Newark: Leading science teacher gets job back. Was denied due process.

He opposed the policies of the school superintendent Cami Anderson, a major player in the reformer movement.

There have been other lawsuits filed by teachers, but this guy just won his. Good for him.

From Bob Braun's Ledger, one of my favorite blogs.

Cami loses another big tenure case–and Neil Thomas wins


Neil Thomas–denied due process

State-imposed school superintendent Cami Anderson was handed a stunning legal blow yesterday with the release of an arbitrator’s decision demanding the reinstatement of a widely respected teacher whose only apparent flaw was opposition to Anderson’s policies. Neil Thomas, the father of former student school board member Jordan Thomas, must now get his job and pay and benefits back. He had been suspended since September.

“I have to admit, I cried when my lawyer told me the news,” said Thomas, 51, a former Newark police officer who is widely known throughout the district as a leading science teacher. He also was known as someone willing to testify on behalf of other teachers caught up in Anderson’s apparent relentless campaign against experienced, professional and independent teachers.

The decision by arbitrator Robert Simmelkjaer represents a major victory for Newark teachers and the Newark Teachers Union (NTU) which has been under siege for months in the face of at least a score of cases involving tenure charges against senior teachers. John Abeigon, the NTU’s director of organization, called on state education officials to stop Anderson from filing tenure charges based on faulty interpretations of the new tenure law.

“They are spending huge chunks of money on outside legal firms pursuing a flawed legal strategy that is losing,” said Abeigon. He said the money spent on the law firms to pursue tenure charges against teachers on flimsy grounds “would much better be used providing drug counselors and attendance counselors so the children of Newark aren’t dying in the streets.”

Thomas will not go back to his former school.

“The principal there has wanted me out and retaliated against me for my support of other teachers,” said Thomas, who said he brought a federal discrimination complaint against the principal, Maria Merlo.

I noticed this post in the comments section today, apparently from a student. A great thing to say about a teacher.

Go Mr . Thomas!
It’s a Real shame that the Students, didn’t get to be greeted by him this Year at LSS. Mr.Thomas is the #1 Teacher there, the Students Loved him! Several students weren’t happy to even to say goodbye last yr. They just loved him so much. The beginning of school year, wasn’t a happy one. Students, were upset and disappointed to Not have Mr.Thomas. Good Luck to him wherever he may go. LSS is WAY over crowded! Ridiculous!

There are going to be more teachers suing as they lose their jobs, especially with their evaluation based so much on one high stakes test. It's a shame education has come to the point that good teachers must sue to keep their jobs.