Should Wendy Portillo Still Be Teaching?
Published February 03, 2009 @ 02:00PM PT
Yesterday, Florida elementary school teacher Wendy Portillo appealed her one-year-suspension and termination of her tenure for having her kindergarten students vote out their classmate, Alex Barton, according to CBS 12 news. 18 teachers from Morningside Elementary School have signed a petition supporting Portillo's return to the classroom; some 2000 have emailed, calling for Portillo to be fired.
As a teacher, I simply find the whole situation unfathomable. I teach college students, but there are ground rules for, yes, the behavior of students, and also for teachers. It goes without saying that students must be taught at all times with respect and dignity and if there's problems, there are ways to address these, but never by turning the rest of the class into a kind of impromptu jury to pass judgment on their classmate. As a parent, I would not wish for Portillo to be my son's teacher.
Portillo is, it seems, a well-regarded teacher by her peers, from the CBS 12 report. One hopes that she can do the right thing now to show that she truly has the best interests of students in mind and, most of all, of Alex Barton.
Update 6.45pm EST, from cbs12.com:
Portillo retold the events of the day in May that stirred up controversy in the autism community and worldwide.
"I don't think we are ready for you to come back at this time." Portillo told Alex, "So I said let's take a poll. One of the students said what is a poll? I said, it is like a vote..it was just yes or no."
Portillo said she put slash marks on the board in sets of 5, and had the students count their vote.
"Ok, 5-10, and they counted 11,12, and it turned out it was 14 to 2. And I said Alex we are sorry we are not ready for you at this time."
Alex was voted out, sent back to the Principal's office.
But Alex's behavior is common among children like him with Asberger's, a form of Autism.
"I thought it was an opportunity to show my students there are consequences for actions and to show empathy and understand that what they do affects others." Portillo said.
The district suspended Portillo for her actions for one year, banning her from ever working with elementary students ever again. The district said Portillo brought worldwide scrutiny to the district and she embarrassed a student with special needs.
This hearing is to appeal her punishment.
"Absolutely not. I would not do it again. I did not think at that time I was hurting anyone at that time." Portillo said, "If I could even take that morning back I would. I, I apologized to Alex's mom that day."
Portillo testified twice she apologized to Alex's family..
"Why did you apologize?" the district's attorney Elizabeth Coke asked in cross-examination.
"Because she said to me that I embarrassed her son." Portillo testified.
Not true says Alex's mother, keeping a close watchon the hearing form outside the door..
"She lied under oath." said mother Melissa Barton, "I asked him how he felt and he said I felt bad mommy, and she slammed her hand down on the table and pointed at him and said no you didn't."
"She did not apologize to me. She never apologized to me. Never."
Photo by Thomas Roche.
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Comments (31)
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Kristina is a Classics professor in Jersey City, New Jersey, a blogger (formerly at AutismVox), a translator (of Virgil), and an advocate every day for her son, Charlie.
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End the Perpetuation of Pity
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End the Perpetuation of Pity
If they're so hot to get rid of "unqualified" teachers under No Child Left Behind, why not broaden the definition of "qualified" to include "able to relate to students with disabilities", as one hopes it already does regarding students from various cultural and ethnic backgrounds?
Posted by Mark Romoser on 02/03/2009 @ 02:32PM PT
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There is plenty of video of her appeal online.
Cross exam
http://www.tcpalm.com/videos/detail/wendy-portillo-testifies-hearing/
and here
Full testimony
http://www.tcpalm.com/videos/detail/wendy-portillo-describes-vote-out-incident/
Posted by M B on 02/03/2009 @ 07:49PM PT
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I tried to view both of the tcpalm testifying videos but could not hear either one. I turn the volume slide over to the farthest. I could see some movement, but no sound whatever. Probably something I did wrong??
