that my fellow staff all seek for what is best for these kids.
Well stated...