She didnt feel proud that shed proven the school wrong. Other people in the audience shouted in support and cheered when Clark made his remarks. The one thing that bothers Lewis is how this has affected her family. Its a smart school, too, well above state and national averages in students ACT and SAT scores. 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! "I chalk it up to educators are held to a different standard, unfortunately. Who is available? Scholars developed it during the 1970s and 1980s in response to what they viewed as a lack of racial progress following the civil rights legislation of the 1960s. While the status of this as an ongoing personnel matter limits the information that the District can disclose about the events leading up to this decision, the speculation and conjecture that surround these events warrant some additional context. She demanded to know why he was taking steroids. I do miss some of my friends from Heritage, he says. It was a football player. They even went to football games, sat in the stands, and made a list of the players who looked like they might be using steroids, based on the common signs: acne, muscular definition, rage. Brings new meaning to the phrase Sunday Funday. Nearly a year later, she still believes this. Enjoy unlimited access to all of our incredible journalism, in print and digital. The move comes a week after the principal and a crowd of supporters attended a school board meeting to address claims from a group of parents who say he is teaching critical race theory. Tickets for cancelled shows will be honored at these performances. The Tarrant County Narcotics Unit, now working the steroids investigation, told Lewis that her first call should have been to them months ago. Lewis repeated that shed told him everything she knew. 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 . Can you take this picture down? Hes a good kid. Alphabet L - Z. lesli.ware@gcisd.net. Lori Lewis carried a pair of her sons jeans into his closet. Grapevine-Colleyville ISD Superintendent Robin Ryan announced Whitfield was being placed on leave in a message to parents Monday. It had absolutely nothing to do with race. Grapevine-Colleyville ISD may decide his fate by Monday. Anna Caplan covers McKinney, Southlake, Grapevine and Colleyville. 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. There were four teenagers inside, two in the front seat, two in back. He has served 35 years in education, all in Texas, including as principal of Colleyville Heritage High School from 2004 to 2006. McClure said school officials held meetings and questioned students, but nobody admitted to using the muscle-building substances. Dr. James Whitfield has been on administrative leave since late August. 562. "As this is an ongoing personnel matter, we will not comment further. But she acknowledges that if shed known then how her city would turn against her, how her son would become ostracized by other kids, how her motives would be mocked on radio and television, how her actions would be second-guessed by police, it would have given her pause. Hes a happily married man. A few days later, he dialed the players cell phone to arrange delivery, reaching him in an SAT preparation class.. Do you value our journalism? Grapevine-Colleyville ISD Trustees Vote to Move Forward With Process of Ive moved on. Theyre open late, they have cheap food, and theyre close by. There were also names. And the News reporters agreed that they wouldnt identify any of the other students who Bryan knew or suspected used steroids. Who is available? 817-305-4717. Jones and Jacobson, sick that theyd inadvertently revealed Bryans identity, suggested that the papers lawyers could convince the school district to pay for Bryans tuition. Were set to play more disadvantaged and diverse opponents Trinity. She was the founding editor of the websites PureWow Dallas and Racked Dallas. An anonymous parent called the high school and said football players were using steroids, which are illegal to use or possess in Texas without a prescription, and that the school's football coach condoned it. In two sentences, theyd given Bryan away., Patrick arranged the [steroids purchase] with a couple of phone calls, paying $200 to a varsity football player. At least hes not a drug addict, she thought. During the following months, the reporters put together their package of stories. Is Whataburger healthy? He marched into his mothers room and paced in front of her. No, it didnt. Nine CHHS players have admitted to using steroids. All students and staff are safe, the school . 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.. Bryan may be able to help, but dont contact him at school. She worried he would be labeled a snitch if it became a public ordeal. He will step down as principal at Colleyville Heritage High School and remain on paid leave until 2023. first accused of teaching critical race theory during a Grapevine-Colleyville Independent School District school board meeting. In a town like Colleyville, you cant tell anyone a secret you want kept. Colleyville, Texas, principal resigning after critical race theory She didnt take long to make her decision: Bring it on.. Not Bryans. Colleyville Heritage High School. Some of the photos the district received contained poses that are questionable for an educator, especially a principal or administrator. All she does is shake her head and say, The parents in this town Shes already seen how it has enveloped Bryan. No real names, anyway. Attendance Clerk. 