In a sudden and unexpected move, Marion Wilson, the superintendent of public schools in Staten Island, was relieved of her duties following allegations of racially charged comments and a pledge to appoint "No more white principals," as per information obtained by The New York Post.
Wilson, who had been at the helm of District 31 schools for over three years, was instructed to vacate her office on September 20 and report to the Department of Education's Tweed headquarters in Manhattan, according to The New York Post. The abrupt change was announced by Danika Rux, deputy chancellor for school leadership, who stated that Wilson "will be transitioning to a central team." However, Rux did not provide any reasons for the sudden dismissal.
Despite her removal, Wilson will retain her annual salary of $230,000 and will serve as a "facilitator" in the Leaders in Education Apprenticeship Program (LEAP), a program that prepares teachers to become principals with a focus on racial equity. The Department of Education declined to comment on the reasons behind Wilson's removal. However, an insider revealed that Wilson was recorded making derogatory remarks about district employees. "She apparently went off on a Zoom or Teams call demeaning her own principals and staffers, and didnt know she was unmuted, the insider shared.
Wilson's tenure has been marred by allegations of racially insensitive comments. Last year, the Special Commissioner of Investigation for city schools was requested to probe screenshots of texts allegedly written by Wilson. The texts included statements such as "No more white principals on my watch!" and "White folks need to recognize this is not the boys club anymore. A strong black woman runs this bitch now, and they can either get on board or get out.
In response to these allegations, Wilson filed a police report claiming she was the recipient of threats stemming from "false accusations" that she authored the texts. The NYPD's Hate Crimes Task Force pledged to investigate and provided Wilson with a police escort for a period. "The investigation is ongoing," an NYPD spokesman confirmed last Friday.
The Special Commissioner of Investigation concluded its investigation several months later, unable to identify the author of the texts. However, audio recordings have since surfaced, allegedly capturing Wilson making racially charged comments to black parents. "I said no more white principals. I meant it," a woman identified as Wilson is heard saying in one recording.
The Department of Education's Office of Equal Opportunity, to which the recordings were referred, found the allegations unsubstantiated, according to DOE spokesman Nathaniel Styer. Wilson has not commented on the recordings.
In the midst of these controversies, Heather Jansen, a white principal, has filed a discrimination lawsuit against the DOE, alleging that Wilson unjustly removed her from her position as principal of PS 46 in June 2023. Jansen claims that Wilson texted, "She probably didnt know what hit her when they pulled her white ass out," according to a screenshot submitted as evidence.
Wilson's departure has left the Staten Island community with mixed feelings. Liz Cianfrone, a volunteer family advocate for students with special needs and their parents, lauded Wilson as a "role model, inspiration and true advocate for children." State Assemblyman Michael Reilly of Staten Island also praised Wilson as "an ally for our public schools and an advocate for students, parents, and teachers."
However, some principals have expressed concerns over Wilson's alleged focus on appointing Black administrators, which they claim led to other candidates leaving the district. "Race was the most important criteria in selecting professionals on her team," one principal stated. This controversy underscores the ongoing debate about the role of race in educational leadership and the need for fair and unbiased hiring practices.
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