Indian Education specialist wants to know why she's out of a job.
In her seven years as an Indian Education support specialist for Santa Fe Public Schools Glenda Frye says she's made an impact. The district's Native dropout rate dropped from 25.6 percent to 3.5 percent and, she says, last year Native American high school seniors achieved a 100 percent graduation rate under her guidance.
So she was outraged to learn her contract with the district will not be renewed for next school year and wants to know why.
Easier said than done.
Frye's superiors offer a variety of explanations for her dismissal. Alison Ryan, the Indian Education coordinator, oversees Frye. "Communication has been a problem and planning has been a problem and deadlines have not been met," she's says. To ensure the Native American program meets the cultural needs of students, the Indian Education program stresses parental involvement and input. Ryan feels Frye has lacked in this area.
Ryan also praised Frye. "I know the dropout rate is subsiding," Ryan says. "To her credit, Glenda does amazing grant writing and programming. It's just a matter of communicating with SFPS, getting the appropriate signatures, details. Those things needed to be worked out."
Janelle Taylor Garcia, director of Curriculum, Instruction and Professional Development, oversees Indian Education and offers an entirely different reason for the nonrenewal of Frye's contract. "It's being cut due to federal funding," she says. "We are cutting several positions in the district."
There is, however, the possibility that Frye's position won't be eliminated if the Title 7 funds for the Indian Education Department are adequate. Even if that happened, "the position will be re-posted and we'll look for applicants," Taylor Garcia, who declined to discuss Frye's job performance, says.
Frye says Ryan never reprimanded her regarding work performance and the only time Ryan criticized her was after she informed her that her contract would not be renewed earlier this year. She also says that she's been evaluated just a few times during her seven years as support specialist and that Ryan, who is new, never evaluated her. In response to Ryan's allegations, Frye says, "I feel like I've worked hard and tried to do a good job for these kids and families." She takes particular offense at attempts to undermine her work. "If someone said we don't believe this position should be in existence- that's OK," Frye says.
"But to discredit the work I'm doing is unfair. Not to acknowledge how far these children have come is unconscionable."
As for Taylor Garcia's explanation regarding federal funding, during the public forum segment of last week's school board meeting Frye asked the school board for confirmation that her position was being cut. "I'm not saying I'm a perfect human being, that I do everything right," she tells SFR. "But when you look at all the work I've done, it's hard to justify getting rid of me."
She also believes her outspoken nature contributed to the decision. "What's gone on historically is that I speak out," she says. "I'm a real advocate for Native American students who, historically, have had the largest dropout rate in the district. When I say, 'let's look at it, let's change it,' I think some people see it as a criticism of Santa Fe Public Schools."
