Several parents and teachers in College Point want the city to end what they claim is an elementary school principal’s terror-driven reign.
They said Jennifer Jones-Rogers of P.S. 29 has wrongfully placed a handful of students in special education classes without notifying parents.
Critics also say the administrator’s “hostile environment” has driven away droves of teachers and has caused parents to pull their kids from the school.
“It is a shame that one person can do so much harm,” said parent Linda Briones, who has since transferred her child out of the school.
Marisol Chavez said her nine-year-old son Lukas “came crying home” at the start of the school year when he was put into a special education class.
“He said, ‘I don’t want to be in that class. I don’t belong in that class,’” Chavez said.
He spent a week there before Chavez was able to straighten out the mishap.
“I had to fight it. They made me cry,” she said. “She said my son would never perform well in another setting, that he will never succeed. It was horrible.”
The principal’s bullish tactics are also allegedly used on teachers who complain about her. Many said they had their desks taken away as punishment.
“It is clear that the principal has lost control of the school,” said State Senator Tony Avella, who joined about two dozen people at a rally on August 1.
The group called for the city to fire Jones-Rogers and start an investigation into apparent mismanagement of funds.
Educators say she has not provided a copy of the school’s budget to the United Federation of Teachers chapter president for the past two years as required.
Jones-Rogers is also accused of getting rid of the school’s library and computer lab.
“The current administrator at our school has created a learning and working environment that is detrimental to all,” said Stephanie Flunory, a second grade teacher.
P.S. 29 scored a “B” on its most recent city progress report. The school received an “A” in 2010 during the principal’s first term.
A spokesperson for the city’s Department of Education said the department is “aware of the concerns” and will address them.
The Council of School Supervisors and Administrators (CSA) vouched for Jones-Rogers, saying she is “widely considered to be a fine school leader.”
“This is a typical case of a handful of disgruntled people and a politician who is looking to further his constituent base in an election season,” said CSA Executive Vice President Mark Cannizzaro.
Jones-Rogers could not be immediately reached for comment.
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