[UPDATE: The below post is the original from November 2014. The only difference is the letter from the UFT Grievance Department indicating they will not be representing this case in arbitration. It’s located at the bottom of the article. It took exactly 130 days to decide.] Below you will hear… Continue reading
I’m just past the three-year mark from when my fight began. By “fight” I mean I raised real concerns about public education, the Department of Education came after my career, in an attempt to cover up their misconduct, and… I “fought” back. I must have hit some of these DOE employees back prettyhard, because they suddenly forgoteverything! Continue reading
Let’s get something straight here.
The growing Opt Out movement against testing isn’t about teacher created tests. 60,000 students in NYS didn’t opt out of a pop quiz on the American Revolution last year. Continue reading
According to the UFT-DOE Agreement, an employee is supposed to have only one official file. I seem to have several unofficial ones. Grievance time. Continue reading
One of thereasons this blog even exists is because of the concerns I raised at the IS 49 School Leadership Team (SLT) meetings. Yesterday, January 7, 2014 NYC Public Advocate Letitia James and Class Size Matters filed papers to intervene in a lawsuit Thomas v City of NY. Michael… Continue reading
“Please be advised that since Francesco Portelos requests emails that have the word “Portelos” between us, we will all start using the acronym FP instead. Thank you.” Continue reading
I reached out to New Action caucus to try for a bipartisan push against the DOE and UFT and possibly help these over 800 terminated teachers. The reaction from some MORE members was ridiculous. “No New Action!” Continue reading
A quick recap of the summer and an email for a new position I was assigned by the DOE. Ambassador Teacher on Rotation. Excited to get back to school. Continue reading
The Online Occurrence Reporting System (OORS) is what is used to keep track of all incidents that occur in or around a NYC DOE school. At one point, the school I tried to improve had 1,283 incidents in 180 days. That is an average of 7.12 incidents a day or roughly an incident a period. Continue reading
Seriously… Is it not Read Below. Over a year ago I FOILed the number of probationary (nontenured) teachers discontinued in the NYC DOE inthelast two years. I know, I could have just asked the UFT, but they wouldn’t give usthe info. In fact, when I asked for thenumber ofreassigned teachers,… Continue reading
Well I’ll tell you that I am very curious to know the background of who is hired for these positions that I was not qualified for. A new teacher right out of college Someone with a Common Branch license and no science or technology experience Only one way to find out…. Continue reading
In Part 1 I shared all the charges against me that were dismissed by thearbitrator from my termination hearing. Those did not include the over 25 allegations and investigations against me that were unsubstantiated. Do not mistake investigations with charges. All in all, with investigations and charges, the Department of Education has taken over 50 shots at my career and missed. Thanks TENURE!!
Now for some of the charges that were sustained by Arbitrator Felice Busto. Continue reading
Again, I spoke up on issues of PUBLIC CONCERN and had I not been tenured, I would have been fired. Continue reading
If you do some research on the actual construction of the Tweed Courthouse, you will find that it was actually built on theback of corruption. It was built using funds provided by the corruptWilliam M. “Boss” Tweed, whoseTammany Hallpolitical machinecontrolled the city and state governments at the time.Tweed became one… Continue reading
Two weeks ago I posted this:BREAKING: Edu Snowden @NYCSchools Secret Informant Then I got sidetracked with proposed UFT contract and my arbitration winDOE vs Portelos Termination Verdict Is In 826 Days After They Took Aim to Fire. It turns out though that I was not the only one to have… Continue reading
I was going to write about my return to the classroom sooner, but didn’t have time. It’s not like I’m sitting around all day. Continue reading
If you are reading this, then you should have read theprevious post on the decision. DOE vs Portelos Termination Verdict Is In 826 Days After They Took Aim to Fire. The DOE and UFT have been stating that they are attempting to reduce and eradicate the infamous ATR pool. You… Continue reading
I want to say that I write this with overwhelming glee. I want to say that I write this while in a state of euphoria and with a Kool-Aid smile, but unfortunately I cannot. Continue reading
Lately, I have been so busy with so many tasks and personal things that it has been tough to find time andreally sit and write good posts. We have been working on DTOE.org more and really mobilizing other educators. Think of Protectportelos.org as a book on BBQ Steak. You shouldn’t… Continue reading
I wish I was making this up. More lemons….more lemonade. I was called to the DOE’s Office of Special Investigation (OSI). I was called in as a witness to something. When I returned to my reassignment location, I was handed an envelope by my supervisor. “A man came looking for… Continue reading
Teacher attorneys Bryan D. Glass and Jordan F. Harlow
