http://www.wlbt.com/
Jackson 12/21/06
Fired Head of Deaf-School Files EEOC Complaint
The recently fired principal of the Mississippi School for the Deaf has filed a complaint with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.
Pamela Hervey claims she was wrongfully terminated based on race. In a press release, Hervey’s attorney states Hervey is also distressed at the manner in which Hank Bounds, superintendent for the board of education, fired her without an opportunity to defend herself against “accusations of misconduct.”
Hervey was fired along with the school superintendent, Doctor Delores Mack Smith, only days after a late November protest by students. They were concerned that some of their teachers were not proficient in sign language.
Leader of state school for deaf is dismissed
Parents, teachers are confused by the sudden firing
BY RUTH LIAO
Statesman Journal
December 30, 2006
State education officials abruptly dismissed the director of the Oregon School for the Deaf, Jane Mulholland, whose last day was Friday.
The decision confused and frustrated parents, alumni and other teachers who felt Mulholland should remain.
State Department of Education Deputy Superintendent Ed Dennis said replacing Mulholland stems from a desire to lead the school in a different direction. Dennis did not give specifics regarding Mulholland’s performance, citing employment privacy reasons.
“We believe we could hire a stronger director,” Dennis said.
The school in northeast Salem enrolls about 120 students from kindergarten to age 21, half of whom live on campus during the week and commute back home to other parts of the state at weekends.
Dennis said he hoped to appoint an interim director by next week, and begin a search process for a new director soon.
Mulholland, 55, said she met with Dennis and her supervisor Thursday to discuss what she thought would be deaf-school operations. Instead, when she was told of her termination.
“I was taken by complete surprise,” said Mulholland, who has served as director since 1999.
Mulholland said she was not given a specific reason for her dismissal.
Parent Robin Brown said other parents and alumni plan to meet next week with the Department of Education officials about reinstating Mulholland.
“Jane Mulholland is an incredible supervisor and director,” Brown said. “We have a concern that if the Department of Education is choosing a direction that’s not in line with Jane, we’ve not been communicated with at all as to what that direction could be.”
Brown, who taught at the school for four years under Mulholland, said she’s also been frustrated by the lack of communication from state education officials to parents.
Margi Morgan, the president of Oregon Association of the Deaf, said she was disappointed by the state’s decision to replace Mulholland.
Mulholland “is open-minded and works with the deaf and hard-of-hearing students and staff very well,” she said.
Morgan said that she doesn’t think the Department of Education understands deaf culture and the tight-knit OSD community.
Dennis said the department is looking for a director who is passionate about student achievement, has strong management skills, works well with staff and students and can build relationships between the deaf community and the community at large.
“We’re looking for someone who’ll put a real premium on student success and student safety,” he said.
Mulholland has worked at OSD since 1989, serving as a supervising teacher for the elementary and middle school. She also served for four years as supervisor of the K-12 program. She then was appointed to assistant superintendent at the State Department of Education, which oversaw OSD. In 1999, she returned to the school as director. Her annual salary is about $89,000, according to state education officials.
Mulholland said she’s honored by the support shown by parents and alumni, but she hopes the focus remains on the students themselves during the transition.
“The OSD community, there’s no better community anyplace. It’s a fabulous group of teachers, alumni and the students. I’ve been so honored to be part of that community,” she said.
rliao@StatesmanJournal.com or (503) 589-6941
Director removed at Oregon School for the Deaf
Jane Mulholland, director for the Oregon School for the Deaf (http://www.osd.k12.or.us/), has been abruptly relieved of her position and will be replaced by an interim director.
Ed Dennis, deputy state superintendent of education, said Mulholland’s last day at work is Friday. He said the 136-year-old state school is moving in “a different direction,†and he and Superintendent Susan Castillo were looking for a new leadership to run the 120-student school.
Dennis would not delineate any shortcomings in Mulholland’s administration. He said he had an interim director in mind, but had not talked to the individual.
“I believe Jane was effective in many ways,†he said. “Without articulating specifics, I believe we can find stronger leadership for the school.â€
Reached at home, Mulholland said she was given no reason for her dismissal other than a desire for change. She said she was totally surprised and declined to talk about her thoughts. She could not name any issue at the campus that might have caused her dismissal.
Dennis said Mulholland’s departure was not related to a study about moving the School for the Blind to the larger School for the Deaf campus. Both schools are in Salem.
Mulholland, 55, started at the school in 1989 as a teacher and became director in 1999. Her annual salary is about $89,000.
The Oregonian, 29 Dec 2006 (http://www.oregonlive.com)