A teacher sleep-in to oust a Carson school principal

They marched, they chanted, they carried signs. Now teachers from Dolores Street Elementary School in Carson are taking their opposition to Anna Barraza, a little-liked principal with just one year on the job, to the streets. Overnight. With a camp-out. The Daily Breeze has details:

Tents, cots, portable toilets and generators will be set up in the evening -- and a potluck dinner will be served -- so protesters can greet Barraza on Thursday morning after she returns to campus from a summer vacation.

"We're hoping that with us willing to give up our comfortable night's sleep at our homes, that will send a message" to the Los Angeles Unified School District, said Vanessa Robles, who teaches first grade at the 678-student school.

With the support of their union, United Teachers Los Angeles, the school's instructors have been protesting against Barraza on and off since May, when they went public with complaints that the principal was domineering and not collaborative.

The Associated Administrators of Los Angeles, Barraza's union, calls the move "grandstanding" and says the matter should be handled through mediation. Sheriff's deputies in Carson, meanwhile, will cruise by the slumber party to make sure everyone's well-behaved.

S'mores, anyone?

--Veronique de Turenne

Photo: AP

Comments

[Kristal]

I graduated Dolores in 2007. My teacher was Ms. Adams. She taught us lots of things that I still use in 7th grade. I moved to Las Vegas right after. The elementary school my sister went to only taught half of what I learned at Dolores. So I was surpried that this happened. The old principals were not like this at all. I hope that they change the principal right away. And if the school district cares about the students they should change her.

[fiatagata]

I am 12 years old and i went to this school and graduated from Dolores!!As a student who loves Dolores i don't understand how any one would support a teacher who goes in classrooms and throws things around in the classrooms w/ or w/out the students in the classroom because she doesn't like the way its put..My fifth grade teacher was Ms.Vanessa Robles and she taught me many things that i use still in 7th grade! I have brothers and cousins in this school and i never went threw this and neither should my relatives or any of the students at this school.This principal is messing up this school and should be replaced PRONTO!!! If the school district cares about these students and this school let alone this community,they should replace this principal!!

sincerely,
Fiatagata McGee -Kersee

[Julie]

I think people jump to conclusions without knowing the full story. People are too quick to make negative judgements about school personnel. I think maybe they are not used to someone taking control and are used to getting away with how things were. I've worked for LAUSD for the past 6 years.

[Angelica Logan]

I am a parent of a Student at Dolores Street School in the City of Carson and I, as well as my husband, support our principal, Anna Barraza. Yes she is a new Principal at the school since September, and I believe she is doing a great job. Many things are different at the school and not every one will agree 100 % with the new leadership.

I can’t understand why the teachers protesting waited until two weeks before school ended before they started to protest and picket. I have crossed the picket line and no one ever approached me with their concerns. If there was a concern from the teachers it should have been brought to the parent’s attention as early as Back-to-School Night. I know I would have kept a watchful eye if I knew there was a problem.

It is being said that she will not talk to a parent when there is a problem with a child, and that is just not true. My child had a problem in school to the point that she did not want to go to school. The problem was that she was being picked on by a teacher. I went in and asked to speak to Principal Barraza and met with her. She fixed the problem, and now my child wants to go to school, wants to learn and is not afraid of what the day will bring. My Daughter greets the principal with a hug every day at the gate. People say that Principal Barraza is mean to the students but she is not. I know some teachers who are at the protest and have spoken out against her making allegations. Those same teachers are doing the exact thing that they are claiming that Principal Barraza is doing, being mean to the children and talking down to them. I myself have been talked down to by a teacher when I went to pick up my child in her classroom for a medical appointment. There are two sides to every story.

The teachers at Dolores are used to being able to do what they want and do not have to answer to the person in charge. Before the School year ended a field trip was organized for the 3rd grade class (my daughter is in the 3rd grade).
The buses that were going to be used on the trip were not sanctioned by the LAUSD and the parents were asked to send in a $25.00 donation to get the buses. The school is a public school so why are we being asked to send in money? Principal is aware of the policies and canceled the class trip until the proper buses were obtained.

The Teachers who are protesting state that all the parents agree with them in removing Principal Barraza and we do not all agree. Our school is below standards in testing and she is trying to fix that. I want what is best for my daughter in her education and Principal Anna Barraza is the ANSWER.

