Who had the brilliant idea of taking me out of the classroom Instead of spending time creating engaging lessons or calling parents or researching the next lesson….I am starting a movement to unite an entire community. I created www.occupywarrenstreet.org. As I put the site together I came across some really… Continue reading
My name is Francesco Alexander Portelos. I am a parent and educator in Staten Island. I was teaching technology at Berta Dreyfus IS 49 for 5 years after I left a 7 year career in the Environmental Engineering/Inspection field. My record, as a teacher and school community member, was stellar. After I became a new father in the community, my focus transcended past my praised classroom and I looked at the issues at the school as a whole. Continue reading
Time since I last stepped foot in my classroom [gigya src=”http://www.clocklink.com/clocks/9002e-orange.swf” flashvars=”TimeZone=EST&From=2012,4,25,15,30,00&Title=April%2025%2C%202012&” width=”320″ height=”60″ wmode=”transparent” ] Welcome. This will be a running record of some thoughts and experiences of my day to day dealings with a very broken system that seems to put the student’s best interest last. I was… Continue reading
I’ve made the decision to publish the 15+ allegations made against me. The time has come for all to know why countless students were placed dead last on hidden agendas in and out of my school. http://protectportelos.wordpress.com/allegations-against-me/ The page is password protected and will be unlocked when school begins. As… Continue reading
As many educators returned to school to set up classrooms this week, so did I. Had things been different with logic and rational playing a role, I would be upgrading my STEM Lab to all the new latest and greatest programs to teach my middle school students. Being that I… Continue reading
Back to School in September Nahhh. Children First.Always. That is when it is the adults in education acting like children. I took a well needed break with the family and drove down to Florida. I had plenty of time to think during the 2,000+ mile drive and poolside. Anytime I… Continue reading
…into the washing machine as I helped my wife do the laundry. As I did, I pondered some things. Who are all these people from around the world who have visited my site from over 65 countries What does the visitor from theUnited Republic of Tanzania think Are they thinking… Continue reading
It’s summer vacation, and exactly 3 months since I was removed from my classroom. I’m currently on a short family vacation out on the North Fork of Long Island. I’m hoping to clear my head of all the deficiencies in education I’ve encountered these last 7 months. There is barely… Continue reading
My wife does a great job of raising my son, Alexander. I do what I can and play around with him but I run around a lot taking care of this and that so she should take all the credit. I admire her strength as she continues while 7 months… Continue reading
I really hope, for the sake of the students, that no more time is wasted and I return to educating in September. In a just world where rational and logic play a role, this should not even be an issue. However, educators are not working in a world where adults… Continue reading
Ahhh Freedom! Freedom of Speech…Freedom to stand for your rights….Freedom of Information (to collect and share). I’m thankful to the 56 troublemakers who signed the Declaration of Independence and resisted oppression. Happy and Safe 4th of July! Despite the onslaught of attacks from my administration, a few teachers, former UFT… Continue reading
SPOILER ALERT: If this is your first visit to my site, then you should not read this post first. It will be as if you are reading a mystery book from the back. ______________ I finally heard the 15+ allegations against me. I won’t go into them in detail, as… Continue reading
EpicVictory! (in Front of Reassignment Center) Today was a great day. For those familiar with my story, you would remember that my union chapter leader and SLT chairperson turned on me back in January. They wrote false statements and played an important role in the attacks that ultimately lead to… Continue reading
I feel like I have accomplished a lot since I have been removed from school. Again I was removed due to baseless charges (still haven’t been charged). My ADD personality allows me to juggle several different things at the same time. Granted the more you juggle the more you risk… Continue reading
Note: This post was done entirely on my new Samsung Galaxy S2. I apologize if there are any formatting errors. It has come to the point where DOE employees do not even respond to my emails. Besides the FOIL attorneys, I have not received an email from any @schools.nyc.gov account… Continue reading
I never thought blogging was just a dirty thing. I actually never thought I would be a blogger. I was too busy to sit and collect thoughts for a post. Now with my Android WordPress App and 4G, I can pretty much shoot out a post like this while I… Continue reading
For those of you who don’t know, the teacher’s union (UFT) and the NYC Dept of Education (DOE) have a contract. It expired in 2009, but due to the Taylor Law everyone has to still follow it. Now if someone feels that someone is breaking this contract you can request… Continue reading
I was just doing a little Spring cleaning with my wife and I came across this shirt. At first I couldn’t remember where I bought it. My wife gave me a look like “You are not wearing that in public.” Then it hit me…I didn’t buy this shirt, but rather… Continue reading
Have I offended you Russia None of your comrades have visited my blog. I’m just kidding. It’s a play on words from the 1963 James Bond Film titled From Russia with Love During my 50 minute break in the Rubber Room -er I mean Basement, -er I mean Reassignment Center… Continue reading
Can you make a list of all the things you collected and brought into your classroom, or anywhere, over a 5 year period I know I can’t, but I am going to try. As a reassigned teacher, who was stopped in the lobby of his school and prevented from coming… Continue reading
Learn more at UFT Solidarity