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Was Education Reform Activist’s Firing Retaliation for Rally?
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Education reform activist Gwen Samuel on being fired one day after a pro-education reform rally.
- Duration 3:54
- Date Apr 12, 2012
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Education reform activist Gwen Samuel on being fired one day after a pro-education reform rally.
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We start tonight with a developing story one that's gaining national attention.
A day after hosting a pro education reform rally you're seeing it here.
In the state capital of Connecticut last month my first guest tonight says she was fired from her job at -- Connecticut school.
Her employer called -- a conflict of interest but many are calling her firing suspicious.
Including former DC schools chancellor chancellor Michelle re.
We -- on our show just a few days ago.
When Samuel joins me now with -- personal story when welcome the show it's great to have you here thank you for having our rights and tell us what happened here.
I you what you're working at head start you ran the parents organization.
And -- everything seem to be fine right.
So I thought I mean I work with parents because I am a parent have -- in the public schools systems.
So I work with -- so that we can get more engaged with in the schools and to help improve the schools so what the parents and the norm and that's really hadn't.
Education rally because our steep our governors very proactive he's trying to level the playing field with expansion of chart -- -- equality.
And so you like those things you have those are good answers to the problems that -- -- education -- -- right absolutely where the wealthiest state in the nation with the ports achievement gap in the country.
So we need help as parents and when I couldn't get it I asked -- his -- -- to come out but they get etiquette.
And they came and then they've seen no everything just went -- had in well chaotic.
Because you watched you chopped absolutely the very next day it was a very little to rally most parents and communities.
High quality education for all -- -- goal is very generic but most importantly.
Just great schools -- our children and then the next day at 950.
I -- into the office that they Saddam sighing the school districts.
What you do as a cop with a -- the actual letters says working with head start parents on your personal -- level.
RE -- I think we actually have a copy of that here you can see the letter the Gwynn got.
Saying look you know your services are no longer needed here because of this conflict of interest and -- help me understand.
How is -- the parents organization on your own time is your job was only part time -- -- a conflict with what you were doing.
And that's what confuse me because when I got hired at put this contract.
I was with I had already -- the Connecticut usually the beginning of the year and I get -- to October.
So was ten months later and they actually -- it was because of my work my extensive work with parents.
Is why we're hiring you for this position.
And then next thing you know you know passport march 15 one day after the rally Palestinian.
Well I would spokesman -- -- about you here's what she had to say about your situation.
Is there anything your going to do on her behalf to make her case.
Well we're gonna continue to to work with parents like her and to make sure that they know that they're not alone.
You know the with the worst thing is when something like this happens to a parent -- -- they -- -- there's -- -- they don't feel -- -- -- -- support.
That and what we wanna communicating to parents -- -- is if you are willing to take a stand on these issues and sort of get out in front.
That they are are are going to be lots of people and resources behind him.
That's Michelle -- probably the best known advocate for students out there right now.
She was that your side during this rally and now she says she's going to extend a hand to help -- how does that make you.
Well if that I appreciate that you know the support of students first and organizations like her because at the end of the day parents just want what's best for their children.
We're getting stuck in someone else's war -- what was best part Chile.