I have been silent about my encounter with the Vicksburg Warren School District, but it’s time that I speak out. My termination was a set-up. It was based on a teacher’s assessment of my abilities, a teacher who was not highly qualified but went the alternate route to certification. I am considered a highly qualified teacher.

The superintendent, Dr. Elizabeth Duran Swinford, and the assistant superintendent, Mrs. Johnson, had never been to my classroom for evaluation purposes. Yet, I was told by a teacher (so called lead teacher) that I would not be teaching special education anymore and would have to teach fifth grade next school year.

My record as a special education teacher speaks for itself. Over the years, I have taught many students and helped many students learn to read. Now, I’m being moved from my position as a special education teacher to regular education. Although I am certified in both, why move an effective teacher of reading when the district needs good reading teachers?

I acknowledge the fact that I’m not a reading specialist, but I do understand the art of teaching reading. There are many teachers who do not know a blend from a digraph, and I could help them. I did a workshop for a year helping young teachers learn to teach reading.

After almost 30 years of teaching, I believe that my district has forsaken me. I was terminated, my insurance was canceled, my sick leave days were taken from me, my classroom was destroyed and I have yet to sign a contract for the 2011-2012 school year. I was told by Zena King in the human resources department that Mrs. Johnson continues to hold my contract and she and Dr. Swinford were gone on vacation. This is after the fact that my lawyer proved that I was not insubordinate.

I don’t understand why a highly qualified teacher with a proved track record would be treated like a common criminal, while a teacher with a made-up, pieced-together transcript is elevated.

Would someone please explain this to me?

Tillman Whitley

Special education teacher