Im going to fight him.. Admitted it months earlier, not long after the journalists had interviewed Coach Cunningham. The district had no additional comments Monday night because it is an ongoing personnel matter, a spokeswoman said in a prepared statement. SOUTHLAKE, Texas - Carroll ISD is punishing some students for an offensive video that shows a group of teens chanting the n-word. He has served 35 years in education, all in Texas, including as principal of Colleyville Heritage High School from 2004 to 2006. For Lori Lewis is, if not a pariah in Colleyville, a shamed woman in the eyes of many who believe her campaign has unfairly smeared its high school, coach, and football program. In the ensuing days, Whitfield found himself at the center of the debate over how race is taught in Texas schools. Notifications can be turned off anytime in the browser settings. All rights reserved, Highlighter: North Texas Students Help NASA Scientists, Educational Trailers Stolen After Presentations at Dallas Schools, Novak Djokovic Denied' US Entry Ahead Of Indian Wells, Joe Biden Asked To Intervene, Counseling Services Offered After Three Children Killed, Two Hurt In Ellis County, Check Your Change! Hate and #racism will not rule the day. Students at Colleyville Heritage High took the theme and ran with it in a Donald Trump-esqe direction before a game against Trinity High in Euless. Show us with your support. 535. Dr. James Whitfield has been promoted several times in the Grapevine-Colleyville ISD system. At that moment, it didnt seem like an earth-shattering admission. When Ted Beal answered his phone that morning, September 23, the nightmare began for the CHHS administration. He said the district wouldn't tell him why. He talked quickly, stumbling over his words, trying to explain his reasoning. Get the latest breaking news from North Texas and beyond. GPA is calculated on a 4.0 weighted GPA scale. The paper sent a photographer, who took a picture of the vial of steroids, commonly known as Deca. And the story ran on the front page of the Courier on October 1, under a three-column headline that read: Steroid Use Suspected in Some Area Schools., The impact on the administration was less than shed hoped. Well, I had an interesting day, he told his mother by phone that night. Lewis begged him to calm down. Maybe he wont tell anyone.Then she read paragraph 33, which detailed Patricks efforts to have a woman buy his needles so he wouldnt arouse suspicion: The cheerleader went to a nearby Kroger supermarket. It had absolutely nothing to do with race. The school district has called the photos questionable for an educator, especially a principal or administrator, and they said it has nothing to do with race. Mom, Im going over there. It has 2,123 students in grades 9th through 12th. MOM ON A MISSION: Lewis (left) admits that if she had known how her city would turn against her, how her son Bryan (right) would be ostracized, how her actions would be second-guessed by the police, it would have made her think twice. Devin Bryant, a senior at Covenant Christian Academy in Colleyville, says he was expelled for being gay and "evil." Principal Tommy Jeffrey doubles down on his decision, calls LGBTQ lifestyle non . 5401 Heritage Avenue, Colleyville, TX 76034 . And the Grapevine-Colleyville ISD has adopted an aggressive drug-testing policy, due largely to the hot media glare Lewis helped focus on the school and its tepid (in her view) initial response to her charges. Perhaps it goes without saying but producing quality journalism isn't cheap. By signing up you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy, Stand with us in our mission to discover and uncover the story of North Texas, 18-year-old man, student face charges after gun found in car at Colleyville Heritage High School, What we know after 3 children killed, 2 wounded at Ellis County home, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones defers comment on revival of sexual harassment lawsuit. A mother raising a teenage boy who decided to use steroids like too many kids do, or a football coach who didnt know? She was the founding editor of the websites PureWow Dallas and Racked Dallas. Beal said she was not cooperating. THOSE WERE THE GROUND RULES, never in question, always understood. As a new campus principal, we wanted to provide a smooth transition for Dr. Whitfield to Heritage Middle School, which is why we advised him of the concern and made a request for the photos to be taken down from Facebook.". Dallas Cowboys want another playmaker on offense. Twitter Fam, Youve probably seen #IStandwithDrWhitfield coming across your timeline, wondering what on earth is going on. She said that many other football players were using them, and her son told her that, because many players knew about it, the coaches either knew and didnt care or didnt want to know so they didnt ask how players had made sudden increases in strength and size. The parents shes known since Bryan played tee ball with their kids a dozen years ago ignore her. (CHHS officials declined to speak with D Magazine.) Some of the photos the district received contained poses that are questionable for an educator, especially a principal or administrator. Lori Lewis carried a pair of her sons jeans into his closet. Love will! Where did you get them? (817) 305-4700. They know.. COLLEYVILLE, Texas The embattled principal