Watching Defeat in a Praised Principal

A misty-eyed Anthony Shallop took pensive pause in the audience of the contentious last night as, one-by-one, a long line of his supporters took their turn at the mic.

Affectionately dubbing him Doc, students, parents, teachers and fellow principals alike offered nothing short of a litany of heartfelt accolades for the High School South principal they desperately wanted to keep his job.

After more than an hour’s worth of people chiding the board, defensive queries and Shallop-centric anecdotes and speeches of praise, despite it all, Shallop ended up losing his administrative job.

Board members, save for one, said Shallop’s termination as principal and boot back to the classroom was the “right thing to do.” The audience said it was a diabolical dive into bad board politics harmful to the student body they were elected to protect.

Patch was there for the five-hour journey to Shallop’s public-despised defeat. The above slideshow offers a glimpse into Doc’s own moments. Thanks to Elizabeth Stallmeyer for providing these photos. Click on the image above.

On Monday Patch will provide a narrative and pictoral peek into the three-hour wait with Dr. Shallop’s supporters and some meeting snippets.