First let me say this... I do not know Dr. Watson, the Dewey community or any details about this case, the situation, or the incidents described. But, there are two things to remember intent vs. impact. The intent of the Dewey community and staff may very well have been what is being stated but the impact on a black leader of what was be…
First let me say this... I do not know Dr. Watson, the Dewey community or any details about this case, the situation, or the incidents described. But, there are two things to remember intent vs. impact. The intent of the Dewey community and staff may very well have been what is being stated but the impact on a black leader of what was being done may have been totally different. Being a woman of color leading a predominantly white organization is not only hard but isolating. If Dr. Watson did not feel like she had any allies in the building or organization and was asking for help and the help she received did not directly support her, the impact of what was happening very well could have been what she was describing. Shaming someone for what they were going through and experiencing personally as a person of color (without intimately knowing her story, feelings, and journey) is not fair nor does it reflect the work Evanston schools and community say they are committed to around addressing race, equity, institutional racism and changing the outcomes for individuals of color.
Please take a look at Watson's complaint. This is nothing more than a money grab where she is leveraging equal opportunity laws for payout without demonstrating harm.
In the complaint, she fails to produce any actual evidence relating to harassment from the Dewey community--let alone that there was harassment due to her race and gender.
She simply asserts "From the beginning, the staff and administration at Dewey Elementary School were hostile towards Plaintiff because she was a Black woman."
Ok how about an example? "Indeed, throughout August 2021, Plaintiff was repeatedly told that non-Black teachers and staff members were going to “run me out of the building.”
Who told her this? She doesn't say.
Watson: "However, because Plaintiff was Black, the staff and administration at Dewey Elementary refused to accept her as a leader." Zero individuals identified. Zero specific instances mentioned.
"Later in April 2022, at least one teacher resigned because she refused to work for a Black
principal any longer. Plaintiff had previously recommended that teacher for tenure." Really?
Who was this? Where is the resignation letter? Is this how it went down: "Dear Principal, Thank you for supporting me for tenure. You're a great boss and I love working here. However, I must resign because I refuse to work for a Black principal any longer. "
When you compare this complaint to the Sebaggala complaint, while they are both totally bogus at least Sebaggala provided documentation (however weak it was) regarding the supposed defamation she endured. Watson provides nothing to support her claim.
The fact she was asking for the absurd sum of half a million dollars should make any rational person skeptical about her motives.
The real scandal is that the board is settling with her for $30,000. It is such a frivolous suit
The whole story is part of the D65 Amateur Hour show that the Board embodies and radiates throughout the organization.
Dr. Watson made absolutely no effort. She was not on the playground greeting students at drop off and pick up, she wasn’t meeting parents or following up with correct links to her Chat-n-Chews, she was never in the lunchroom during lunch or walking throughout the building at any point during the day. Students didn’t even know her. She sat in her office with the door closed and never made any attempt to know her students, parents, teachers or staff. On the other hand Mr. Ellison was very responsive, got to know students supported staff and teachers and walked around the school during the day to engage everyone. He also spent time outside during recess, and dismissal. He was a Black man—if there was racism why wouldn’t it be to both. This had nothing to do with the color of her skin, it had to do with her inability to be a leader, part of which i blame district administration for lack of training. Dr. Watson didn’t know the proper letters for LGBTQ, she referred to the Spanish language as ‘gibberish’, she didn’t get a holiday gift yet refused to acknowledge Hanukkah with staff members all while there was a Diwali bulletin board in the hallway outside of her office. She made her bed and her demotion is her own doing.
First let me say this... I do not know Dr. Watson, the Dewey community or any details about this case, the situation, or the incidents described. But, there are two things to remember intent vs. impact. The intent of the Dewey community and staff may very well have been what is being stated but the impact on a black leader of what was being done may have been totally different. Being a woman of color leading a predominantly white organization is not only hard but isolating. If Dr. Watson did not feel like she had any allies in the building or organization and was asking for help and the help she received did not directly support her, the impact of what was happening very well could have been what she was describing. Shaming someone for what they were going through and experiencing personally as a person of color (without intimately knowing her story, feelings, and journey) is not fair nor does it reflect the work Evanston schools and community say they are committed to around addressing race, equity, institutional racism and changing the outcomes for individuals of color.
Thank you for this comment, I do think this is important to acknowledge for sure
Please take a look at Watson's complaint. This is nothing more than a money grab where she is leveraging equal opportunity laws for payout without demonstrating harm.
In the complaint, she fails to produce any actual evidence relating to harassment from the Dewey community--let alone that there was harassment due to her race and gender.
She simply asserts "From the beginning, the staff and administration at Dewey Elementary School were hostile towards Plaintiff because she was a Black woman."
Ok how about an example? "Indeed, throughout August 2021, Plaintiff was repeatedly told that non-Black teachers and staff members were going to “run me out of the building.”
Who told her this? She doesn't say.
Watson: "However, because Plaintiff was Black, the staff and administration at Dewey Elementary refused to accept her as a leader." Zero individuals identified. Zero specific instances mentioned.
"Later in April 2022, at least one teacher resigned because she refused to work for a Black
principal any longer. Plaintiff had previously recommended that teacher for tenure." Really?
Who was this? Where is the resignation letter? Is this how it went down: "Dear Principal, Thank you for supporting me for tenure. You're a great boss and I love working here. However, I must resign because I refuse to work for a Black principal any longer. "
When you compare this complaint to the Sebaggala complaint, while they are both totally bogus at least Sebaggala provided documentation (however weak it was) regarding the supposed defamation she endured. Watson provides nothing to support her claim.
The fact she was asking for the absurd sum of half a million dollars should make any rational person skeptical about her motives.
The real scandal is that the board is settling with her for $30,000. It is such a frivolous suit
The whole story is part of the D65 Amateur Hour show that the Board embodies and radiates throughout the organization.
Dr. Watson made absolutely no effort. She was not on the playground greeting students at drop off and pick up, she wasn’t meeting parents or following up with correct links to her Chat-n-Chews, she was never in the lunchroom during lunch or walking throughout the building at any point during the day. Students didn’t even know her. She sat in her office with the door closed and never made any attempt to know her students, parents, teachers or staff. On the other hand Mr. Ellison was very responsive, got to know students supported staff and teachers and walked around the school during the day to engage everyone. He also spent time outside during recess, and dismissal. He was a Black man—if there was racism why wouldn’t it be to both. This had nothing to do with the color of her skin, it had to do with her inability to be a leader, part of which i blame district administration for lack of training. Dr. Watson didn’t know the proper letters for LGBTQ, she referred to the Spanish language as ‘gibberish’, she didn’t get a holiday gift yet refused to acknowledge Hanukkah with staff members all while there was a Diwali bulletin board in the hallway outside of her office. She made her bed and her demotion is her own doing.