of Colleyville Heritage High School is expected to learn his employment fate this coming Monday. LIVE: Colleyville Heritage vs. Grapevine | 2023 High School Soccer - YouTube Premieres in 4 hours February 21 at 4:00 PM Rice Memorial vs. Colchester | 2023 High School Boys Basketball. Public school 1,974 Students Grades 9-12. "What he's done is said listen, we teach lots of different types of kids. at 7pm. Kids had easy access to steroids, athletes were using them, and high school administrators were in denial. Its he and his beautiful wife, they have a beautiful family, Sunni Roppollo, who has children at Colleyville Heritage High, told KXAS, adding that there was no reason to censor him.I chalk it up to educators are held to a different standard, unfortunately. As a nonprofit newsroom, we rely on members to help keep our stories free and our events open to the public. Per Pupil Expenditures: $9,925. Dr. James Whitfield has been on administrative leave since late August. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. It had absolutely nothing to do with race., The photo that aired in initial media reports was not the only photo that was received by the District, Kristin Snively, executive director of communications for the district, wrote in an email to The Dallas Morning News. When Bryan got to school on Monday, it didnt take long to see that his cover had been blown. It was time to do something about her own reputationand those of future whistle-blowers. EVEN THOUGH LEWIS HAD PULLED BRYAN out of school, he was still getting hassled. I am the first African American to assume the role of principal at my current school in its 25-year history, and I am keenly aware of how much fear this strikes in the hearts of a small minority who would much rather things go back to the way they used to be.". A petition in support of Whitfield has hundreds of signatures, and he said he's humbled for the support he's received and regrets he held this in for so long. (Cunningham says that at the time of the remarks, he didnt know Lewis identity, and he has since apologized.) This story has been shared 117,245 times. Its a smart school, too, well above state and national averages in students ACT and SAT scores. He hung up. Dangit, you got me!? Colleyville Heritage High School is the 235th largest public high school in Texas and the 1,266th largest nationally. Colleyville Heritage High School is a top rated, public school located in COLLEYVILLE, TX. Butbefore he could pop open the champagne his boss called and asked him to check his email. Dec 29, 2022 The 2022-23 UIL high school soccer season officially starts today and the Star Telegram released its first soccer area rankings this week. This Houston rodeo food vendor wants you to eat his rattlesnake, Astros GM Dana Brown has more praise team's top prospect, Heres how you can watch 'Daisy Jones and the Six', Proposed Texas bill gives tax cuts to heterosexual families only, These bites won big at the Houston rodeo's foodie awards. Hes not happy that Im still talking to the media. The CHHS teacher who cornered her in the parking lot after the second public hearing and told her many teachers supported her but were afraid to speak out. On February 4, the Morning News dropped that bombshell and used quotes and information from their interviews with Lewis and Bryan. Theyd made a mistake, she says. How many of them bought needles for players? The district told WFAA again Friday that the decision has nothing to. Going forward, Whitfield believes his work in education isnt done. Some in the district have accused him of implementing critical race theory in the classroom. The photos were from an anniversary trip. Among other things, SB 3 bans schools from making political activism part of a course and says teachers may not be compelled to talk about a widely debated and currently controversial issue of public policy or social affairs.. Ive moved on. Lewis pulled him out of CHHS and would soon enroll him in a nearby private school. ", "Anything that has to do with being inclusive, having a safe and nurturing environment for all students, they want to attach that to CRT, because it's the boogeyman buzzword of the day," added Whitfield. By signing up you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy, Stand with us in our mission to discover and uncover the story of North Texas, Colleyville Heritage principal accused of teaching critical race theory put on paid leave, the principal and a crowd of supporters attended a school board meeting, multiple sources in the district have said, an incident in which a school administrator asked Whitfield to remove a photo of him and his wife, who is white, After call for his firing, Colleyville Heritage principal speaks about critical race theory claims, What we know after 3 children killed, 2 wounded at Ellis County home, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones defers comment on revival of sexual harassment lawsuit. Heritage Elementary School 4500 Heritage Avenue Colleyville, TX 76034 Eagle 1991 507 Bransford Elementary School 601 Glade Road . Its been a roller coaster for him, she says. One of the students was detained on a charge of having a weapon in a place where its prohibited, police said. Ironically, it was the place where hed purchased his steroids. I can control my kids, one parent said to her during the meeting. The Colleyville Heritage Steroid Scandal After finding steroids in her son's athletic bag in September of 2004, a Colleyville Heritage mom approached school administrators after. We understand that members of our community have questions, but the District does not resolve personnel matters in the media. "That show of love and support is a signal for me that in some form or fashion, I've made an impact in their lives and that's what I'm here to do," said Whitfield. Colleyville Heritage High School 5401 Heritage Avenue Colleyville, TX 76034 P 817-305-4700 F 817-358-4765 Then, two weeks later, Bryan left a movie theater on a weekend night. 