And our Jobs and Money too!
A former English teacher at Truebright Academy in Philadelphia (one of the boys’ schools) has filed a discrimination lawsuit in federal court alleging that the boys discriminated against her and had “engaged in a pattern of hiring, promoting, and paying less-qualified Turkish nationals more than American-born educators who were certified and had more experience.”
And apparently they also retaliated against her, demoting her from her position as the English department chair after she testified at a school renewal hearing. Wow! Does that sound familiar… you have to give it to the boys, at least they are consistent with their expected bad behavior.
We applaud Regenna Jalon for having the moxy to take on the boys, especially since it is extremely likely that our tax dollars will be funding the boys’ defense ala the school funds that our taxes paid for.
Does anyone else see the irony in this situation? We paid for the boys to come over here, essentially gave them the green light to not only take our jobs but likewise cherry pick the highest paying positions for themselves, and to continue their discriminatory actions against women and Americans in general; and then we also get to pay their lawyers with our tax dollars.
Now on the other hand, Ms. Jalon will have to pay for her legal defense, despite the fact that her tax dollars have already contributed to the discriminatory actions lobbied against her and for which she is suing.
Convoluted -- but true.
It’s like when you go to the pet store and you watch the little mice jump onto the wheel and spin and spin in circles until they finally figure out that they are really not going anywhere. That’s the American public – we’ve been chasing these charter school crooks in circles for over 13 years and are finally figuring out that we’re the ones stuck on the wheel while they’re out there eating our cheese.
Perhaps more teachers will finally follow Jalon’s path, and stop the 13 year- run that these boys have had discriminating against American educators – perhaps this will be the impetus that reclaims our jobs, tax dollars, and schools.
Perhaps…
Update on this blog --- The school settled with Ms. Jalon (settlement is confidential). If the school had not discriminated against Ms. Jalon as claimed, why did they settle?
And how can a settlement made through a publicly funded charter school be held confidential? It would seem that the tax payers should be allowed to view the settlement based on federal Sunshine laws...
Discrimination lawsuit filed against Turkish-run charter school
http://articles.philly.com/2013-04-06/news/38329682_1_truebright-phinorice-j-operating-charter
By Martha Woodall, INQUIRER STAFF WRITER Posted: April 06, 2013
A former English teacher at Truebright Science Academy Charter School has filed a civil rights suit alleging the Turkish-run charter discriminated against employees based on gender and national origin.
Regenna A. Jalon, who worked at the North Philadelphia school for four years, said in a complaint filed in U.S. District Court in late February that the school engaged in a pattern of hiring, promoting and paying less-qualified Turkish nationals more than American-born educators who were certified and had more experience.
A Truebright attorney said the school denied any wrongdoing when the suit surfaced during a hearing Thursday on the charter school's renewal.
Jalon was one of at least nine Truebright staffers who filed initial discrimination complaints with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission in 2011. She filed her suit in federal court after the EEOC issued a letter in January that said she could proceed with a lawsuit.
Truebright, which is one of more than 130 charter schools across the country linked to a controversial Turkish imam, is fighting to remain open. The school is being reviewed by the district on whether its charter should be renewed. A hearing will resume on April 26.
Truebright's board, top administrators and a third of its teachers are Turkish. Many of them are working in the United States on nonimmigrant visas.
Jalon's suit contends Truebright engaged in "a concerted effort to deprive" non-Turkish staffers of the ability to earn as much as the Turkish male employees.
The complaint also charges that Jalon was abruptly demoted from the post of English department chair in late August two days after she testified at the charter-renewal hearing.
According to the suit, Truebright officials retaliated against Jalon after learning at the hearing that she had filed complaints with the district and the state Department of Education in 2011 outlining alleged improprieties at the school.
During Thursday's hearing, a district lawyer attempted to introduce the suit as evidence to support the School Reform Commission's contention that Truebright's board had failed to address concerns of parents and staff, including discriminatory employment practices.
Brian H. Leinhauser, Truebright's attorney argued that Jalon's complaint was not relevant to the charter's renewal and should not be admitted.
"The inclusion of mere allegations is extraordinarily prejudicial to my client," Leinhauser told Phinorice J. Boldin, the hearing officer.
He added: "The school denies any wrongdoing."
Boldin, an outside attorney who is serving as the district's hearing officer, said she would take the matter under advisement.
The hearing stems from Truebright's appeal of a vote last spring by the School Reform Commission not to renew its operating charter on 18 grounds, including poor academic performance and lack of certified teachers.