Barb Nelson
Posted by Barbara Nelson on 02/08/2009 @ 05:17PM PT
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Ms. Portillo is obviously not trained to teach children with special needs, and should not have been in charge of a classroom that includes special needs children. Alex should be in a classroom with collaborative team teaching: one general ed teacher, and one special ed teacher. That way, his behavioral issues would have been addressed appropriately. Disciplinary measures that "work" with "neurotypical" children -- such as time-outs -- don't "work" at all with Asperger's children -- these children simply do not understand. To further isolate them from their peers is devastating to them, because they often feel "left out" because they have difficulty "reading" social cues, engaging in reciprocal conversation and play, etc. It's terrible what Ms. Portillo did; she may be a good kindergarten teacher for general education students, but she is totally inappropriate for a child like Alex. From preschool and kindergarten on, these children need to feel included, and it takes a great deal of effort, sensitivity, and proper training.
Posted by Monica Pincus on 02/03/2009 @ 09:48PM PT
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Hi Monica,
The sad part is, Wendy Portillo is an ESE certified teacher in Saint Lucie County Florida.
What is even worse, the head of ESE at Morningside was called to witness on her behalf yesterday and was wearing a Support Wendy Portillo ribbon.
Posted by M B on 02/04/2009 @ 01:02PM PT
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Sounds like teacher-union solidarity stuff. I would be curious to know how on earth such a teacher achieves ESE certification, and how she was trained to address classroom behavioral issues. Also, why is she teaching alone? Up here in New York City, inclusive special ed classrooms (which have two collaborative team teachers -- one general ed and one special ed) are the model. Sometimes a one-on-one para or aide is hired to keep a child "on task" so that the classroom teachers do not become "bogged down" in disciplinary issues. But Ms. Portillo had no right to use a group of 5-year-olds as judge and jury of another child's behavior. It was totally unprofessional, never mind insensitive and cruel. If I were the parent of another child in that classroom, I would fear for my child's well-being under her care. Furthermore, has anyone taken into consideration the other children involved? I'm sure they don't feel justified in being forced to play judge; they must have felt, "I could be next". After all, they're only little kids. How have the other parents and kids weighed in on this? After all, if Ms. Portillo has her collegial support, you and Alex should have yours!
Posted by Monica Pincus on 02/04/2009 @ 03:08PM PT
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@Monica
>> Up here in New York City, inclusive special ed classrooms (which have two collaborative team teachers -- one general ed and one special ed) are the model.
Was this an "inclusive" classroom though? He didn't have a diagnosis yet. Maybe this would have come out differently if Alex had an official diagnosis. If that comment by Ms. Barton about Ms. Portillo's reaction to Alex saying he "felt bad" is accurate that could be her shooting from the hip because Alex didn't look like how a "typical" kids that felt bad would. As though she didn't have in their head the concept that a child could be remorseful, and not even be actually be making the conscious choice to act in a certain way.
The way I reconcile that with ECE training is that M. Portillo had (has?) some sort of switch where she'd not consider it as a possibility without an official diagnosis? That's a very erroneous thing to assume, especially for children as young as this.
Posted by Dwight F on 02/04/2009 @ 03:24PM PT
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You got it!
Sounds like in NY your classes are well organized.
The other parents from Alex's class have been supportive of Alex. There is one exception, but as for the parents of sound mind they are helping me out.
Mike Lannon the superintendent was very clear in his testimony, Wendy Portillo not only hurt Alex permanently, but every child in the class that day.
Some of the other children are showing PTSD symptoms. Everyone reacts in their own way to such horrible events. These young children now must get the help they need to move past what this "teacher" did to them.
Posted by M B on 02/04/2009 @ 03:26PM PT
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From what I've read in the media, it doesn't seem that the superintendent has taken a really strong stand. Concerns about the teachers' union, perhaps?
Posted by Kristina Chew on 02/04/2009 @ 07:27PM PT
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Well, to my knowledge Wendy Portillo is not a part of the union.
I think that the school district only cares about its own entity. They would have covered up the whole thing if they could. Now that the proverbial "cat is out of the bag" they care only about their image.