5401 Heritage Ave. Colleyville, TX 76034-5919. Faking it wasnt easy. Never missed one, she says proudly. The reporters worked other sources. Anna Caplan, Special Contributor. Im gonna beat your ass.. A few days later, he dialed the players cell phone to arrange delivery, reaching him in an SAT preparation class.. In February 2005, The Dallas Morning News published an in-depth report entitled "The Secret Edge", a look at the topic of steroids in high school sports. She was sad that shed been proven right. Now, GOP lawmakers have turned their attention to what books children have access to in schools. I am not the CRT (Critical Race Theory) Boogeyman. I know that there's just so many people under these attacks and that's my greatest fear because this profession means so much to me, he said. James Whitfield, 43, principal at Colleyville Heritage High School, has been placed on leave by the Grapevine-Colleyville ISD after being accused of teaching critical race theory at his. Theyre open late, they have cheap food, and theyre close by. At a time when newsroom resources and revenue across the country are declining, The Texas Tribune remains committed to sustaining our mission: creating a more engaged and informed Texas with every story we cover, every event we convene and every newsletter we send. Catherine writes about breaking news, crime and the Dallas Zoo. NO NAMES. The school and district officials dismissed the mother's claims, and the school's head football coach went as far calling her a "liar" in a Dallas Morning News interview. Not one day has gone by that I havent had to deal with this or talk about it to someone. The one thing that bothers Lewis is how this has affected her family. Welcome to the Colleyville Heritage PTSA Facebook Page intended to keep our parents, teachers, and students current on upcoming events and opportunities CHHS PTA is a noncommercial, nonsectarian, nonpartisan association that does not endorse any candidate or political party. Colleyville Heritage High School principal James Whitfield has been placed on paid administrative leave, according to Grapevine-Colleyville ISD officials. Colleyville Heritage High School Principal James Whitfield has faced sharp criticism from some parents who are accusing him of teaching critical race theory. It was all there. CHHS PTSA Reflections Chair. I thought, Wow, that didnt work. The agreement seemingly puts an end to Whitfields arduous battle with the school district that date backs to July 26, when he was first accused of teaching critical race theory during a Grapevine-Colleyville Independent School District school board meeting by Stetson Clark, a former candidate for the district's school board. Under mounting pressure from district officials, local and national media, and law enforcement, a total of nine other CHHS athletes confessed to use of steroids and other PEDs. Copyright 2023 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. 12. I dont think that was crazy.. Then she reached inside and took hold of the vial. That evening, she obsessed about its implication. If my house was on fire, would you put it out? she asked. The school became the focus of national attention during a 2005 steroid scandal involving multiple student-athletes. I guess they dont care.. Minutes later, her son, Bryan Dyer (Lewis remarried in 1993), walked out of the school with a friend and headed toward his truck. Ive told you everything I know. He mentions a senior. For questions, to submit digital entries or to coordinate pickup of entries, please contact: Kacey Bess. Shows are now Feb. 3 (Fri.), 4 (Sat. Bryan, afraid that someone inside had called the police, did the same. Enjoy unlimited access to all of our incredible journalism, in print and digital. Instead of issuing their support of me, they came after me, he said. Updated at 1:12 p.m. Wednesday with details throughout. Alphabet L - Z. [email protected]. First published on August 30, 2021 / 5:42 PM. Colleyville Heritage High School (TX) Varsity Basketball Colleyville Heritage Panthers Varsity Boys Basketball Colleyville, TX 22-23 V. Basketball Home Schedule Roster Standings Rankings Photos Videos News More / Colleyville Heritage High School Basketball Colleyville Heritage Basketball OVERALL 22-10 0.69 Win % DISTRICT 9-5 4th in District Can you hide it?' Im used to it.. They needed more information. This was so she could direct Lewis to the appropriate vice principal. and I asked, 'Why? MLB legend makes surprise appearance at Astros' Spring Training, Houston is ugly, and I've never felt more at home, Texas A&M upset win clears path for UH to snag top overall seed, This is what Houston looks like from space, Oops! Nov. 10, 20215 PM Central. Hes on his third cycle.. He wrote that he cant ask others