Teacher demands
answers on firing
By JESSICA SEDA,
njherald.com from the Web, January 27, 2006
HAMPTON, Jan.26 -- An
experienced special education teacher asked the township's school board
Wednesday to reconsider its decision to deny her tenure.
In an interview last week, she said she fears her race and/or sexual orientation
may have played a role in the denial.
In what is known as a Donaldson hearing, Dr. Juanita Kirton and a New Jersey
Education Association representative presented the board with reasons why Kirton
should not have lost her job in December.
"I was very surprised," Kirton said. "I've never not gotten tenure in a
district I worked in and I've done a lot at this school."
In New Jersey, a teacher usually receives tenure after three consecutive years
in a position. Kirton has taught special education for 35 years, with the
last three at Hampton's Marion E. McKeown School. In other districts, she
held administrative positions and her educational background includes two
master's degrees and a Ph.D. in special education.
A small crowd of both parents and teachers gathered at the hearing in support of
Kirton.
"Dr. Kirton teaches hands-on and really found a niche here," said Laura Heim,
who had two children taught by Kirton. "She adjusts to each student's
needs accordingly."
Kirton received a letter in December stating the board's decision not to rehire
her after Dec. 31. After requesting an explanation from the board, Kirton
received a second letter stating the reasons were poor planning and preparation
on her part.
Kirton says she has always received favorable evaluations and is concerned that
her race and/or sexual orientation were factors in the board's decision.
"When I first started, there were no other teachers of color and only one child
of color," Kirton said. "I was the only black, gay representative from
Sussex County to represent the union."
Superintendent Everett Burns said he had not heard any discrimination claims,
but that teachers are granted tenure based on their merit, performance and
ongoing assessments. Burns said Kirton was the only black teacher at the
school, but not the only minority.
"We work hard to have an equal representation of ethnic backgrounds between
students and teachers," Burns said.
The issue of discrimination was not brought up during the hearing, which was
held in closed session, said Michael Carroll, field representative for the New
Jersey Education Association.
"This was to respond to the reason the board gave for denying her tenure,"
Carroll said. "We did that by presenting her wealth of administrative and
teaching experience and I hope we were able to convince them to reconsider.
If that issue (discrimination) is raised, it would be in a legal forum."
The board has three days to respond in writing as to whether it will re-hire
Kirton or stick with its decision to let her go. If no change is made, and
Kirton still believes she was discriminated against, she has the option to file
a lawsuit against the board. Kirton has said she will wait to hear from
the board before discussing the matter with a lawyer.
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