Wendy Portillo, the teacher who was suspended for having her kindergarden class vote Alex Barton, a student with Aspergers out of class wept as she appealed the suspension in front of Division of Administrative Hearings. According to Portillo, “If I could take that morning back, I would.”
Suspended Florida Teacher Windy Portillo
Last year teacher Windy Portillo asked her class to vote on weather Alex Barton, a student with Aspergers Syndrome should remain in class after he was having some behavior issues. The class voted 14-2 to have him removed from class. This resulted in Windy Portillo being suspended for one year without pay by the school district, and being barred from teaching any further elementry students when she resumes her contract.
According to Treasure Cost Talk Portillo claims that she though that this was a “learning experience” for the classroom and was tallying up each vote as the students cast them. Portillo claims right now that becuase of this situation – she fears going out into public, and has trouble eating or drinking and has even suffered from dehydriation.
Fellow Teacher’s Reactions
Windy Portillo’s coworkers have since been wearing her purple shirts – her favorite color to show support for a teacher looked to as a “warm teacher who sought the best for her students and was held up as a model of teaching practices in the school district.” Another teacher who worked with Ms Portillo was quoted as saying “This is what she was born to do.”
Do you think the punishment for Windy Portillo was too severe?
{ 20 comments… read them below or add one }
“to show support for a teacher looked to as a ‘warm teacher who sought the best for her students and was held up as a model of teaching practices in the school district.’”
Then the whole district teaching stff should be suspended. What she did to Alex Barton was nowhere near ‘warm’ or ‘what was best for her student’.
“Another teacher who worked with Ms Portillo was quoted as saying ‘This is what she was born to do.’”
What? Born to make kids feel very insecure in the one place on earth where they’re supposed to at least feel safe?
“Portillo claims right now that because of this situation – she fears going out into public, and has trouble eating or drinking and has even suffered from dehydration.”
She’s brought it on herself.
“Do you think the punishment for Windy Portillo was too severe?”
In short, no.
The teachers support Ms. Portillo; how amazing. What standards of conduct do they propose should be used in schools? If they feel that this action did not merit suspension, then what does? Their support is sending a very bad message to the community.
Immediately after the incident we heard none of this sorrow. The Barton’s had to retain an attorney in order to get anywhere in having her actions addressed.
No mention in the article about how Alex is doing. I wonder why?
One of the staff wearing the “color purple” is Cathy Oliver, ESE Chair at Morningside Elementary School.
In Florida, a ESE Chair is the chair person for support services to autistic children, and other children who require an IEP.
Cathy Oliver is very vocal about her support of Wendy Portillo’s actions toward Alex Barton.
Now she is sorry because she didn’t get it overturned. OK some people could open ones mouth and insert feet not foot but feet. However this is an educator which really needed to comprehend her students, all her students. Not just a few or a majority! So what was she teaching her students with this action to be against another student? Not democracy but Discrimination because the child has a disability.
Personally the punishment doesn’t actually fit the crime of comprehension of what her action had cost. She as well as the rest of the teaching staff should do community service with children with disabilities. This may be the way to educate the educators about disabilities.
I went to some other websites to research this and found out that the suspension was for a whole year! I do think that she made a mistake and that she should have been suspended for a week or two. I also found out that Alex was not diagnosed with Asperger’s until after the incident. I think that Alex should have received consistent appropriate discipline for his behavior, and didn’t. Ms. Portillo should have also received appropriate discipline for her lapse in judgement – and instead was suspended for a whole year. If a teacher is bad enough to be suspended for a whole year, they shouldn’t ever be allowed back. I don’t think her one mistake warrants that, and people shouldn’t hate her for one bad day. The other teachers support her because they know her, and because they don’t want to be suspended a whole year every time they make a mistake.
It was the school pricipal’s suggestion to have him tested according to the article I read. The news article I read also said there had already been a staffing meeting with the ESE teacher and the classroom teacher.
I am a teacher in Florida and that sounds to me like he had at least an IEP (individual education plan) and maybe even a 504 plan (list of issues and accommodations the student will receive) in place.
As a teacher and a mother, I have to say Ms. Portillo’s actions are absolutely apalling and reprehensible. A teaching moment? She was teaching them to tally and graph how many kids don’t like another student in the class? Now the kid has auditory and visual memories of the trauma he lived. That is just plain evil.
I don’t care if she has taught 30 successful years. If she is willing to ostricize and humiliate a 5 year old, she has no business in a classroom or anywhere near children. Where there is smoke there is fire… Lord knows how many other children she has emotionally abused and never got caught.
Here’s an idea: What’s Alex’s favorite color? We could all wear that!
That would definitely make some difference if the child was diagnosed after the fact. Henceforth then the teacher or staff there would not be aware of such disability. I didn’t see anything about that information on some other websites but then I didn’t do a lot of research.
This does though show how everything isn’t just black and white when it comes to the full completed facts. Lots of things could be out of context or just left out in which we make certain conclusion from what is told.
@PwD-SD – The mother clearly stated that she informed the school he was being tested. Not only that, a behavior plan was in place
Thank you for responding AspieWeb Admin. As my respond was going to George Glass remarks as what other sites were saying. And with that info.would make people wonder what actually is facts. Personally I have seen some teachers respond poorly or make poor judgement call when it comes to people with disabilities. Not saying all teachers mind you as there are good and bad in every profession. To me it was still poor judgement on that teacher and she really does need to be around people with disabilities so she could comprehend better.
This teacher, an adult in a position of responsibility, held a vote to exclude a five year old child. He was voted out. Now, she is voted out, and she understands exactly what he felt, his fear and sadness. I think this is just.
That her fellow teachers would actually support her speaks volumes about our public school system and our attitudes toward people with disabilities. As a mother of a son with Aspergers Syndrome, I can feel for Alex’s mother and Alex himself. I fought bullies like Portillo all of his life. Today he is excelling in a private, prep school and I can’t wait to see what he does with his future. Teachers like Portillo have no business in our schools.
I have only recently been following this case, but I am convinced that the lady should be immediately reinstated and paid her full backpay for what was an act of flagrant discrimination against her. America is becoming sicker by the day. We seem to be fast approaching the depths of our ugliness in the manner in which we have maligned this lady. I have never seen more vindictiveness, hate, irrationality , hypocracy , and I dare say even racism displayed by a press bent on sensationalism, and supported by sick minds whose only intent sem to be to destroy the career and character of an obviously dedicated teacher , who may have displayed some degree of poor judgement (and i stress “may”) , but who obviously had the well being of all her students (Alex included) at heart. The school’ s administration and the parents of the young boy are more guilty of neglect than Ms. Portilllo could ever be. In their efforts to save face, they have thrown Ms. Portillo to the wolves. I will not be surprised if the mother takes it a step further and uses this oppportunity to gain monetarily. The entire matter has given me a nauseating feeling, and as much as i have compassion for the young child, I feel a great disservice has been done to the veteran teacher.
May God save this country from the vermins and viruses that have taken possession of it and may Ms. Portillo regain her status and good name in the teaching profession.
I am a public school teacher in Florida. I vehemently disagree. In Ms. Portillo’s own words, she was using the humiliation of another student as a math lesson! That is just evil.
Poor judgement is raising your voice in anger to a student in public instead of pulling them for a private conference about their behavior and feeling guilty when you see their eyes lower to the floor in shame that you caused. Asking peers to publicly verbalize a child’s faults and using it as a whole group math lesson to create a tally graph is so far over the line I am in shock.
She should have her certificate stripped. Dedicated teachers don’t need the likes of her bringing us down. We work too hard to make a positive difference for all children to be lumped into a group of degenerates like Ms. Portillo.
One does not jump to such a shocking level of emotional abuse of a child as a first transgression. Lord knows how many other students Ms. Portillo has gotten away with emotionally abusing.
Shame on you Ms. Portillo. You should have the integrity to walk away from teaching. Even if at one time you were an asset to the teaching profession, it is quite clear by your actions that you are well past your prime in making a positive difference for children.
Douglas, maybe you should read the FACTS of the case, What is a “Teacher”? Someone who is suppose to teach and guide children to become adults. Since this “Teacher” knew of Alex’s being tested, do you not think that intervention by STAFF would have been appropriate, or, are you sticking to your guns that what the “Teacher” taught, the ugliness in the manner in which Wendy Portillo put a 5 YEAR OLD CHILD Alex in front of EVERYONE IN CLASS and MADE them VOTE him OUT of class, was the right thing to do?
If you agree with Wendy Portillo, you either do not have any children of your own, or, do not grasp what a teachers job is.
Remember, Alex’s Mom TRIED to get a resolution, BUT, the School didn’t think that THEY did anything wrong. I would sue the School District too.
Hi M7,
Maybe we should both read the facts of the case.more closely. Incidentally, I have both children and grand children, so I appreciate the need to have safe and healthy environs for our kids to be properly nurtured. I also have several years experience as a teacher, and have had to deal with a wide variety of students. So my claim to understanding the situation just may be as good as yours. However, you are entirely missing the point. Regardless of what mistakes Ms. Portilo may have made in dealing with the situation, the ugly and in so many cases sadistic remarks by commentators are simply not commensurate with the actions of Ms. Portillo. Sue the school if you wish, but do not take your frustrations out on Ms. Portillo.