to speak up if he wont, and that being a school administrator does not take away my rights and ability to be human and defend myself.. Hes been up at his schools weight room with other athletes, cleaning the mats, spray-painting the weights, putting the gym junk away. Check to be sure that email from [email protected] will come through. Dallas Cowboys want another playmaker on offense. The scandal at CHHS, as well as the well-publicized suicide of a student-athlete in Plano, Texas resulted in the implementation of random drug testing by the University Interscholastic League in 2007. I look at the picture, and I look at the words above it, and it says, Is this the Dr. Whitfield we want leading our schools? I showed it to my wife, who immediately begins to well up with tears, said Whitfield, adding that he took it to mean that he was being criticized for being in an interracial relationship. Aria writes about breaking news. Only 22,000 people live in Colleyville. [3] Ranking weighted 4.0 GPA* (includes only Core, LOTE, and AP courses in GPA calculation), 2. So when Bryan pulled into the drive-thru and ordered, he wasnt surprised to see people he knew. James Whitfield, the first Black principal at mostly white Colleyville Heritage High School, chose to resign but remain on paid administrative leave until 2023 in a settlement with the school district. An 18-year-old man and a juvenile student are facing criminal charges after a handgun was found inside a student's car at Colleyville Heritage High School on Tuesday. Police did not identify either individual. Lewis made it clear that they could not take her son out of class to talk to him. "Our lawyers are looking at it," she said. Colleyville Heritage 31 Arlington Heights 41 Final Box Score All Contest Videos Oct 15, 2022 @ 2:59am Texas: Defensive Touchdowns from Weekend of Oct 7th, 2022 Watch this highlight video More Videos Oct 14, 2022 @ 5:54pm Contribute to the Team Complete the Schedule Add missing games to the schedule Complete the Roster The high school has about 2,000 students in ninth through 12th grades. GRAPEVINE, Texas (CBSDFW.COM) - A high school principal at the center of a controversy in Grapevine-Colleyville ISD is now on administrative leave. She is a graduate of the University of Texas at Austin and Dallas College. McClure said no school officials have been implicated in the matter. School would be out soon. Hes a good kid. And during the second special session, lawmakers successfully passed Senate Bill 3, a more restrictive version of the House bill that will replace HB 3979 on Dec. 2. I wanted to protect him. Perhaps that would spur someone to investigate the problem more aggressively. Feeder schools for Colleyville Heritage High School: Elementary: Lewis repeated that shed told him everything she knew. Dave Denning, a former Grapevine High School principal, will serve as interim leader of the campus, Ryan said. I think its sweet. But he said trouble began as far back as 2019 when someone complained to administrators he was setting a "bad example" by posting pictures of himself kissing his wife on Facebook. CNN A high school principal in North Texas who was placed on leave after being publicly accused of promoting critical race theory has agreed to leave his role. No one from the school called her. As the editorial note at the storys end explained, She and her son feared retaliation from other Colleyville athletes, coaches, and parents. Are insane ticket costs pricing Astros fans out of Opening Day? By Hannah Natanson Photos and. Copyright 2023, D Magazine Partners, Inc. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. Bryan got out and starting jawing with him. Theres no reason for me to take this photo down,' he told KXAS. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. I am the first African American to assume the role of Principal at my current school in its 25-year history, and I am keenly aware of how much fear this strikes in the hearts of a small minority who would much rather things go back to the way they used to be, he wrote. Lt. Gov. It ate at her. The median household income tops $150,000. Lewis hung up. Why did you stop?Jones and Jacobson, top-notch investigative reporters, had been working on a series of stories about steroid abuse in area high schools. Not one single day.. In a town like Colleyville, you cant tell anyone a secret you want kept. If you know that is on your trusted email list, contact your child's school office (Grade Level Learning Community, Building, or SLC) to have your email added to the system. 4:25 PM on Mar 1, 2022 CST Updated at 8:58 PM on Mar 1, 2022 CST. He knows its just because she loves him, but, damn, so many other kids get away with telling white lies, staying out late. Weve always been close, but since this, its been tough. Colleyville Heritage High School Principal James Whitfield opened up in a lengthy Facebook post on July 31 about the incident from 2019 shortly after he had been promoted to the top post at. I know he is. We need to make sure we're providing a healthy environment for all of them. James Whitfield - Colleyville Heritage High Principal (CBS 11), Grapevine-Colleyville ISD Releases New Statement On Decision To Put Principal James Whitfield On Paid Administrative Leave. Bryan sat across from them, Lewis next to him. Hed been playing sports in Colleyville since tee ball at age 4, and