Portelos Wins Termination Case: He's Back In the Classroom

I've been following the case and posting updates here periodically. For the unfamiliar: Francesco Portelos was an accomplished and respected STEM teacher at a NYC Intermediate School.
( middle school). He became aware of financial misbehavior by the admin there, reported it to the duly-appointed authorities and then immediately found himself pulled out of the classroom and exiled to rubber room for TWO YEARS while the apparatchiks built a convoluted and bogus case against *him*. ( Nice system we got here, eh?)

Anyway... after a six-month hearing the decision is in. He won. He's been reinstated. News posted to his website this pm.

Portion of the decision:


>>>Finally, the record is replete with evidence of Respondent’s exceptional teaching
and abilities from the administration, colleagues, parents and students. Only a few
months before things spiraled out of control, three administrators noted his significant
contributions to the school and highly recommended him to become an administrator.
Resp. Ex. 2. There was also testimony that Respondent worked collegially with other
teachers at I.S. 49 and volunteered his time to assist them with technological issues. T.
1779, 1921-1922. Many colleagues and parents testified regarding his dedication to
children and his ability to get “even the most troubled child’s attention and get them
interested in a lesson.” Given the challenging population of students at I.S. 49
this is no small feat. The unique attributes of this teacher, which the Department has
minimized, has many years ahead of him to provide a quality education to students and
make a difference in their lives. At the same time, Respondent, in his quest to defend
himself, lost sight of the fact that the Department is his employer, and not his enemy.

Notwithstanding the events of the last two years. Respondent must refocus his energies
on their shared mission of educating children.

After two years of reassignment, it is important that Respondent be returned to
the classroom. I have determined that the appropriate penalty for Respondent’s
misconduct is a substantial fine of $10,000.

—————

Thank you! Thank you again for your support. A big thank you to my lovely wife who had to raise our amazing boys and run the house in my physical and mental absence.

I will explain the $10,000 fine and specifications in more detail at a later time. Most of the 38 were dismissed and some smaller ones were sustained.

So I finally get to go back to Berta A. Dreyfus IS 49 to be a teacher to my students and chapter leader to my members!

When? Hopefully Monday. Yes, I know that they may still try to come after me, but that is my community school.>>>>>>

The rest:http://protectportelos.org/doe-vs-portelos-termination-verdict-is-in-826-days-after-they-took-aim-to-fire/