ALEXANDER ELEMENTARY (RAE) (XVII):
Teacher fired for taping students' mouths shut.
http://abclocal.go.com/ktrk/story?section=news/local&id=3911830
The Katy Sun
April 13, 2006
Teacher's Firing Draws Reaction
By Mark Passwaters
A Roosevelt Alexander Elementary School teacher accused of putting tape on the mouths of several of her students to keep them quiet in February officially learned she would not have her contract renewed last week.
The decision which effectively ends the Katy ISD career of Jennifer Silva, was made at a special board of trustees meeting April 5 and was met with a mixed reaction.
Silva, who was initially suspended shortly after the incident was alleged to have occurred Feb. 2, was not at the meeting. When the members of the school board voted unanimously not to extend Silva's contract, trustee Joe Kimmel said the decision to terminate Silva's contract was made because she allegedly failed to comply with board policies and administrative regulations, didn't comply with district standards of professional conduct, falsified district records and misrepresented facts to a superior.
The board's move apparently did not come as a surprise to Silva. Her husband, Roberto-who had spoken to the board on her behalf at a previous meeting-had said she had already been informed by KISD officials that she would be terminated.
School officials, in turn, said they were operating in accordance with local law and following the stipulations set out in the contracts signed by every KISD teacher.
Not everyone in attendance at the board meeting was in agreement with the board's decision.
"It represents what they can do, the power they have out here in Katy," Katy resident Lisa Babin said. "It represents the irresponsibility of this board and this administration. If they can do this to a teacher, we knowthey can do this to a child. What next?"
Tracie Jones, who said her son was one of the students who had tape put on his mouth, strongly supported Silva's termination.
"I believe this is the most appropriate measure the district could have taken," she said. "I support it 100 percent."