Alafia principal to leave school

TAMPA -- After months of complaints from parents, Alafia Elementary principal Ellyn Smith is expected to step down from her post at the school.

On Tuesday afternoon Smith told school faculty members of her request not to be at Alafia next semester, said her husband, Ashley Smith.

He plans to address the Hillsborough County School Board at tonight's meeting to defend his wife, whom he says has been maligned by parents.

"The kids have been coming up to her crying, 'How can these people say these mean things about my principal?' " Mr. Smith said in a prepared statement. "It's not fair to the kids."

Plans for the near future include Smith working within the school district, though it's not clear in what capacity.

Frustrated parents have criticized Smith for months, citing high teacher turnover, low morale and concerns about student safety and behavior, among other problems. A recent school assessment cited a "very stressful work environment."

Parents have bombarded superintendent MaryEllen Elia with e-mails, phone calls and even started a blog. More than 270 residents have signed a petition calling for Smith's removal.

"We're excited and relieved," said Alafia parent Amy Dreyer.

Dreyer was on her way to the board meeting with several other parents Tuesday evening. Upon hearing the news, the group began to sing in celebration.

"Hopefully she won't be a principal somewhere else," Dreyer said. "These are traits no educator should have with children. So I'm glad that she's no longer going to be a principal with Alafia anymore."

Smith has been an educator for more than 30 years. She spent seven years as principal at Seffner Elementary before heading to Alafia in 2005.

Chandra Broadwater and Letitia Stein, Times Staff Writers

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Comments

[OMG]

Action plan

I just read it for the first time.

Ethics training?

How do you train someone to be ethical?

You either are or your not.

I can assure you that teachers and administrators have "ethics" training about every 2 years.

Whay? Didnt the Alafia admin take notes?

That action plan is so obviously silly. I think ROSSAC been doing CYA activities that for so long, they dont see how laaughable it is.

They honestly think intelligent citizens will believe that drivel?

I know they think teachers will, but they dont. They just keep quiet for fear of upsetting the administrators and suffering retaliation.

[teacher w/ brain]

Please, go on!

[ooops- Does "legal wear a uniform]

sorry.

How sad it is that it took me a minute to see it. Spell check doesn't cure poor editing.

Hate when that happens.

I still would like to know more about this post:

" ....We were going to go to the board meeting but were encouraged by legal to take the higher road and not speak- ....."

Posted by: anon | December 11, 2008 at 09:09 PM

Can anyone explain what "legal" is?

[nyc girl]

I think we should do spell check before we send a message, so it makes sense.

[Does "legal" where a uniform]

If I were to be "encouraged by legal", how would I know?

[MenckenJr]

teacher w/brain:

Where should I start? The reason that there is this "culture of iron-fisted parents" is that we've seen way too many instances of school administrations that can barely find their way around, much less keep a watchful eye on their schools and the students. We've seen way too many math teachers who think their job is to pay attention to the "mathletes" and more or less ignore everyone else (instead of trying to turn *every* kid into a mathlete). We've seen way too many teachers in general who can't or won't keep classroom discipline and don't have the personality to dominate a room and keep the kids in line. Want me to go on?

[WOW!]

If the people on this blog who support the has-been principal of this school are of the same mind set that the principal was, I can only imagine what the people who spoke out have been up against. It is truly a sad state of affairs that it got to this point but from an outsider, who has been following this situation, the parents of the school who had the guts to speak out should be proud of the fact that they did. Elia is a snake and she would not have forced Smith to transfer unless she had to. She had to because the evidence was overwhemlming just by what I read and watched. To the people who are trying to make the brave parents look like headhunters, I will make a lucky guess that your children are behavior problems that get their agendas signed and may possibly be bullies. When you are at a school that covers up problems like your children, you tend to side with the person who stops calling your job complaining about your problem child. Hope all goes well for those of you who have bully children. Update your cards so you can be called by the new principal.

[John]

Teacher w/brain, you are wrong. Many of these parents are not using their own brains to come up with their complaints, they are basing their summations on the wishes of school children and their clearly unbiased, professional observations. The best of which are done by teenagers, who, of course, never lie.

[teacher w/ brain]

Thank you, 9:47. For some reason, there is a growing culture of iron-fisted parents demanding to run the schools themselves. I really don't like it. I for one, do not demand my doctor, or anyone else I receieve a service from to do things my way or else. Since when do people think they get to run the show? I think the school board should make sound decisions regarding administrators and if that calls for removals, then so be it. The parents, however, need a serious reality check and should understand that you get educators to hold your children in the highest regard when you afford that same respect to the people who spend most of their day with them.

[bdalemom]

UFfan: "it looks like Ellyn hung in there longer than the rest but I guess even she can only take so much"? That woman has ice in her veins. Give me a break!

