E.C. Hackett at Blackmailers Don’t Shoot has been all over the case of Marcella Sills, principal of New York City’s P.S. 106 in Far Rockaway, Queens. Sills has a history of aggressive incompetence, yet the catastrophe that is P.S. 106 received an “A” grade under Mayor Bloomberg’s worthless system. Of course, the local hack politician — in this case, Queens Councilman Donovan Richards — offers excuses, trying to blame Hurricane Sandy for the problem. Now comes the news that complaints about Sills go all the way back to 2005:
Sills, 48, was a graduate of the [Department of Education’s] “Leadership Academy,” which trains principals, and had little teaching experience. Insiders said she lacked literacy skills, noting her invitation to a Nov. 23, 2005, holiday buffet “in honor of my gradutitude” to employees, including “security personel” and “custodially staff members.”
“Gradutitude”?
This is a woman whose annual pay — as best I can tell from the salary schedule posted by her union — is about $130,000 a year. And teachers have been complaining about her for years:
“You need to examine Ms. Sills’ inability to lead,” says a 2006 letter from a “concerned teacher” to top Department of Education officials, including Carmen Fariña — now the city’s newly installed chancellor — and then-Chancellor Joel Klein. “Teacher morale is at an all-time low.” . . .
The Post revealed last week that Sills for years has arrived hours late, and often failed to show, school sources said. Over the previous week, Sills missed all but one day.
The Far Rockaway school had no math or English textbooks for the rigorous new Common Core curriculum, no gym or art classes — kids watched movies instead — and no nurse’s office. Kindergartners sit in trailers that reeked of animal urine. . . .
A 2006 letter to Klein called Sills “vicious,” saying she “humiliated” children who were emotionally disturbed and punished school aides who complained about “unsafe, deplorable conditions” in the cafeteria. . . .
Sills ruled by threats and intimidation, ex-staffers complained. She “yells at a volume that resounds throughout the building, slams doors and uses foul language,” a 2006 letter to Condon claims.
That letter also accuses Sills of racism: “She has hired only black teachers and has targeted white teachers and a secretary.” Many left or were forced out.
Gosh, somebody ought to write a book about this problem.