They protest the principal and not the Child molesters who live within blocks of the School. Don’t believe me check out Megan’s Law. I find it Funny that this picture that is shown with the story is out in the wild when we are in the City and there weren’t that many tents

http://www.meganslaw.ca.gov/search_main.aspx?searchBy=county&county=los%20angeles&lang=ENGLISH

Sincerely,
Angelica Logan
Barraza Supporter!!!!!!

[O]

Some people have waaaaay too much time on their hands. What would it be like if we camped out to get poor teachers out of schools. Would the Union allow a poor teacher's name and reputation to be blasted all over the media?

This is obviously a protest organized by few. Some of which who are no longer teaching and have never taught at Dolores.

[Angelica Logan]

I am a parent of a Student at Dolores Street School in the City of Carson and I, as well as my husband, support our principal, Anna Barraza. Yes she is a new Principal at the school since September, and I believe she is doing a great job. Many things are different at the school and not every one will agree 100 % with the new leadership.

I can’t understand why the teachers protesting waited until two weeks before school ended before they started to protest and picket. I have crossed the picket line and no one ever approached me with their concerns. If there was a concern from the teachers it should have been brought to the parent’s attention as early as Back-to-School Night. I know I would have kept a watchful eye if I knew there was a problem.

It is being said that she will not talk to a parent when there is a problem with a child, and that is just not true. My child had a problem in school to the point that she did not want to go to school. The problem was that she was being picked on by a teacher. I went in and asked to speak to Principal Barraza and met with her. She fixed the problem, and now my child wants to go to school, wants to learn and is not afraid of what the day will bring. My Daughter greets the principal with a hug every day at the gate. People say that Principal Barraza is mean to the students but she is not. I know some teachers who are at the protest and have spoken out against her making allegations. Those same teachers are doing the exact thing that they are claiming that Principal Barraza is doing, being mean to the children and talking down to them. I myself have been talked down to by a teacher when I went to pick up my child in her classroom for a medical appointment. There are two sides to every story.

The teachers at Dolores are used to being able to do what they want and do not have to answer to the person in charge. Before the School year ended a field trip was organized for the 3rd grade class (my daughter is in the 3rd grade).
The buses that were going to be used on the trip were not Sanctioned by the LAUSD and the parents were asked to send in a $25.00 donation to get the buses. The school is a public school so why are we being asked to send in money? Principal is aware of the policies and canceled the class trip until the proper buses were obtained.

The Teachers who are protesting state that all the parents agree with them in removing Principal Barraza and we do not all agree. Our school is below standards in testing and she is trying to fix that. I want what is best for my daughter in her education and Principal Anna Barraza is the ANSWER.

They protest the principal and not the Child molesters who live within blocks of the School. Don’t believe me check out Megan’s Law.

http://www.meganslaw.ca.gov/search_main.aspx?searchBy=county&county=los%20angeles&lang=ENGLISH

Sincerely,
Angelica Logan
Barraza Supporter!!!!!!

[caeduc8tor]

How did these teachers get their union to support them. How was this event organized? Our Principal is a dictator too and our Assistant Principal is even worse. Maybe this would work for us as well.

[JM]

This is not the first time she has had difficulties. She has left two other schools, Riordan Primary Center and Dena Elementary, under similar circumstances. This is not "grandstanding" this is desperation!

[o]

Teachers should understand that change is sometimes what a school needs. I feel that this community is not willing to keep up with the times and change. Ms. Barraza's is only doing her job by cleaning up after her teachers. Her only intention is to provide a safe environement for children. I would not want my child in a classroom full of animals that are picked up on the street and placed on the school classroom as a home for them. That is an unsafe condition for our children that may be expose to illness. These hyppie teachers need to be held accountable for their actions as well.

[erlyn]

I can't believe its taking this long to get rid of Ana Barraza. The district obviously doesn't care for our children, teachers and our school. Dolores St. School deserves a principal who really cares especially for our children. ...Get rid of
ANA BARRAZA>>..

[Michael]

It is sad that it has come to this level, but this type of action is apparently necessary. If the district will not remove an administrator that has offended the entire teacher base of a school, the district is simply not doing its job. If the district is wise, they will remove the principal to prevent potential strikes, school closure or teacher attrition.

[DoorSlam]

Why does LAUSD want to alllow mediation for poor adminitrators??? Professional educators can not assess a poor leader?

The LAUSD should thank teachers and terminate the Anna Barraza. Nothing distroys a school quicker than poor leadship from the top. What I would like to hear is the Door Slam on her way out of education.