Posted by M B on 02/05/2009 @ 05:30AM PT
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"I thought it was an opportunity to show my students there are consequences for actions and to show empathy and understand that what they do affects others." Portillo said.
A lesson Portillo obviously believes should not be applied to herself?
Posted by Dora Raymaker on 02/03/2009 @ 11:46PM PT
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Too obviously, it indeed seems.
Posted by Kristina Chew on 02/04/2009 @ 07:24PM PT
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I'm not sure what to make of the petition from the 18 teachers. If that is just closing ranks, is there a "no big deal" attitude, if they didn't/don't like Alex and could see themselves having done the same or a similar thing?
Posted by Dwight F on 02/04/2009 @ 07:37AM PT
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The petition with the 18 staff members was disturbing and it tells me that there is still more work to do in this school.
Wendy Portillo was not "sorry" she claims that she apologized to me....never happened.....but, she is grasping at strings now and will say anything.
However, in her testimony she said that she didnt think she was hurting anyone. This tells me she would do it again.
Posted by M B on 02/04/2009 @ 03:29PM PT
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It is so very frightening to learn that Portillo says that she
apologized but never has. She's not only a cruel, mean, unhappy person who probably enjoys tormenting kids, but also she's an
overt liar. How scary!. Best of luck to bring that Cruela Portillo to justice. Barbara Nelson
Posted by Barbara Nelson on 02/08/2009 @ 05:07PM PT
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I really believe the answer is NO. Besides possibly damaging Alex for life she may have taught the classmates a pro-bullying lesson. I am also concerned for Alex because I remember times I was emotionally abused by teachers who misunderstood me; they still hurt.
This raises concern to me because I too have an ASD. Like Alex I too have Aspergers Syndrome.
I'm not unforgiving; but a claim of apologizing that wan't carried out isn't proof that she is really sorry. How can Portillo think that she wasn't hurt anybody? Would she have it done to her? I guess I am angry. Along with Barbara I too wish best of luck and my support bringing Cruella Deville Portillo to justice.
Posted by John W. Knapp on 02/08/2009 @ 07:16PM PT
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Dear Alex and Mom,first off-~~~ NO~~~~~~~GET RID of the TEACHER~~!!!
My grandson had been diagnosed with Autism and he went to morningside, but thank god, we took him out after pre-k grad and placed him into another school. if this happened to him, I would be furiious as well, this teacher has no compassion for a disabled child!! How would she like it if her peers, voted to kick her out of the classroom, like she did to your son. I bet she would hate that feeling and to know everyone didnt want her there would be enough. I know what your son goes thru, just watching my grandson. These teachers are NOT trained completely or long enough to now what to do with a autistic child or any form of autism..... yet to mention a child with other disabilities......... I know about that, my eldest daughter passed away jan 31st 07, from heart disease but some of the things she went thru in school were unbearable to her!! I guess they have not learned their lesson yet. And they are supposed to be a christian school??? Where is the compassion and the KINDness in KINDergarten??? Mom, hang in there, keep fighting for Alex, because if we parents don't , who will?? Another Autistic grandma and mom of heart defects in both daughters, Rhi and Jara(Jara passed..) from my heart to yurs, Dara (CHDMOM)
Posted by Dara Glagola on 02/09/2009 @ 06:30AM PT
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Dara,
I am sorry for your loss. I can't imagine living without either of my children. God has a plan even when it seems like we are lost.
Thank you for your support and kindness to my family. We as parents, grandparents and loved ones must protect our most precious rights in America. We can not allow discrimination to destroy our children, family and friends. IT STOPS HERE.
I am thinking about running for school board in St Lucie County this year. Please support me in my efforts if I do. I want change and healing for this community. "Teachers" like Portillo can not be allowed freedom to attack our kids. Administration in schools like Morningside must ... must be held accountable.
Thank you everyone who is supporting my family in these tough times. We are being refined by the fire and we will prevail!
