On Monday, May 23, 2016 Pueblo principal Augustine Romero set about saving the graduation rate by illegally changing the grades of failing students. The students in question, according to emails, had failed to submit work or were alleged to have committed plagiarism.
In those recently revealed and heartbreaking emails, the teacher at the center of the controversy, Yolanda Sotelo, shows herself to be a dedicated professional. The emails reveal a desperate Romero, who eventually decides to violate State law and alter the students’ grades in Culturally Relevant Curriculum (CRC) classes.
Initially, Romero had claimed that Sotelo suppressed curriculum from the students. His outrageous claim not only shocked educators, but confused them. Questions arose as to how a teacher, especially a dedicated teacher could “suppress curriculum.” The email exchange shows that to the contrary, Sotelo, who was instrumental in developing the Culturally Relevant Curriculum for the District, went out of her way to provide students every opportunity to complete assignments to “earn enough credits to pass the class and graduate on time.”
The emails clearly demonstrate that Romero’s claims were an utter fabrication.
Related article: TUSD Administrators Offer Tortured Explanations For Pueblo Grade Changes
Not only did Romero, Superintendent H.T. Sanchez and Governing Boards members Adelita Grijalva, Cam Juarez, and Kristel Foster attempt to smear Sotelo, efforts were made to intimidate the reporter, Valerie Cavasos with KGUN9 News, who broke the story.
As part of their effort to set the record straight and assist Sotelo, Board members Michael Hicks and Mark Stegeman filed a FOIA with the District. They received the revealing emails on Friday. Hicks has also called for an investigation by the Arizona State Board of Education.
Hicks said of the emails, “I’m just hopeful that the Arizona Board of Education’s investigation unit takes this issue as seriously as it has implications for all teachers. I, as a teacher of over 20 years and others in the teaching profession, have never heard the made up term “denied curriculum.” There is a reason why there is a law prohibiting anyone from changing a teacher’s grade but the teacher or a governing board.”
Hicks concluded, “I also find it very discouraging that the teachers union is remaining silent on this issue.”
The emails read:
From: Sotelo, Yolanda
Sent: Monday, May 23, 2016 12:29 PM
To: Carmona, Alma; Toro, Teresa; Romero, Augustine
Cc: Rosthenhausler I, Frank; Montano, Rafael; Fennema, Laura
Subject: RE: Seniors
May 23, 2016
When the senior CR classes were left without a teacher at the end of 2nd semester, I stepped up and took over because I did not want to see the students get cheated again. I taught at Pueblo for 31 years because I love the students. I love teaching here. I pride myself on teaching a curriculum that is academically rigorous so that students that continue their education will be ready and successful.
I now find myself in a dilemma that I should not be in. I asked students to read and show comprehension of the novels they read. I asked them to write a research paper, analysis and argumentative essays that are required of the CR program but also required of any English class.
With the expectation of five personal days, I was in class the 94 days that was required of me and every day I was on time. I created academically rigorous assignments. I let students through the whole year know what was expected. I made sure they knew where they stood in the class. I called parents when I needed to; I stayed after school once a week and even showed up in the mornings of the AZ Merit testing to help those that needed help with the essay I mentioned. Auggie, I did what I said I would do to help students so that they would go into the 4th quarter with a better chance of passing the semester.
After reading all the emails that have been going around, let me reiterate that the four students in question did not write the analysis and that is why they failed. [REDACTED] received a 0 on the essay because he turned in a plagiarized essay. He copied word for word the summary of the novel straight from the Stella Pope Duarte’s website.
My professional integrity is very important to me. I pride myself in creating and teaching a curriculum that will prepare students for their next stage of their educational career. I can say without reservation that I have done my job. After speaking with Maria Federico Bummer, she reminded me that my position was that of a substitute teacher. She said that my job ended on Friday and now I have CR duties that I must complete.
So even though my earlier email mail said I would look at essays if they had them, I will no longer do so. If you all want to make an administrative decision to override and change grades, that is your decision.
