Pubdate: Sat, 17 Jan 2015
Source: Albuquerque Journal (NM)
Copyright: 2015 Albuquerque Journal
Contact:  http://www.abqjournal.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/10
Author: Elaine D. Briseno

RRPS BOARD HEARS SHOW OF SUPPORT

English Teacher Who was Forced to Resign Praised; Now at an ABQ Charter

A handful of people showed up to Monday's Rio Rancho school board 
meeting to support former V. Sue Cleveland High English teacher 
Katrina Guarascio, who resigned last month amid controversy over a 
writing assignment and how she conducted herself in class.

The district accused Guarascio of being unprofessional, repeatedly 
using profanity and sexually explicit language in her class. They 
said "numerous parents" raised concerns about her and her classroom.

In October, Guarascio instructed her students to pick a classic story 
and retell it in a unique way. One student chose to retell Jesus 
giving loaves of bread and fish to the poor by having him instead 
distributing marijuana to the sick. As part of the assignment, 
students read each other's stories and offered critiques. It was 
during this process that a student found the Jesus story offensive 
and complained to her parents who then went to school administrators.

The school placed Guarascio on leave for three weeks while they 
reviewed the complaint. She was given the option of making changes to 
how she taught or resigning. She resigned Dec. 3 but several parents 
and students protested her departure, calling her a good teacher.

The Albuquerque Talent Development Academy Secondary charter school 
has since hired Guarascio as an English teacher. She said Tuesday she 
misses her students but is excited about her new teaching job.

"I would like to say that I'm grateful for the continued support I 
have received from both parents and students," she told the Journal 
in a phone interview. "I still know how those students are doing in 
every class even though they are not in my class anymore."

The parents, and one student, at Monday's meeting wrote a letter to 
Rio Rancho Public Schools Superintendent V. Sue Cleveland requesting 
a meeting with her to express their concerns. They said they decided 
to attend the board meeting instead because she had not responded to 
their request.

Sophomore Isabel Schuman was in Guarascio's pre Advanced Placement 
English class and told the board that she's had to deal with a string 
of substitute teachers and left with busy work while the district 
looks for a replacement.

"I was cheated of nearly a quarter's worth of quality education," she 
said. "I had weeks filled with crossword puzzles and cranky subs and 
other busy work that had nothing to do with my English class. ...The 
needs of the majority were not taken into consideration ... I feel 
the situation could have been handled better."

The district said Tuesday that Guarascio's permanent replacement 
started immediately after the winter break.

Parent Myron Saldyt said Guarascio inspired his children "beyond what 
I thought possible."

"I feel a teacher who made a difference in my children's education 
leaving sends the students and probably also teachers the wrong 
message without some clarity... " he said. "I appreciate my free 
speech and I feel that teachers should also be allowed their free speech."

Cleveland told the speakers that she and the board were not allowed 
to respond during public comment or to discuss personnel matters.

Guarascio will be the featured speaker for the South Broadway 
Cultural Center's RESOLANA HEARTFIRE poetry reading on Jan. 21 at 7 
p.m. The center is at 1025 Broadway SE in Albuquerque. In other board news:

Happy Miller, the district's executive director of research, 
assessment, data and accountability, told the board that students in 
grades three and four will take the new statewide test that measures 
proficiency in math, writing and reading on paper instead of online. 
This spring the New Mexico Public Education Department will replace 
its Standards Based Assessment, which is administered on paper, with 
the Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers. 
Miller said at least 80 percent of students must take the test 
online. The test will be given to students in grades three through 11 
in public schools across the state.

The district recognized Maggie Cordova Elementary art teacher Mehrzad 
Banihashemi for being selected as the New Mexico Art Education 
Association Elementary Art Teacher of the Year. Banihashemi told the 
board that teaching was her dream job.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom