CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) — Nationally-known civil rights attorney Ben Crump joined a group of Chicago Public Schools principals and other leaders in calling for a federal investigation into the removal of more than three Black principals from their schools.
Crump was among those who gathered on Thursday to back up Black CPS principals who were removed from their jobs, they alleged, after white teachers engaged in racist campaigns to get rid of them.
“If you’re a Black school leader and you make the mistake of actually believing the written rules,” said Troy LaRaviere, president of the Chicago Principals and Administrators Association, “That your job is to supervise a predominantly white teaching force, to coach them, to support them, to hold them accountable, Pedro Martinez and the rest of CPS management will unleash a system on you that will smear your good name and replace you with someone who will stay in their place.”
LaRaviere added: “If you’re a Black principal in Chicago Public Schools, district officials often find ways to tell you that your job is not to supervise white teachers; your job is to spoil white teachers.”
Dr. Kimberly Gibson was one of those principals. She claimed she was sent racist texts soon after taking over at Harriet Tubman Elementary School and right after she was removed.
Crump said he’s not going to let CPS discriminate against the principals.
“We’re going to explore all legal avenues to get justice for these Black principals,” he said at a 90-minute news conference outside CPS’ downtown headquarters.
In a statement, CPS said allegations against staff are thoroughly investigated and that the employees get due process.
The administration added in its statement that CPS has “made great strides” to ensure that the diversity of school leaders, as well as central and network staff, reflects the diversity of the student body. Officials wrote that CPS is committed to continuing to invest in recruitment and retention efforts.
CPS said 44% of its principals are Black, 32% are white and 18% Latino.
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