through select baseball and Pee Wee football, all the way through this, his junior year, shed attended every game. In a July 31 post on his personal Facebook page, Whitfield responded: "I am not the CRT (Critical Race Theory) Boogeyman. McClure said the school began investigating the matter in October. A high school principal in Colleyville says his bosses ordered him to remove a photo of him embracing his wife from social media. He received a disciplinary letter from the district a few weeks later and was placed on administrative leave soon after that. [email protected]. At the first public hearing the school district held to discuss the issue, including spending money for more drug testing, not one parent showed up. Then, one evening the Courier reporter called Lewis and asked if he could pass along her phone number to two reporters with the Dallas Morning News who were working on a series of stories examining steroid use in high schools all across North Texas. (Even though, technically, its in Euless.) August 30, 2021 / 5:42 PM Colleyville Heritage High School in Texas hosted controversial event. No real names, anyway. Cooper vs. Colleyville Heritage - Texas High School Girls Basketball mr buva 0 No views 52 seconds ago #highschoolbasketball Stream Here https://gametoday.hs-sport.live/highs. Officers were called around 3:20 p.m. to the campus in the 5400 block of Heritage Avenue about a man with a gun. The video was shot off campus and not during normal school hours.. They had pieced together a clear picture of a serious problem. All four got out of the car. The Colleyville kids rarely venture far from home. I think it's silly, I can't see why a husband and wife can't have a picture of them in a sweet moment.". Its why she doesnt let me talk to, or even see, her husband and younger daughter. Lewis decided that she had an obligation to inform the school. He says that many of the football players at Colleyville were introduced to steroids by someone from a nearby rival. There were several long pauses, she says. Good Lord, Lewis thought. Lewis told Beal that her son had used steroids, that he obtained them from other kids on the team, that they got them from someone at the nearby Whataburger. Do you value our journalism? Ive only chosen to speak out against baseless allegations after [the district] allowed a man to speak my name at the July 26 board meeting, he said. Here is a look at the Top 3 girls teams in Class 5A. When the kids get to middle school, a lot of them go to sports camps in the summer to improve. Thats it? Because even though Lewis did the right thing, and even though she took every measure to protect her sons identity when she made that call and then later took her story to the media, it is Bryan who ultimately paid the price for his moms principled stand. Who knew? 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RANKINGS star-telegram.com/article2703187 #txhssoccer He meant half the players who mattered were juicing. He agreed not to name the family members. I knew it as soon as I finished the story. Whitfield is now speaking out about the incident and responding to what he claims are bigoted and racist attacks, including accusations that he is a proponent of critical race theory. Get the latest breaking news from North Texas and beyond. That was months ago. Overall Score 89.05 /100. She said the issue comes up informally "every time a professional athlete makes headlines" for steroid use. It wont change anything. "I look at the picture, and I look at the words above it, and it says, 'Is this the Dr. Whitfield we want leading our schools?' Colleyville Heritage became the focus of a district investigation during the 2004-2005 school year after a Panther football/baseball player and his mother confronted school administrators and GCISD about his use of performance-enhancing drugs. A few parents blamed Lewis for making this an issue. Officers on the scene have "the individual involved detained.". ", "Nothing he's done has anything to do with critical race theory," said civil rights attorney David Henderson ofEllwanger Law, which is supporting Whitfield. He sold her the needles.. The e-mails from parents who say they are too scared to be named publicly but who thank her for shaking up the CHHS administration and mighty football program. "It would be my hope that more rational minds prevail. It was early afternoon on Wednesday, September 22, and the Colleyville mother, after putting away the jeans, noticed a black leather bag. Just over a month later, the district has suspended Colleyville Heritage High School Principal James Whitfield without explanation, he told The Washington Post on Tuesday. The Grapevine-Colleyville ISD school board voted unanimously on a proposal Monday not to renew the contract of suspended Heritage High School principal James Whitfield. A wave of nausea swept through her. "We don't make rules unless we're asked by our member schools.". The next day, Lewis picked up her Sunday Morning News and boarded a chartered bus to Austin for a sales meeting. He knew where he was: at a party one block over. She didnt feel proud that shed proven the school wrong. I just wish everyone else would.. Colleyville Heritage High School is a public high school of the Grapevine-Colleyville Independent School District located in Colleyville, TX.
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