Unusual Series Of D-205 Resignations

ELMHURST, IL — In less than three weeks, three middle school French teachers in Elmhurst School District 205 resigned from their jobs.

This prompted officials to revise the French program in the district's three middle schools. Now, students will get an in-person teacher a third of the time. For the rest of the time, they will be in school watching their teacher remotely.

Teacher Suzanne Lappe turned in her resignation Aug. 12, while her colleague, Carrie Worrall, did so three days later. The first day of school was Aug. 18.

A third French teacher, Ruth Miller, resigned Sept. 3, effectively immediately.

Worrall was in her first year, while Lappe was there three years. Miller taught 11 years in the district.

It is unusual for teachers to resign just as school is beginning, let alone three in the same program.

In a public records request, Patch asked for any documents in which middle school French teachers expressed concerns about the program or any other internal communications about the program going largely remote. The district provided no such documents in reply. This is an indication that all the internal communications were handled face to face or by phone.

Patch also sought the teachers' resignation letters, which the district released.

The letters were positive and indicated no trouble with the program.

In her letter, Lappe said she was recently offered a full-time position in another district and would sign her contract soon. She called teaching in District 205 "a great pleasure and an invaluable learning experience."

Worrall said it was with "heavy heart and much regret" that she was leaving. She gave no reason for her departure.

Miller also gave no reason.

"I have been so fortunate to have had the opportunity to learn and grow professionally during my tenure in Elmhurst. I will take these experiences with me and reflect fondly on the eleven years I spent in Elmhurst," she said.

For some reason, the district seemed to have a clue it would lose French teachers. In the spring, the district announced its middle school French program would go largely remote.

After concerned parents reached out to the school board, which was apparently unaware, the administration reversed course and said it was able to secure in-person teaching for the classes, so remote instruction was no longer needed.