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. 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. So when Bryan pulled into the drive-thru and ordered, he wasnt surprised to see people he knew. Theres not a steroids problem on his team.. But other than that, its great. How many varsity football players got calls for drug deals in their SAT prep class this year? Whitfield, who was named principal of Colleyville Heritage High School ahead of the 2020-21 school year, has been accused online and in board meetings of teaching critical race theory and promoting a belief that white people are inherently racist. SOUTHLAKE, Texas - Carroll ISD is punishing some students for an offensive video that shows a group of teens chanting the n-word. I knew it as soon as I finished the story. Get the latest breaking news from North Texas and beyond. The architects of the theory argue that the United States was founded on the theft of land and labor and that federal law has preserved the unequal treatment of people on the basis of race. I'm ready to turn that next page, Whitfield told The Texas Tribune on Wednesday. 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. ", "Nothing he's done has anything to do with critical race theory," said civil rights attorney David Henderson ofEllwanger Law, which is supporting Whitfield. Later, they showed Bryan the list. Not one single day.. They could not tell anyone her identityor else, as she put it, I will sue you. Given the extreme care administrators used with her identity in e-mail correspondence during the next few months (obtained by D Magazine), they took her threat seriously. 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. GPA is calculated on a 4.0 weighted GPA scale. A Texas school board proposes the non-renewal of a contract for a The curriculum, an academic framework that says racism is a systemic problem perpetuated by government policies and institutions, is not taught in Grapevine-Colleyville ISD, multiple sources in the district have said. Theyd made a mistake, she says. I wonder who it was.. 4:25 PM on Mar 1, 2022 CST Updated at 8:58 PM on Mar 1, 2022 CST. The school district announced Monday, August 30, Colleyville Heritage High Principal Dr. James Whitfield was placed on paid administrative leave. At a board meeting a few weeks before last weeks, the parent group accused Whitfield by name which is against school board meeting rules. She couldnt even get her grass cut? Per Pupil Expenditures: $9,925. Can you believe those boys using steroids? one asked. On the bus, she read, careful not to catch anyones eye. But the students at CHHS had obviously read the story. 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. It ate at her. "They said, 'Could you take it down? According to state test scores, 55% of students are at least proficient in math and 77% in reading. He had a Grapevine High School sticker on his car, so he didnt go to Heritage. He pulled forward into a parking space and waited on his friends, hoping everyone else would ignore him. 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. No one has provided any evidence that Cunningham knew about the steroid use on his football team, and theres no evidence that Lori Lewis is a crazy mom. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. # 1,954 in National Rankings. 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. He knewfrom friends, from weight-room whispers, from his own two eyesthat many of the starters were accomplishing just that task with injected aid. Whats wrong with the picture? It was, Hey, I am trying to avoid any conflict, he told the station. Its bad enough they identified her as a cheerleader. That kid will know who Patrick is. But that one sentence stuck with Lewis. 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. Thats your investigation? By Hannah Natanson Photos and. In Colleyville, there are four places where kids usually hang out after dark: Whataburger, Taco Bell, Sonic, and Wendys. They said, Could you take it down? 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. That Friday after the story had come out, near midnight, Bryan got a call on his cell phone. Whitfield's status with Colleyville Heritage High School is expected to be decided at a Monday school board meeting. Everyone would forget about it soon enough. When no one showed up, she called the owner to ask why. Read more about this topic: Colleyville Heritage High School, Athletics, And therefore, as when there is a controversy in an account, the parties must by their own accord, set up for right Reason, the Reason of some Arbitrator, or Judge, to whose sentence, they will both stand, or their controversy must either come to blows, or be undecided, for want of a right Reason constituted by Nature; so is it also in all debates of what kind soever.Thomas Hobbes (15791688), Bret Boone - Professional Career - Legacy -. James Whitfield, principal of Colleyville Heritage High School in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, was placed on paid administrative leave in late August, a month after a former school board candidate . Home - Colleyville Heritage High School EVEN THOUGH LEWIS HAD PULLED BRYAN out of school, he was still getting hassled. "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. Only one. The tough drug-testing program that Grapevine-Colleyville has adopted. And it has nearly ruined their lives. She says she sued Coach Cunningham not just because she feels his remarks made life tough in Colleyville, but because she says she wants to be sure other schools will think twice before ignoring a whistle-blower. These Valuable Pennies Are Worth Thousands. I am not the CRT (Critical Race Theory) Boogeyman. Wed have to move if our names came out, she said.. Im going to fight him.. People know each other. Its a stupid lawsuit. I showed it to my wife, who immediately begins to well up with tears," he said. Aria has interned at the Austin American-Statesman, the Texas Tribune and the El Paso Times. Aria writes about breaking news. , Lori Lewis says the comments by Coach Cunningham slandered her and her reputation has been damaged. Feeder schools for Colleyville Heritage High School: Elementary: One of those parents complained. Bryan, three inches taller, popped him in the face. Ive counted. (CHHS officials declined to speak with D Magazine.) He took notes: Most Football Team taking SteroidsSon Played last yearCoach CunninghamSon Plays [blacked out]*Anomysly*. 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. Overall Score 89.05 /100. James Whitfield, who was named Colleyville Heritage High School's first African-American principal in 2020, posted that during the July 26 board meeting, he was publicly named and accused of . We remain committed to providing a learning environment at Colleyville Heritage that fosters and encourages student academic and extracurricular achievement," Grapevine-Colleyville ISD said in a news release. With some of her neighbors not talking to her, she decided to take the next step. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. Hate and #racism will not rule the day. Bryan knew who it was. At Colleyville Heritage High, students rushed to defend James Whitfield, who has been accused of embracing critical race theory and is in danger of being fired. GRAPEVINE, Texas (CBSDFW.COM) - A high school principal at the center of a controversy in Grapevine-Colleyville ISD is now on administrative leave. She was sad that shed been proven right. Where were you when you first injected them? All that stuff I could handle, and I do handle, she says. How long did you do it? 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. The school district told KXAS in a statement: When a social media concern is brought to the attention of the district, we have a responsibility to review it. They asked Bryan to relive every detail. By about 6 p.m., all students had been dismissed and all buses had left the campus, according to the school district. What did you expect him to say? It was the sort of breakthrough that could take a pointy-headed newspaper treatise and make it touch people, win awards, effect change. Colleyville players admit to briefly using steroids, Mayor: HISD has two optionsclose school or be taken over, Rare photos show 2 ocelots crossing South Texas road, Eric Gordon trade looking better and better for Houston Rockets, Willie Nelson pays lovely tribute to another country legend, Hiker takes 'once-in-a-lifetime' photo at Brazos Bend State Park, This Texas Hill Country town is the new, cooler Fredericksburg. It's he and his beautiful wife, they have a beautiful family," said Sunni Roppollo, who has children at Colleyville Heritage High. "His diversity efforts have just been amazing," said student Samantha Zelling, who took part in Friday's march and protest. Get the latest breaking news from North Texas and beyond. Colleyville Heritage High School in Colleyville, TX - Niche The coaches had told him to get bigger and stronger if he wanted to earn a starting position, he said. Sort of. Then she reached inside and took hold of the vial. In December, however, nine students involved in football and other unspecified sports came forward and said they used steroids last spring. Her son, a junior at Colleyville Heritage High School, had several such travel bags in his closet, but the others were all pressed flat, unused. 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. She stared at the label, trying to concentrate as her heart rate spiked. For questions, to submit digital entries or to coordinate pickup of entries, please contact: Kacey Bess. He received a disciplinary letter from the district a few weeks later and was placed on administrative leave soon after that. The decision. They werent too happy with me, she says. Read more about CRT here. She was still at her sales conference. The tick-tock drama of Bryans story, that compelling personal narrative, the hour-by-hour recounting of his traverse from good kid to drug user, would elevate the series. Texas High School Principal Sees Racism in Calls to Remove Intimate