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?
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{ 20 comments… read them below or add one }
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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.
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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.
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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.
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