[UFfan]

My wife and I always supported Mrs. Smith, but honestly, I think that we like many others never thought that it would go this far. We thought that the School Board would hear the complaints of this group of parents and we would move on. We never thought that Ellyn Smith would request to be transferred. Alafia has a reputation in the district of very forceful parents, I think that the reason there have been so many Principals is that they have not stood up to them before. It appears to many that the reason the teachers that left did so was because in the past it was the Principals who ended up leaving, it looks like Ellyn hung in there longer than the rest but I guess even she can only take so much. In hindsight, we should have spoken up and defended her and now it is most disappointing that this is the outcome. As a parent, I do not want a group of other parents making decisions for our children's school, I want qualified educators making the decisions. I hope that all parents will let the School Board do their job and move the school forward from this point. I can already imagine the responses that this will inspire but while I understand that these parents are caring and concerned about the education of all the children, the way that this was carried out was very disturbing.

[who is legal?]

from anon 9:09:

Can anyone explain "encouraged by legal"

Who is "legal"?

First of all, I have a response, I just wasn't waiting by my computer for this. It posted twice, it wasn't an intentional response the second time. There is no need to be so hateful towards me. That response is exactly the point I am trying to make.

Secondly, I have to laugh because I HONESTLY have no idea what you are talking about. You are obviously referring to someone else. I did NOT send any emails to anyone NOR did I take my children any where around this. I never went to the petition sight. I did not speak at the parent meeting. If someone did these things to you, I am sorry (even though I feel similar things were done to me). But, PLEASE DO NOT ASSUME that just because I am making my comments heard that I am whomever it is you are referring to, because I am not. I have stayed quiet and out of all of this, and could not even begin to guess who you are talking about, nor do I care to. I hope this response clarifies a little bit for you.

[Anon]

SHOCKING!! You had no response. Nothing new. Sad. Hopefully, you will finally let it go.

[anon]

We didn't speak for the exact reasons I said... We have bullied and mistreated by other parents! We tried to speak up on the blogspot and then we were shut down. More than one person spoke up and/or agreed to work with her at that parent meeting and they were yelled at and since ignored!! Our kids were being impacted. We were going to go to the board meeting but were encouraged by legal to take the higher road and not speak- hindsights 20/20. Congrats your antics have won! Now let it go!!

[Anon]

You weren't called out until you sent a blog in favor of Mrs. Smith to personal e-mail addresses including mine and FORGOT to change your name on it! You brought your son to the petition sight to challenge them. If you wanted him to be shielded, why did you bring him? You have not told the truth about what you have done to escalate the situation with the other parents. You were blocked off the blog because you were putting insulting messages on it about mothers who stay home to raise their children. You did not have to visit the blog if it didn't suite your needs. You chose to start trashing the parents and some of them that you trashed know you better than you think. The school board meetings are public forums that you could have brought all your documentation to show that Mrs. Smith was a loving, kind person who had ALL 600+ children at ALafia in her best interest. You chose not to. Please stop pointing fingers at those that chose to take the other route and fight for their kids and what is right. People may be ignoring you because YOU, not Mrs. Smith, have directly insulted them and me. I am not a stay at home mom that lets my husband go to work hard while I stay home and do nothing. You were booed at the meeting for criticizing a woman who had concerns over the way her sons multiple broken bones was handled. Speak out but make sure you speak out the truth. I think it is you who needs to let it go.

[needing to learn]

to anon 9:09:

what do you mean when you say "encouraged by legal" ?

[anon]

We didn't speak for the exact reasons I said... We have bullied and mistreated by other parents! We tried to speak up on the blogspot and then we were shut down. More than one person spoke up and/or agreed to work with her at that parent meeting and they were yelled at and since ignored!! Our kids were being impacted. We were going to go to the board meeting but were encouraged by legal to take the higher road and not speak- hindsights 20/20. Congrats your antics have won! Now let it go!!

[Anon]

Why did none of you that believed in Mrs. Smith turn up at the board meetings to defend her? Why speak up now when it is too late? You have only shown up on blogs to berate the parents that had issues with Mrs. Smith. One parent spoke in her favor at the meeting in the cafeteria. The others were employees/parents that spoke up because they were protected and they could. Why was there not all the parents there to support her?

[Anon]

What tactics? I've been lied to and manipulated by some of these parents. I've had conversations with some of them to have emails the next say the conversation never occurred. I've seen parents send in notes and letters to the teachers complaining about some of the children in my child's class, with specifics included, only to learn that the child was not even in the classroom that day. My child has been told of too much of what has been going on by some of these parents' children. I was approached to sign the petition and when I politely declined, I was told that I would be given time to think about it and they would come find me later that day or the following day. These parents won't even look at me or respond when I say hello since I refused to sign.

While some of the complaints are valid, some of the stories are lies. I have been there and seen some the situations described and claims made, and they are false. Some of this became a big game of telephone. And it is relational aggression at its best. I have been quiet too long, and I feel like am a victim here!! They threw targets at Mrs. Smith but hurt a lot of us along the way. Again, not to say that she was always right, but they have stooped far below she could ever have.