Melissa
PROUD mom of ALEX!
Equal rights for ALL.
Posted by M B on 02/09/2009 @ 07:04AM PT
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Dont forget to sign the new petition on Change.org under actions in autism.
Posted by M B on 02/09/2009 @ 07:05AM PT
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Thank God Wendy Portillo's judgment was not remotely as misguided (if indeed it was misguided) as the judgment of those who attack her. To attack a teacher who chronically sought the help of her superiors in resolving a problem which was highly detrimental to the education of an entire class of children without attacking her superiors in administration is intellectually unforgiveable. Those with a HIGHER level of responsibility failed not only Alex, but every other child in his class be consistently ensuring by their inaction that Ms. Portillo's students would not have an environment in which their teacher had the ability to focus on her job: educating them. If anyone's head should be on the block, the administration which chronically failed to act should be removed before considering the removal of the teacher who tried everything she could save personally hire a Neuropsychologist to work with Alex. Notably, at the time, Alex' mother had not hired a Neuropsychologist despite extravagant evidence that her son needed medical help. Her failure as a mother to act in a timely manner to help her sick child is certainly much greater than any failure by a teacher to most effectively handle a neuropsychological disorder not entailed in her job description. If you haven't figured out that a parent has a greater responsibility to their own child than does their teacher, I'm not confident that any logic would educate you into sensibility. Ms. Barton failed her child, failed to get him the medical help he needed as expeditiously as she could have; the school's administration totally failed to address the needs of Alex or any other student in his class, and the result was an unfortunate occurrence at his school. Ms. Portillo was fighting in the trenches to help Alex and every other child in her class. Perhaps her judgment was imperfect...perhaps she made a mistake. Left with no way to possibly teach effectively because of the failure of Alex' mom and the school's administration to meet their responsibilities, Ms Portillo continued to try to think "out of the box" to help Alex and his classmates." Ms. Portillo should never have been placed in that position. This good woman should be given back her job, her tenure, back pay, and compensation for the abuse she has suffered because of the incompetence of others with much higher responsibility that she had in this situation. Attack Alex' mother for failing her own son. Attack the administration for failing to address the situation with Alex, and failing every other child in the class. Understand that just like you, Ms. Portillo is human, and will make additional mistakes in her life as a teacher. That's called being human. Truly caring about your students and wanting to educate them makes you a fine human being. Ms. Portillo appears to be one. It's not clear that human condition is true of Alex' mom, the administration who abandoned her, or her attackers.
Posted by Pete Eisele on 02/12/2009 @ 05:40PM PT
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Certainly it's imperative to know more about the administration's role in this situation and, in particular, what sorts of training was provided to teachers regarding addressing students who might have varying needs. Unfortunately, it seems that Wendy Portillo's actions here speak for themselves: As a teacher, one has an ethical responsibility to model appropriate behaviors and responses for one's students. Asking students to judge a peer in the manner that Portillo did does not strike me as a sound pedagogical practice.
Posted by Kristina Chew on 02/12/2009 @ 06:28PM PT
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Pete; please realize, Alex has never asked to be different. There is no excuse for what Portillo did. I may have cut slack if she proved that she did in ignorance and she was genuinely sorry and she would not do it again.
Pete; what if you had a child with an autistic spectrum disorder? Do you want the students of Portillo to bully him? Portillo sent the message that bullying is cool.
I am not unforgiving; There may be other things she can do. I don't think teaching children is one of them. However; she claims to have appologized to Alex's mom; to my understanding she hasn't.
Posted by John W. Knapp on 02/21/2009 @ 03:37PM PT
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Looks to me like her support team may be herself, still showing no remorse & blaming everyone else. It's amazing how pete want's Alex & staff to be held accountable but she should be excused because she only made a mistake.
How dare you play the victim & attack a mother who protected her child so diligently.
The teachers who support Ms. Portillo have questionale standards. Their support is sending a very bad message to the community.
