York High Teacher Reprimanded Over Privacy Issue

ELMHURST, IL – The Elmhurst School District 205 board on Tuesday night voted to publicly reprimand a York High School teacher for what it said was a breach of student privacy.

A few months ago, American Studies teacher Kelly DeLoriea wrote on a local Facebook page about how the child of her critic, Tom Chavez, attended her class for a couple of days.

For nearly an hour at the board meeting, DeLoriea's supporters spoke in her defense. They argued DeLoriea only wrote things about Chavez's child that he himself had said on social media.

They also contended DeLoriea was exercising her First Amendment rights.

However, Chavez said the issue had nothing to do with free speech and everything to do with state and federal privacy laws and the board's own policies, which protect student information.

Three dozen people showed up for the meeting, though most left as a later closed session about DeLoriea dragged on. During public comments, 15 of the 17 speakers defended DeLoriea.

After the three-hour closed session, the board voted unanimously to reprimand DeLoriea, with member Kelly Henry absent. In school jargon, DeLoriea received a "notice of remedy."

Before the vote, board President Athena Arvanitis announced that members had reached a consensus on the issue. She said the board held two closed-session hearings with the teacher and her representative.

She said the board's action was limited to the release of confidential information on social media. Arvanitis did not name Chavez or DeLoriea.

"In taking this action, it is the focus of the board of education to protect the confidentiality of student information in accordance with state and federal law and board of education policy," Arvanitis said. "Although it expects and encourages social media participants to be truthful and respectful, the board does not intend to engage in social media controversies."

The board also voted unanimously to remove previous disciplinary action taken against DeLoriea in response to the same matter. DeLoriea had been suspended for one day without pay.

After the meeting, Patch asked Arvanitis why the board publicly reprimanded DeLoriea when the district had already disciplined her. Arvanitis declined to comment.

In the spring, DeLoriea posted a comment on the Facebook page titled "Respect Our Students and Educators D205," or ROSE, which has nearly 600 members.

She said she had previously stated on the page that Chavez's student was never enrolled in her American Studies class. She then said she checked the record and clarified that Chavez's child was in her Advanced Placement Language class.

"No one from the Chavez family or the school communicated with me about a schedule change, mentioned that they had a negative impression or made me aware of any problem relevant to AP Lang," DeLoriea wrote.

She added that she taught Chavez's older student for a full year without any issues.

"All of the accusations that have been leveled by Mr. Chavez over email or publicly on the (Elmhurst Parents for Integrity in Curriculum) website, conservative talk radio, at board meetings, or in the Patch have focused exclusively on American Studies, so it was completely not on my radar that his student had an issue with AP (Language)," DeLoriea said.

Patch left a message for comment with DeLoriea on the board's action.

The board had planned to take action on the issue at its regular meeting a couple of weeks ago, but removed the items from the agenda at the last minute.

Many spoke in defense of DeLoriea at that meeting. Even DeLoriea took the podium, but she did not directly address the allegation.

For the last two years, conservatives have criticized DeLoriea and her fellow American Studies teacher, Lindsey DiTomasso, alleging their lessons are liberally biased.

The critics have included then-state Rep. Deanne Mazzochi, an Elmhurst Republican, and Chavez, who leads Elmhurst Parents for Integrity in Curriculum, or EPIC.

Chavez ran for school board in April's election. He and his three allies were seen as conservatives, while four others were perceived as progressives. The progressives, who now make up a board majority, won in a landslide.

DeLoriea did not attend Tuesday's meeting.

In her absence, she received much support.

Kaellagh Cassidy Millar, a 2005 York High graduate and Chicago Public Schools teacher, called for the board to reject the proposed reprimand.

"This (notice of remedy) resolution is about appeasement to the failed candidate," she said. "As a teacher of history, I can tell you appeasement is not the noble path. And it will not make the failed candidate go away. It will only empower him."

She continued, "With this reprimand, you send a dangerous message that workers' rights don't matter, that the contract you negotiated in good faith with the union doesn't matter and that the First Amendment doesn't matter. It's your legacy."

Laura Werly, a former District 205 teacher, asked why the board wanted to "placate an angry man."

"This parent goes after the teacher for years, and no one stops him," Werly said. "I believe my principal would have stopped this nonsense."

Kaellagh Cassidy Millar, a 2005 York High School graduate and a Chicago Public Schools teacher, on Tuesday defends York teacher Kelly DeLoriea during Tuesday's Elmhurst school board meeting. (David Giuliani/Patch)