Popular LAUSD teacher removed from classroom after fellow teacher files complaint

Despite continual problems growing out of the lack of an effective teacher evaluation system, the California Teachers Union ("CTA") prefers behind-closed-door politics and secret "investigations" to across-the-board evaluations of all teachers.

Many, if not most, principals fail to do observations of their teachers from year to year.  We need a system that puts impartial observers in every classroom on a regular basis. See SDER teacher evaluation plan.

Nationally recognized teacher removed from class after allegations of misconduct

By Zahira Torres

Los Angeles Times

June 17, 2015

Attorneys for a nationally recognized Los Angeles Unified teacher, who was removed from his classroom after allegations of misconduct, are issuing an ultimatum to district administrators: publicly apologize and let him return to work, or get sued.

Rafe Esquith, a longtime educator at Hobart Boulevard Elementary School who has written several books on teaching and received multiple awards for his work, has not been allowed to return to school since district officials launched an investigation in March.

Three months later, L.A. Unified officials have not clearly outlined the allegations against the popular teacher, said his attorney Mark Geragos. But Geragos said he learned that the investigation stemmed from a complaint by another teacher after Esquith read to a class a passage from "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" by Mark Twain...

District officials declined to provide details, except to say that “the goal is to complete the investigation before school starts in August.”