Stony Creek Parents Ask Why Fourth Grade Teacher has Been Suspended

Parents with children in Ms. Judi Harris’s fourth grade class at turned out at Monday night’s meeting to ask why their children’s teacher had been suspended from teaching without pay.

Andrew Moore, a nine-year resident of Wissahickon School District, spoke on behalf of the parents about their children’s teacher who is suspended.

“To tell you how lucky you are and we are to have Judi Harris in our school district is an understatement,” said Moore.

“Judi Harris is by far the best teacher that Stony Creek has,” he continued.

Moore said Harris has lit a fire in the bellies of her students to learn and enjoy learning. He said she has succeeded where all other successful teachers have failed.

A letter was read to the school board, written by Michelle Preston, whose son, Egan is in Harris’s fourth grade class. Preston said other teachers have labeled Egan as a “problem child” and did everything in their power to keep him quiet and from distracting other children in the class. However, she wrote that Harris did not label Egan as other teachers and instead, “made me feel that Egan is a work in progress.”

“[Harris] believed in him when no one else did,” wrote Preston.

“What makes Judi Harris so unique is that these children know now, right at this moment, today, that she’s the most positive influence of their educational experience,” said Moore.

“Miss Harris is the kind of teacher than changes lives,” wrote Preston.

“Judi has taught us as parents how to handle and motivate our children consistent with they way she effectively handles and motivates our children. She let’s us know it’s a two way street, a commitment on both sides. A commitment that’s as important to her as it is to us,” said Moore.

Amy Ostroff read a letter to the school board, which she originally wrote to Superintendent Judith Clark. She explained that she had sent a letter to Stony Creek Elementary principal, Gary Abbamont, and Harris letting them know that their son Charlie would be home alone with their housekeeper while she and her husband traveled to South Africa to do work for their charity.

At breakfast buddies at Stony Creek, her husband spoke to Harris about their trip and she offered to have Charlie stay after school one day while his parents were away and take him out to dinner as a special treat.

“We were so touched that Miss Harris would make this very kind and generous offer,” said Ostroff.

Harris told Ostroff to send a note to her and Abbamont specifically stating that Charlie can stay after school and be driven by Harris in her car. However, Ostroff said she realized after she came home that she missed adding Abbamont to the e-mail.

“I was very distressed to learn that Judi Harris has been called to a hearing because of a mistake that I made,” she said. “She was told she did not follow protocol about Charlie being with her,” continued Ostroff.

Moore said Thursday afternoon, his daughter came home inconsolable because Harris could no longer be their teacher.

“We don’t know how to answer their question as to why their teacher isn’t there when they wake up and go to school,” said Moore.

“We plead with you and ask you to please reinstate her immediately to stop this damage,” Moore continued.

Clark told Patch that this is a personnel issue and has no comment.