"Teachers’ dissatisfaction with Leopold principal reaches boiling point"

Kurt Gutnecht writing in the Fitchburg Star: [96K PDF]

The management of Principal Mary Hyde has prompted a near revolt among teachers and staff members at Leopold Elementary School.

Discontent among teachers has been simmering for years and came to the forefront recently when Hyde, who’s been principal at the school for six years, decided to terminate a shared teaching arrangement that had previously been praised by Hyde and others.

Sue Talarczyk, who has had such an arrangement with Sue Wagner for seven years, unsuccessfully sought a fuller explanation for Hyde’s decision. Ninety-one teachers and staff members at the school signed a petition asking Hyde to reconsider the termination.

Appeals to district administrators to review Hyde’s decision were also unsuccessful.

Several teachers characterized Hyde as insensitive, intimidating and inconsiderate. All except Talarczyk asked to remain anonymous for fear of retribution.

Teachers interviewed for this article said Hyde made decisions unilaterally, without weighing the opinions of teachers and staff members. had actively solicited parents’support.

Posted by Jim Zellmer at July 28, 2006 6:22 AM
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