Thank you. Now, for step one…

Thank you to the thousands of people who have expressed support for me and my work. For those who plan on taking some kind of action, please ensure it is purposeful and well-informed. With that said, any action should take the following information into account.
I STILL HAVE NOT BEEN INFORMED OF THE CHARGES AGAINST ME.
At this point, this should be at the core of any effort to support my case. Any protest or other efforts should focus on forcing CPS to tell me what they’re charging me with. Here is some background information that should inform such efforts.
CPS officials claim I missed a “hearing.” The claim is misleading to say the least. On Tuesday—the day before the “hearing”—they sent me the following message in an email:
“We have scheduled an important meeting with you at 2pm tomorrow regarding ethics and other matters. Please come to the Law Department on the 9th floor at 1 North Dearborn.  Thank you.”
First–As you can plainly see–there is no mention of any possible discipline or misconduct violations. There is no reference to my “employment status” in this message or even any direct indication that I had violated any policy. Just a vague discussion of “ethics.”
Second—it was sent on short notice the day before the meeting.
Third—it was sent via email. No phone call. No letter. Just a vague email the day before the meeting.

Unfortunately I didn’t receive the email on time because I took a sick day on Tuesday to take care of my son who had a minor surgery scheduled that day. I therefore could not attend a meeting that I didn’t know about. Based on the last minute email-only notification, it appears this was the result CPS officials were hoping for.

Again, since we don’t know what the alleged violations are, I believe ANY EFFORTS TO SUPPORT MY CASE SHOULD FOCUS ON FORCING CPS TO TELL ME WHAT THEY’RE CHARGING ME WITH. After they reveal the charges people can then decide what next steps need to be taken.

There is still quite a bit to be told about what happened on Wednesday. The corruption behind CPS’s actions that day was readily apparent. I intend to write about it soon. In the meantime, my attorney wants me to spend some time with him preparing our case. I’ll have a statement ready once that work is done.

Finally, my message is that we need to stay focused on the corrupt fiscal management and incompetent education policy of our district and our city. That’s what I’ve tried to highlight. This is not about me. This is about corruption, and I am an obstacle to that corruption. At some point I’m hoping all of us will be obstacles to it.

 

 

28 thoughts on “Thank you. Now, for step one…

  1. Thanks for posting this at the Diane Ravitch blog. As a citizen concerned about democracy, I will contact CPS, asking them to identify the charges.

  2. I’m with you 100 percent. As a former CPS parent, I am not surprised at all this is happening. Shameful.

  3. Thanks for the information. My whole family will be happy to help you, the teachers and all involved in this fight.

  4. I know your Angels are surrounding you during this “hellish” crisis, because you have neither lost your focus, nor your calm, which has a calming influence on us, your many supporters. Thank you, Troy, for fighting the good fight for ALL the Public School children in our city. We appreciate your voice and your leadership.

  5. This is a direct assault on you, and a warning shot to every free Negro and parent.

    There is no way around the fact that the good guys need to organize and seize control of government.

    1) It’s too late to file and run for office as a Democrat, but you can file as an independent until July 27 for a representative spot. I know that it would be a hard race, but if you announce that that’s what you are going to do. I’m in for $200, and I suspect I’m not the only one. Win or lose, if you can take the stress, it would be good for the struggle, and you’d set yourself up to run as a Democrat in the next cycle, if we don’t have to form a new national party because the Democrats have forsaken justice.

    2) However, Illinois is going to get 70 some odd Sanders delegates for the Convention. You should be one of them. I want you on that floor. I want you crafting the education platform. I don’t know if you can run as an independent and serve as a Dem delegate.

    What I do know is that I want you talking about education in front of every media outlet available. Thank you for not staying quiet. We use this to organize. We are teaching Americans how to govern from the bottom as citizens, and you, Wendy Katten, Rousemary Vega, Jitu Brown, and Joy Clendenning are shining examples of how we do this.

  6. I salute you Troy LaRaviere for having the courage to say what others only think, for standing up for what you believe in and for fighting for our most vulnerable children.

  7. Thank you for standing up for education. And, more personally, thank you for being my daughter’s principal.

  8. Thank you Troy for fighting a valiant fight. I am a CPS employee who is tired of the waste and corruption at the hands of this carpet-bagging Mayor of ours.

  9. Mr. LaRaviere I am a thirty year veteran teacher still going strong. I applaud and support your commitment to speak the truth. Thank you.

  10. As a Blaine parent, I support you, stand with you and will keep pressuring CPS to give REAL answers. When I see your efforts for better schools I think of this quote by Cesar Chavez.

    “Real education should consist of drawing the goodness and the best out of our own students. What better books can there be than the book of humanity?”

    I have seen you fight for this and we will fight with you.

    1. Thank you Michael. I am preparing my response to the charges now. I hope to make a public statement soon. I appreciate your support and I will live up to the faith behind it.

  11. Support and love coming to you from California. Please know I am following what’s going on in Chicago. I am a 20 yeas bootie busting teacher and I know you will prevail because that shows in your character, doing what’s right because it is right.

  12. This is unacceptable in today’s society I can not believe that a mayor who can’t even control the violence in his own city would stoop to such God Awful behavior… Fight the fight

  13. I am a retired middle school principal from the Chicago northwest and north suburbs who has relocated to Nashville where I continue to advocated for children and public schools. Although we have never met, I have followed your career and journey. With great admiration, I have marveled and applauded your advocacy work and have been your cheerleader from afar. I just wanted to drop you this note of appreciation and encouragement with the hope that your voice for children, fairness, and improved public schools will continue unabated. Wishing you the very best …

    Avi Poster
    Nashville, TN

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