Respectfully submitted,
Yolanda Sotelo
—
From: Carmona, Alma
Sent: Monday, May 23, 2016 11:02 AM
To: Toro, Teresa; Sotelo, Yolanda; Romero, Augustine
Cc: Rosthenhausler I, Frank; Montano, Rafael; Fennema, Laura
Subject: RE: Seniors
In looking at [REDACTED] attendance, he might not be a good candidate…
Alma L. Carmona-Alday
Assistant Principal of Transformative Pedagogy
and Academic Associated Projects
—
From: Carmona, Alma
Sent: Monday, May 23, 2016 10:36 AM
To: Toro, Teresa; Sotelo, Yolanda; Romero, Augustine
Cc: Rosthenhausler I, Frank; Montano, Rafael; Fennema, Laura
Subject: RE: Seniors
Would [REDACTED] be a candidate for this as well??
Alma L. Carmona-Alday
Assistant Principal of Transformative Pedagogy
and Academic Associated Projects
—
From: Toro, Teresa
Sent: Monday, May 23, 2016 9:51 AM
To: Sotelo, Yolanda; Romero, Augustine
Cc: Carmona, Alma; Rosthenhausler I, Frank; Montano, Rafael; Fennema, Laura
Subject: RE: Seniors
Yoli,
Can we include [REDACTED] with and [REDACTED] ?
Tere
—
From: Toro, Teresa
Sent: Monday, May 23, 2016 9:48 AM
To: Sotelo, Yolanda; Romero, Augustine
Cc: Carmona, Alma; Rosthenhausler I, Frank; Montano, Rafael; Fennema, Laura
Subject: RE: Seniors
Importance: High
Thank you for this opportunity! I’m sitting here with Auggie; we need clarification on which essays you are referring to.
Tere
—
From: Sotelo, Yolanda
Sent: Monday, May 23, 2016 9:41 AM
To: Romero, Augustine
Cc: Carmona, Alma; Rosthenhausler I, Frank; Montano, Rafael; Fennema, Laura; Toro, Teresa
Subject: RE: Seniors
If they have their essays for me, I will look at them to determine whether they “earned” enough pts. They need to be turned in to Laura (I hope you don’t mind) and they need to be turned in today . She needs to verify that it was turned in today and the time it was. If they are in today, I will look at them on Wednesday.
YS
—
From: Romero, Augustine
Sent: Monday, May 23, 2016 8:30 AM
To: Sotelo, Yolanda
Cc: Carmona, Alma; Rosthenhausler I, Frank; Montano, Rafael; Fennema, Laura; Toro, Teresa
Subject: RE: Seniors
I totally get your perspective; however, grades are not finalized until 550 pm on Wednesday, May 25, 2016. Therefore, there is still time for these two to “earn” the points needed to graduate.
I truly hope you would give these two the opportunity to “earn” the points needed to “earn” the opportunity to graduate with their class; especially, given that we still have more the 57 hours left until we finalize grades.
Thank you for your consideration,
Auggie
Augustine F. Romero, Ph. D.
Principal
Pueblo Magnet High School
—
From: Sotelo, Yolanda
Sent: Monday, May 23, 2016 8:09 AM
To: Romero, Augustine
Subject: RE: Seniors
Auggie,
Yes, they were both close. I told each class how important it was to write the analysis on the 3rd quarter reading. Not all of them did it. When you look at [REDACTED] and [REDACTED] points, that assignment it would have earned them a passing grade. I know they want to graduate. The other students who wanted to pass the class wrote the essay. If they had each done possibly one more assignment, they would have earned the points to pass the class.
I am sorry at this point, according to the points they earned, let’s not forget that word earned, they did not pass the class.
YS
—
From: Romero, Augustine
Sent: Friday, May 20, 2016 5:23 PM
To: Sotelo, Yolanda
Subject: RE: Seniors
Yollie, what about the seniors who are close: [REDACTED]and [REDACTED] are 6% and 7% away from passing? Can anything be done for students like this?
AR
Augustine F. Romero, Ph. D.
Principal
Pueblo Magnet High School
—
From: Sotelo, Yolanda
Sent: Friday, May 20, 2016 4:51 PM
To: Romero, Augustine
Subject: Seniors
Auggie, as of 4:30 on Friday afternoon, I have 17 seniors who failed the class. I was not out to fail students, but some did not do the class work and homework that was required of them and/or some did poorly on the final. To quote Dr. Sanchez,”…there’s a right way of doing things and you work hard and you earn the grade and pass the class… .”
Those that failed didn’t work hard enough and they failed. They knew what they had to do to pass the class. I’m sorry I would have liked to have seen more pass.
I am taking a personal day off on Monday and will be at Pueblo on Wednesday.
YS
—