It comes down to this… salary matters. Experience not so much. Or at least the DOE’s budgeting system discourages the hiring of higher salaried and more experienced staff. Continue reading
In the education activist arena there are personality conflicts and, unfortunately, there is greed. Enter Elizabeth “Betsy Combier” Kapel stage left. Your misfortune yesterday, is her profit today. Continue reading
There are many common themes and tools used when an educator is targeted. This post specifically looks to help derail and stop the subjective observation freight train. Continue reading
In case you haven’t heard by now, my federal lawsuit did not end the way we wanted it to. By “we” I do not mean just me, my lawyers and family, but rather “we” as also a countless group of educators, across the country, who needed a win against corruption and harassment in our public schools. Continue reading
EXTRA! EXTRA! Final report on Principal Linda Hill misconduct finally out 1,224 days after allegation made. Continue reading
With a budget of over $25 billion, an employee roster of over 136,000 and over 1,400 buildings to manage, there is plenty of room for theft and corruption at the New York City Department of Education. Continue reading
[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
In an unexpected and unprecedented move to undo the Bloomberg “Principal as CEO” school governance, the de Blasio/Faria administration is designating absolute power to…the crossing guard Sources on the inside say that school crossing guards still have to check in with and obey the directives from DOE Legal, so don’t… Continue reading
Since May 12, 2014, I have estimated that I taught over 2,000 students in Staten Island. From Pre-K to 8th grade. To repeat the first words ever written on this blog early 2012…. “My name is Francesco Portelos and I love my job!” Continue reading
In total, the Bloomberg -Klein era attempted to terminate 2,816 UFT members and Chancellor Farina and the Leftovers continue the attack. 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
We continue with charges, from my 3020-a termination, hearing where Arbitrator Felice Busto sustained the specifications including bringing notoriety and ridicule to the DOE. Continue reading
Again, I spoke up on issues of PUBLIC CONCERN and had I not been tenured, I would have been fired. 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
We continue with theTheSCI Files… There has to be a professional and adult way of saying “Told you so!” Sit down and grab some popcorn again, because the craziness never ends here with this saga. I feel like I’m writing fiction or a John Grisham novel. I also felt as… Continue reading
Other dates on the real estate files found on my DOE computer show house sales that took place as late as July 26, 2012. That is 5 months AFTER the devices were out of my possession. Continue reading
In the wake of thePS 106Q Marcella Sills “School of No” fiasco, I decided to make a list of the cases I initiated, or knew about, pertaining to my own community school of Berta Dreyfus IS 49. —- Cases and Investigations. The NYC Special Commissioner of Investigation (SCI) has… Continue reading
On Wednesday February 12, 2014 at around 6pm we finally heard “nothing further” from both sides. Closing arguments were now compete and my 3020-a termination hearing was over. We were official off the record and what a record it was. When my hearing first started on September 12, 2013it was… Continue reading
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