After the hearing is over, Boldin will send a report to the SRC, which will take a final vote on whether to renew the school's operating charter.
Contact Martha Woodall at 215-854-2789 or [email protected]
And apparently they also retaliated against her, demoting her from her position as the English department chair after she testified at a school renewal hearing. Wow! Does that sound familiar… you have to give it to the boys, at least they are consistent with their expected bad behavior.
We applaud Regenna Jalon for having the moxy to take on the boys, especially since it is extremely likely that our tax dollars will be funding the boys’ defense ala the school funds that our taxes paid for.
Does anyone else see the irony in this situation? We paid for the boys to come over here, essentially gave them the green light to not only take our jobs but likewise cherry pick the highest paying positions for themselves, and to continue their discriminatory actions against women and Americans in general; and then we also get to pay their lawyers with our tax dollars.
Now on the other hand, Ms. Jalon will have to pay for her legal defense, despite the fact that her tax dollars have already contributed to the discriminatory actions lobbied against her and for which she is suing.
Convoluted -- but true.
It’s like when you go to the pet store and you watch the little mice jump onto the wheel and spin and spin in circles until they finally figure out that they are really not going anywhere. That’s the American public – we’ve been chasing these charter school crooks in circles for over 13 years and are finally figuring out that we’re the ones stuck on the wheel while they’re out there eating our cheese.
Perhaps more teachers will finally follow Jalon’s path, and stop the 13 year- run that these boys have had discriminating against American educators – perhaps this will be the impetus that reclaims our jobs, tax dollars, and schools.
Perhaps…
Update on this blog --- The school settled with Ms. Jalon (settlement is confidential). If the school had not discriminated against Ms. Jalon as claimed, why did they settle?
And how can a settlement made through a publicly funded charter school be held confidential? It would seem that the tax payers should be allowed to view the settlement based on federal Sunshine laws...
Discrimination lawsuit filed against Turkish-run charter school
http://articles.philly.com/2013-04-06/news/38329682_1_truebright-phinorice-j-operating-charter
By Martha Woodall, INQUIRER STAFF WRITER Posted: April 06, 2013
A former English teacher at Truebright Science Academy Charter School has filed a civil rights suit alleging the Turkish-run charter discriminated against employees based on gender and national origin.
Regenna A. Jalon, who worked at the North Philadelphia school for four years, said in a complaint filed in U.S. District Court in late February that the school engaged in a pattern of hiring, promoting and paying less-qualified Turkish nationals more than American-born educators who were certified and had more experience.
A Truebright attorney said the school denied any wrongdoing when the suit surfaced during a hearing Thursday on the charter school's renewal.
Jalon was one of at least nine Truebright staffers who filed initial discrimination complaints with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission in 2011. She filed her suit in federal court after the EEOC issued a letter in January that said she could proceed with a lawsuit.
Truebright, which is one of more than 130 charter schools across the country linked to a controversial Turkish imam, is fighting to remain open. The school is being reviewed by the district on whether its charter should be renewed. A hearing will resume on April 26.
Truebright's board, top administrators and a third of its teachers are Turkish. Many of them are working in the United States on nonimmigrant visas.
Jalon's suit contends Truebright engaged in "a concerted effort to deprive" non-Turkish staffers of the ability to earn as much as the Turkish male employees.
The complaint also charges that Jalon was abruptly demoted from the post of English department chair in late August two days after she testified at the charter-renewal hearing.
According to the suit, Truebright officials retaliated against Jalon after learning at the hearing that she had filed complaints with the district and the state Department of Education in 2011 outlining alleged improprieties at the school.
During Thursday's hearing, a district lawyer attempted to introduce the suit as evidence to support the School Reform Commission's contention that Truebright's board had failed to address concerns of parents and staff, including discriminatory employment practices.
Brian H. Leinhauser, Truebright's attorney argued that Jalon's complaint was not relevant to the charter's renewal and should not be admitted.
"The inclusion of mere allegations is extraordinarily prejudicial to my client," Leinhauser told Phinorice J. Boldin, the hearing officer.
He added: "The school denies any wrongdoing."
Boldin, an outside attorney who is serving as the district's hearing officer, said she would take the matter under advisement.
The hearing stems from Truebright's appeal of a vote last spring by the School Reform Commission not to renew its operating charter on 18 grounds, including poor academic performance and lack of certified teachers.
After the hearing is over, Boldin will send a report to the SRC, which will take a final vote on whether to renew the school's operating charter.
Contact Martha Woodall at 215-854-2789 or [email protected]
