On the last day of school this year high school principal Adam Nelson came to Priscilla Beck’s classroom and delivered the surprising news that she was being terminated from her .83 teaching position as an art teacher for the district. According to Pricilla’s husband, Cook County Health & Human Services Director Josh Beck, the termination was more indicative of retaliation for his previously raised concerns with the school administration’s leadership than a termination of a teacher who passed all of her teacher evaluations and received great praise at the June 15th school board meeting from those with the most experience observing her in the classroom.
Josh had many unresolved issues with the school administration before his wife was let go. Beck has approached the administration earlier in the year with numerous concerns he has received from the community regarding Human Resources practices, compliance with federally mandated Individual Education Plans (IEP’s), bullying, and other potential conduct violations. Beck addressed these issues in the following letter he read to the school board and administration at the school board’s June 15 monthly meeting.
“Good evening, my name is Joshua Beck and I am the husband of Priscilla Beck as well as the current Director of Public Health and Human Services (PHHS). As a disclaimer, I want to make it clear that what I am about to share is not the position of PHHS or the county. I am in no manner speaking, or have I ever spoken, on behalf of the county. With that said, my words must be considered in the context that the knowledge I have as Josh Beck the father and husband, cannot be separated from the knowledge I have from my position.
“The public perception of what has transpired is that my recent comments are in retaliation to this administration’s decision to terminate my wife’s teaching contract. I want to make it clear that I first brought my concerns about issues that are detrimental to the health and well-being of the community to Jeanne Anderson in January of 2017 at which time we discussed and it was agreed that my concerns should be addressed to Dr. Crandall. I raised my initial concerns to Dr. Crandall in February after our North Shore Collaborative meeting, as well as the need for a future conversation about my concerns. After the meeting, I once again met with Jeanne Anderson to discuss next steps. My next encounter with the administration was in April after (I.S.D. 166 principal) Adam Nelson inappropriately disciplined my wife and I not only referenced that matter to the administration, and the full board, but also began to expand on my other concerns with this administration, once again requesting an additional meeting with Dr. Crandall. Although Adam Nelson did apologize to my wife for his inappropriate behavior during that meeting, the greater concerns that I have raised remain unaddressed. The last day of school, once my wife had the opportunity to let all her children know that she would indeed be returning next year, Adam Nelson delivered her termination letter.
“Some Context. I chose to remove my first child from ISD 166 mid school year because he was being bullied and the working knowledge I have of the climate of the two schools speak to a much safer environment being provided at Great Expectations Charter School (GES) for students with social issues. My second child that we have decided to remove is profoundly deaf in both ears and is only able to hear through bilateral cochlear implants. Her IEP is very specific about her needs; one of which is her FM sound system that allows her to hear the teacher’s voice directly into her processors hence allowing her to follow along. Without this FM system, our child spends her school days primarily lost and confused. Her FM sound system was provided in November, three months into the school year. This is not to even get into the Federally Mandated IEP deliverables such as quarterly progress summary reports and meetings with the family as well as many other items. At this point, I have no choice but to remove all my children from ISD 166 as I have lost faith in this administration’s ability to provide for my children or to protect them from harm.
“My concerns with the administration of ISD 166 have been raised in multiple ways and with numerous levels of authority and gone unanswered. I had been left with little choice but to start a grass-roots movement. Unfortunately, in the process of uniting the community I have been privy to conversations with former and current staff, students, parents, and community members and cannot morally stand silent with the information I have. My hope is that this school board will accept their responsibility to provide oversight to this administration. I do not ask that you make decisions based on what I have to say. I do ask that you impose your due diligence to the voices of the people in this community and stand up for those who cannot stand up for themselves.
“Just one of many messages I have received from concerned parents. “I hope they don’t retaliate against ‘child’ because of my involvement. I have to admit I am a little nervous. I know that change needs to happen, and that other people feel the same. But I also see what happens to other people that speak out. It is sad that I feel that way. Probably how many feel. I just don’t want my child to be bullied and suffer because of my actions.”
“This does not match the ISD 166 vision that we moved here for. Issues with Human Resources practices, IEP processes, retaliation, and other concerns need to be addressed. I am an outsider that has been here for 11 months and this is what I have encountered in that short time. I truly believe that this board would not have to work very hard to uncover the same worrisome stories I have heard about this administration.”
Beck said that this is the last time he would speak about these matters. Since he read his letter to the school board and administration he has not received any feedback from any of them, nor does he feel they will respond to his concerns.
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