This teacher is only sorry she got caught.
Posted by Anna Moore on 02/21/2009 @ 04:01PM PT
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Anna, you are so right. I did make one mistake; calling Portillo "Cruella Deville" which I am sorry I did. I have also submitted a request to change to delete that phrase. I do need to use more care that I don't let my anger take over.
Yes, she did send a very bad message to her community and her class. Not only was Alex hurt; the classmates got a lesson in being cruel.
Posted by John W. Knapp on 02/21/2009 @ 05:21PM PT
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Hmm, it sounds like Wendy Portillo's support team (lawyer?) has found this blog. Pete Eisele's attacks on Alex's mom were painful for me to read.
But I was also pained to read: "She's not only a cruel, mean, unhappy person who probably enjoys tormenting kids, but also she's an overt liar."
How about leaving it at agreeing that she's not competent to teach? Teaching kids is a tremendously hard job, and isn't paid well enough or given enough respect. This woman made a terrible mistake. She's paying for it with her noteriety. (Along with the kids paying for it, as Melissa describes.)
Let's model compassion for the sake of the kids who were hurt by this teacher's lack of compassion.
Warmly,
Sue
Posted by Sue VanHattum on 02/21/2009 @ 08:39AM PT
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"Pete Eisele" comment is a prime example of the mentality of some teachers in Saint Lucie County.
Bottom line, we need to work as hard as we can to change the message of that people like "Pete Eisele" spread. Hate is unacceptable and a good teacher would never harm a child.
Posted by M B on 02/21/2009 @ 02:46PM PT
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John, I guess part of what I was trying to say is that calling her Cruella Deville is not compassionate. She may not be a good teacher, as evidenced by this, but perhaps she is just as interested in being a good human being as we are.
I teach. I think of the possibility of making a mistake in a moment of stress. (I teach adults, which is way easier, in my opinion, but I still have to deal with behavior issues...) As badly as she has acted, I also feel for the teacher who did this.
Warmly,
Sue
Posted by Sue VanHattum on 02/21/2009 @ 03:56PM PT
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Sue, you were right. I have already sent a request to change, requesting they delete the phrase "Cruella Deville" but leave the rest of it. I did let my anger creep in. I also got idea because someone else in here said "Cruella Portillo." I have to give some possibility that she has made mistake in moment of stress. There may be other things she can do; but I don't think teaching children is one of them.
Posted by John W. Knapp on 02/21/2009 @ 05:10PM PT
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Melissa and Sue; you spoke so well. This is especially true; "hate is unacceptable and a good teacher will never harm a child." Wendy Portillo did not only hurt Alex and family, she sent a message; sent another confirmation "being cruel is cool" and "bullying is cool." To my understanding, Pete is guilty of that same crime. Yes, there is always gonna be bullying; but we grown ups don't need to perpetuate it, like Portillo and Eisele. We need to be doing everything we can to curb down the bullying. We need more punishment and deterrants for bullying. Alex didn't ask to be different; just like I didn't ask to be different. Melissa; you are a good mom for Alex. Please keep up the good work. Together we will get things done about the criminal activity that was committed against Alex.
I have posted this before; but there was a mistake in it, which I have removed in the new post. Portillo, if you read this; I think there are other jobs you can do, I don't see teaching children as one of them.
Posted by John W. Knapp on 02/22/2009 @ 02:56PM PT
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A good teacher will never INTENTIONALLY hurt a child. From all I've read here, this teacher did not intend to hurt the student.
People make mistakes. Was this really such an egregious mistake that she should lose her livelihood?
We are hearing one side of the story. The media does not present the other side; they present a third side.
Posted by Rich Vander Klok on 03/07/2009 @ 09:20PM PT
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Whatever Wendy Portillo's intentions, having the other students "vote" on whether one student could remain in the class does not seem like an appropriate pedagogical practice.
Posted by Kristina Chew on 03/08/2009 @ 07:53AM PT
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