Panel Urges Suspension of Principal

A committee of the state’s Commission on Teacher Credentialing has recommended a 10-day suspension of credentials for a Van Nuys school principal accused of harassing a “whistle-blowing” teacher, officials said Friday.

After an investigation, the committee found “probable cause” to suspend the administrative and teaching credentials of Jacklyn Thompson, principal of Chandler Elementary School, said Nanette F. Rufo, coordinator of the commission’s Professional Standards Division.

If suspended, Thompson would not be able to work for pay either as a teacher or an administrator in California. The recommendation goes to the full commission for action.

The United Teachers-Los Angeles charged that Thompson had retaliated against teacher Sheila Hopper after she tipped off state authorities that the Los Angeles Unified School District was improperly cutting corners on special-education classes.

A month after Hopper filed a series of complaints, the district investigated her for allegedly using excessive force on a child and alleged battery on a teacher’s aide. Hopper, a special education teacher, was later cleared of the charges.

“We’re delighted,” Roger Segure, the union’s director of grievance, said of the committee’s recommendation. “The reason we went to Sacramento is that nobody down here would do anything. No matter what a principal does, the district backs them up.”

Howard Friedman, an attorney for the district who is representing Thompson, said he will appeal the recommendation so that an administrative hearing on Hopper’s charges can be scheduled.

“Frankly, we’re in the dark about the basis for the commission’s findings,” Friedman said. “I’m looking forward to a process where the facts will come out.”

He said the principal had an obligation to report to the district complaints about Hopper that Thompson had received from a parent and a school psychologist.

“This is a tremendous injustice to Miss Thompson,” Friedman said. “This is really a labor-management process. The union has decided to use the credentialing process against principals.”

Rufo said she could not comment on what “probable cause” the state committee found to recommend Thompson’s suspension because its deliberations and findings are not matters of public record.

The union had asked that Thompson’s credentials be revoked. But Segure said he is not disappointed that the committee chose a lesser punishment.

“The important thing is that the committee looked at the evidence and found her guilty,” Segure said.