Paterson School 21 Principal Resigns.

According to a recent news story, at the end of his second year, School 21 principal Everett Thompson has resigned to take a position in the Bergen County school district of Bergenfield.

Reports from those who have worked with Thompson at School 21 describe him as "ineffective" and a "joke."  The academic environment at School 21 has been described by some as "mayhem" and "out of control." 

A police report indicates that in November a student assaulted another student by stomping on his head and then punching a staff member in the face.  On information and belief, students assaulting each other, and school staff members, are more common at School 21 than principal Everett Thompson would have us believe.

A chief complaint about Thompson noted by some teachers at School 21 has been that he doesn't provide meaningful support to teachers.  "He's all talk and no game" remarks one teacher on condition of anonymity. 

Another teacher at School 21 complains that Thompson engages in nepotism with certain teachers described by former PEA union president Pete Tirri as "FOPs," or Friends of Principals. Such FOPs are alleged to engage in dereliction of duty, unprofessional behavior, and various misconduct right under the noses of the principal and assistant principal, with impunity.

School 21 students seem to echo teacher concerns.  One recent School 21 graduate remarks that "basically, teachers are getting paid to watch us, not teach us."  Another student states "some teachers act like they teach but they really don't ... you need to teach in order to be a teacher."

A former teacher at School 21 under Thompson's first year as interim principal claims that "it became clear early in the school year that the previous teacher in that position taught the wrong curriculum and used the wrong book!  The curriculum is posted on the district web site, it's not difficult to find and to follow." 

The teacher claims that Thompson didn't seem too concerned about it, and offered very little toward correcting the situation.  The teacher believes that Thompson didn't want to acknowledge the situation because it reflected poorly on Thompson's lack of oversight of a teacher who is alleged to be an FOP.  "Basically, the previous teacher of that class was not under enough scrutiny by the Thompson administration to detect such a glaring error for an entire school year."

Thompson's departure from the Paterson Public School district may just be a blessing for the district, opening up the potential for real improvement in one of Paterson's academically lowest-ranked schools.  One must wonder, what is wrong with Bergenfield that it would actually give Everett Thompson a job?