I am writing this letter in support of Ms. Tammy Coleman and her potential denial of tenure and wrongful termination. 

As a founding member of Valley Central Parents For Social Justice, we have sought to be a resource and source of support for not only students and families, but also our hardworking and amazing teaching staff in the Valley Central School District. We have found ourselves in a position of standing with students and families when they are treated unfairly, or in a discriminatory manner, by the District. We have also found ourselves a sounding board for staff-both teaching and support staff, who have confided in us the wrongs they have witnessed committed against their students, and sadly against themselves and colleagues.

I am sad to report that time and again a picture is painted of fear and retribution that seems to be the prevailing management style of the central office administrators at Valley Central. Staff will encourage us to keep fighting for their students, but only after being assured their names will never be shared because the fear of retaliation and loss of income is so great. 

The same happens with parents who come to us distraught over unfair treatment of their child, but are too afraid to even speak at a board meeting because they worry their child will bear further targeting and bullying. Not from other children and their peers, but from ADULT administrators, and one name in particular continues to be at the center of these issues. 

So when we heard about the unjust situation Ms. Coleman finds herself the victim of, we felt the need to speak on this. Problems with this administration are not only commonplace, but even more troubling-they go unaddressed. New board members do not know that this administration has repeated this unprofessional behavior before, but they need to. Veteran board members need to answer why they continue to ignore multiple complaints from parents, students, teachers, building staff, and community members. 

There is an old saying “When a student fails, it is probably the student’s fault. When the whole class fails, it is probably the teacher’s fault.” How can the Board of Education look at MANY and very similar complaints being made about this administrator and think the problem is everyone else EXCEPT this administrator??