NJ Principal Facing Heat For Alleged Text About Little Person

SOUTH ORANGE, NJ — An elementary school principal in South Orange is facing heat from a group of local parents after she allegedly sent a text message to a colleague that mocked a substitute teacher’s height.

On Thursday, more than 100 parents and community members attended a district-hosted meeting seeking more information about the accusations involving Marshall Elementary School Principal Bonita Samuels.

Many of those at the meeting were among the supporters of a recent letter to school administrators that demanded punitive action as a result of Samuels’ alleged December photo text of the substitute teacher – a little person - as well as a “pattern of bullying” aimed at other school staff, The Village Green reported.

Speaking at the meeting – flanked by an attorney representing the district - South Orange-Maplewood School District Superintendent Thomas Ficarra said that state law kept him from discussing specifics of a personnel matter. Officials told parents a decision on how to proceed would be made next week, NBC Philadelphia reported.

The letter from local parents to the district about the alleged photo text – which reportedly captured a substitute teacher speaking with another educator with the caption “LOL” - stated that Samuels later apologized for the incident. But the letter added that “it is impossible to forget the duress she has continually placed on fellow staff members and the insensitivity she displayed toward this student teacher who is someone’s beautiful child.”

SCHOOL DISTRICT STATEMENT

A spokesperson for the South Orange-Maplewood School District provided Patch with the following statement on Friday:

"In late December, a staff member took an insensitive and unprofessional photo of another staff member and texted it to a colleague. This incident does not represent the core values of SOMSD. The investigation has recently been expanded and we do not know all of the facts. Swift and immediate action was taken relative to the facts that were known in December. After a staff meeting on Tuesday, additional allegations were made, which are currently being investigated."

The spokesperson continued:

"The district is fully committed to the rights of all members of the community and will vigorously demand and ensure that all members of our community are able to work, learn and participate in every way, free from bias and intolerance in any form. Administrators and Board of Education members are not permitted to publicly discuss personnel matters, including what, if any, discipline a specific staff member receives for any action. Nevertheless, it is clear that this incident has impacted our community deeply. While the internal personnel matters are addressed, the superintendent is also working with professionals trained in restorative practices to develop a multi-layered, collaborative approach to help our community heal."

The spokesperson concluded:

"Restorative practices are a framework for building community and responding to challenging behavior and incidents. Together, we will make sure that everyone involved in or affected by the incident has a chance to process what happened, repair and restore damaged relationships, and help the school community rebuild trust."

LETTER TO PARENTS FROM SOMA SUPERINTENDENT

Superintendent Ficarra sent an email to parents on Friday afternoon in which he cautioned against "spreading rumors" and encouraged people to "fairly get all the facts from everyone's point of view."

Ficarra wrote:

"I met last night with Marshall School families to hear their concerns about an insensitive photo and text message sent by a staff member in December, and to share what I could, given the legal restrictions which prohibit public discussion of personnel matters.

"I began the meeting by affirming that the district is fully committed to the rights of all members of the community and will vigorously demand and ensure that all members of our community are able to work, learn and participate in every way, free from bias and intolerance in any form.

"I informed the families that swift and immediate action was taken relative to the facts that were known in December. After a staff meeting on Tuesday, additional allegations were made, which are currently being investigated. We are not able to publicly comment on the investigation.

"Nevertheless, it is clear that this incident has impacted our community deeply. While the internal personnel matters are addressed, I am also working with professionals trained in restorative practices to develop a multilayered, collaborative approach to help our community heal.

"I am committed to working with parents, teachers, administrators and students to ensure that everyone affected by the incident has a chance to repair and restore damaged relationships, and help the school community rebuild trust."

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