By Tien-Shun Lee
After investigating claims that a Rego Park elementary school principal verbally abused his students, the city Department of Education has ruled the principal’s actions did not warrant disciplinary measures.
In response to those accusations, PS 206 Principal Peter DeRise filed a $5 million defamation suit against Parent Association President Linda Glover for smearing his reputation.
“The report substantiated some of the allegations made by students that the principal made some inappropriate remarks, but the investigation concluded that his actions fell short of misconduct,” said Paul Rose, a Department of Education spokesman.
The Department of Education recommended that DeRise attend a leadership workshop for supervisors, said Rose, which the principal did not object to.
PS 206 is one of the top-performing schools in the city that have been exempted from the city’s uniform curriculum.
Last fall Glover prompted an investigation by Schools Chancellor Joel Klein’s office by publicly accusing DeRise of calling students names such as “idiot,” “pig” and “burger flipper” and telling students “this is my school, shut up.”
Glover further accused DeRise of banning certain “disruptive” parents from the school and demanding that students not speak and lay their heads down on a table after lunch.
DeRise denied Glover’s accusations as untrue and was suing the parent leader to defend his reputation, said DeRise’s lawyer, Matthew Delforte.
“She indicated that he was out of control, that he calls the children monsters and claimed that he was unfit to be a principal,” said Delforte. “These are allegations that Mr. DeRise takes seriously, having been a Board of Education administrator for 35 years… Linda Glover was making statements that were damaging to his character and his reputation and he felt the need to take action.”
Glover could not be reached for comment.
DeRise, who became principal of PS 206 in September 2001, said he meets with parents every day, and for the most part, they have been supportive .
“I’ve always had an open door policy. If there are complaints, I’ve always said to them come talk to me, sit down, have a cup of coffee and let’s see what it is,” said DeRise. “We’re good listeners, and we try to accommodate almost every parent where we can.”
Delforte said he expects the lawsuit, which was filed at the beginning of February, to go to trial in the fall.
“We’re confident that Mr. DeRise’s professional reputation and name will be cleared in the end,” said Delforte.
Reach reporter Tien-Shun Lee by e-mail at Timesledger@aol.com, or call 718-229-0300, ext. 155.