As a Florida public school educator and a mother I am shocked and saddened by this event. The facts I read are that the principal of the school suggested the child be tested and that an educational planning meeting with ESE and the classroom teacher had already taken place. There is no excuse for this behavior from a teacher that has been given the tools of an ESE resource teacher, an IEP and maybe even a 504 plan as assistance.
I cannot imagine how any compassionate human being could possibly conceive a math lesson plan that targets a student in such a malicious way. Creating a tally chart of all the things the class dislikes about a peer?! There is no other way to describe this other than pure evil.
Even if Ms. Portillo is an accomplished veteran teacher, it is clear it is time for her to walk away from the profession. This was way beyond “poor judgement”.
I received this email a little while ago and I thought that it was quite relevant to the situation with Ms. Wendy Portillo. Allow me to share it with readers.
SCHOOL — 1957 vs. 2007
Scenario :
Jack goes rabbit shooting before school, pulls into school parking lot with rifle in gun rack.
1957 – Vice Principal comes over, looks at Jack’s rifle, goes to his car and gets his rifle & chats with Jack about guns.
2007 – School goes into lock down, Star Force called, Jack hauled off to jail and never sees his ute or gun again.. Counsellors called in for traumatized students and teachers.
Scenario:
Johnny and Mark get into a fistfight after school.
1957 – Crowd gathers. Mark wins. Johnny and Mark shake hands and end up buddies.
2007 – Police called, arrests Johnny and Mark. Charge them with assault, both expelled even though Johnny started it. Both children go to anger management programs for 3 months. School board hold meeting to impliment bullying prevention programs
Scenario:
Robbie won’t be still in class, disrupts other students.
1957 – Robbie sent to office and given 6 of the best by the Principal. Returns to class, sits still and does not disrupt class again.
2007 – Robbie given huge doses of Ritalin. Becomes a zombie. Tested for ADD. Robbie’s parents get fortnightly disability payments and School gets extra funding from state because Robbie has a disability.
Scenario :
Billy breaks a window in his neighbor’s car and his Dad gives him a whipping with his belt.
1957 – Billy is more careful next time, grows up normal, goes to college, and becomes a successful businessman.
2007 – Billy’s dad is arrested for child abuse. Billy removed to foster care and joins a gang. State psychologist tells Billy’s sister that she remembers being abused herself and their dad goes to prison.
Scenario :
Mark gets a headache and takes some aspirin to school.
1957 – Mark gets glass of water from Principal to take aspirin with.
2007 – Police called, Mark expelled from school for drug violations. Car searched for drugs and weapons.
Scenario :
Pedro fails high school English.
1957 – Pedro goes to summer school, passes English and goes to college.
2007 – Pedro’s cause is taken up by state. Newspaper articles appear nationally explaining that teaching English as a requirement for graduation is racist. AFRE files class action lawsuit against state school system and Pedro’s English teacher. English banned from core curriculum. Pedro given diploma anyway but ends up mowing lawns for a living because he cannot speak English.
Scenario :
Johnny takes apart leftover firecrackers from 4th of July, puts them in a model airplane paint bottle, blows up a bullant nest.
1957 – Ants die.
2007- Star Force, Federal Police & Anti-terrorism Squad called. Johnny charged with domestic terrorism, Feds investigate parents, siblings removed from home, computers confiscated. Johnny’s Dad goes on a terror watch list and is never allowed to fly again.
Scenario :
Johnny falls while running during recess and scrapes his knee. He is found crying by his teacher, Mary. Mary hugs him to comfort him.
1957 – In a short time, Johnny feels better and goes on playing.
2007 – Mary is accused of being a sexual predator and loses her job. She faces 3 years in Prison. Johnny undergoes 5 years of therapy.
Too severe?!? Not just “no” but “Hell No!”
The day Portillo abused Alex and his classmates that way should have been her last day as a teacher. Ever. Anywhere.
I am not sure whether Douglas is a shill for Portillo or her lawyer, or whether he is emotionally disturbed. But he is clearly in complete denial of all the facts, and at best flooding comments with irrelevant anecdotes shows his judgment is almost as poor as Portillo’s.
I agree with that Bob Badour. What was that comment Douglas made for anyways. The woman snapped. Her denial of what the truth is will be weighing on her mind the rest of her life.