[A Silent One]

I heard about the meeting, but choose not to attend. I read about it on the PTA website, as I view that periodically like I do the school site and the news blogs. I also was told one day during drop off about it. Plus the pta vote didn't mean much since things were solved prior to the pta meeting, although we did not hear about it until tuesday.

[nyc girl]

Mike
I'm with you on the voting, I paid to become a member, but I sure did not get any info about the voting......but then again I am not on their side either. Maybe I need to file a complain with the PTA board.

[Mike]

Hmmm....
About that PTA vote of No Confidence, how exactly did they inform the members of this emergency meeting that was off campus? I have yet to find one person who was notified about that meeting that was not in attendance, attendance that was very low even by PTA standards. Could it be that they only informed those who they knew were on the same side as the moderators of the meeting, to that I say hmmmmmmm??

[Hmm...]

I'm really trying to figure out what tactics people are taking issue with. Parents began with a meeting with the principal herself, to no avail. They went next to the Area Supervisor; still no results. Up one more rung to Superintendent Elia; again nada. Finally, they took the fight to the School Board. Under pressure, Elia sent in an assessment team which found serious problems with the principal, but still Elia stubbornly refused to remove her. The parents returned to the school board, ran a respectful petition drive where interested parties actually drove to them to sign at a public park, created a blog where Smith's victims could share their stories, answered media inquiries, pursued relief in a public meeting with Elia, had an attorney solicit a public documents request, communicated the seriousness of the situation to public officials, and lastly ratified by unanimous vote of a PTA general assembly a Vote of No Confidence in the Alafia Administration. Exactly what tactic was out of line? We played by the rules all the way up the ladder and ultimately defeated a corrupt process, a vindictive superintendent, and a failed principal. The real shame is that it took all that to accomplish the removal of a principal who should have been terminated months ago when the very first allegations were proven to be true.

[Jo]

Parents
Thank you on behalf of bullied teachers everywhere. You did what we are unable to do (without fear of retaliation and/or job loss). Congratulations on your victory over one of the most corrupt school districts in the state. I hope for the sake of your children that the board puts in a competant and inspiring leader who can start the healing quickly.

[Glenda]

Ding Dong the witch is dead.....so now the flying monkeys scurry in and take Principal Smith away....how much money that could have been toward actual teaching was used during that fiasco because the Superintendent refused to believe a group of parents and teachers, speaks volumes on the Superintendent's involvement with the actual people in her community, she doesn't care and this showed it...I agree with the Margret Mead quote never underestimate the power of a small group, justice was served for these families and teachers who suffered under Principal Smith's wrath!!!!

This is the first breakthrough in the corruption of the school district.

One of my favorite quotes-below but in this instead of the world the first step is their community

Ellyn Smith was forced out and everyone knows it.. I hope she won't terrorize other schools like she did at Alafia

"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has"

-Margaret Mead

[Alafia Dad]

Chip - Bring it on. Nothing I said was inaccurate.

[Gatorade]

Do I feel that Mrs. Smith should have left Alafia? Absolutely. I did have first hand experiences that were not great or productive with Mrs. Smith. Do I agree with the tactics used by the parents? Not all tactics. The entire situation ended up rearing a very ugly head and shed several people in a negative light (parents, Mrs. Smith, and the School Board). What is done is done and Mrs. Smith has respectfully resigned from her post. Can we please stop all the strife at this point and move forward? Let us celebrate the holiday season with our family and friends and allow Mrs. Smith to do so also.
Happy Holidays to all.

[Chip]

I bet Mrs. Smith has enough evidence of slander from quotes at school board meetings and in this paper to sue some of these self-righteous parents right out of their homes. She may be leaving, but I bet attorneys are lining up to represent her. When people are determined to "get somebody" they make a lot of stupid legal mistakes. What goes around, comes around.

[Pat]

Well now you have gotten what you asked for and who will you get in her place??? The word around the county is the parents at Alafia crazy and no one wants to go to that school, they will send a Principal they want to punish for something and stick them at Alafia.I loved how the "gentlemen" that spoke at the Board meeting who said that the parents would work with the School Board to move Alafia forward, are they all suddenly educators???? At least now that the parents have been so vocal the new administration will know who all the trouble makers are. Good luck Alafia, you are really going to need it.

[Victory]

The story Mrs. Smith originally related to a parent about children coming up to her was that they said, "Mrs. Smith, my mom wants you fired." More spin from the Smiths and the Superintendent. Bottom line is that the parents who refused to give up on their community school won the battle. The superintendent caved. Two of the School Board members worked their magic behind the scenes and now Mrs. Smith is leaving. We KNOW she was forced out and that this was not a choice she made. They can lie all they want just so long as no school, teacher, parent or child is ever subjected to her as a principal again.