Beal said she was not cooperating. To the kids, it wasnt just about making coaches happy. Since then, the district has stressed the move has nothing to do. All she does is shake her head and say, The parents in this town Shes already seen how it has enveloped Bryan. GRAPEVINE, Texas (CBSDFW.COM) - A high school principal at the center of a controversy in Grapevine-Colleyville ISD is now on administrative leave. I knew it as soon as I finished the story. Critical race theory is a way of thinking about Americas history through the lens of racism. 8:06 PM on Aug 30, 2021 CDT Updated at 1:21 PM on Sep 1, 2021 CDT. "I look at the picture, and I look at the words above it, and it says, 'Is this the Dr. Whitfield we want leading our schools?' (Even though, technically, its in Euless.) They had pieced together a clear picture of a serious problem. I showed it to my wife, who immediately begins to well up with tears," he said. Ive only chosen to speak out against baseless allegations after [the district] allowed a man to speak my name at the July 26 board meeting, he said. Thats what everybody should be doing. The Tarrant County Narcotics Unit, now working the steroids investigation, told Lewis that her first call should have been to them months ago. All students and staff are safe, the school . He received a disciplinary letter from the district a few weeks later and was placed on administrative leave soon after that. "We don't make rules unless we're asked by our member schools.". MOM ON A MISSION: Lewis (left) admits that if she had known how her city would turn against her, how her son Bryan (right) would be ostracized, how her actions would be second-guessed by the police, it would have made her think twice. She didnt take long to make her decision: Bring it on.. at 7pm. Lewis jumped in her car and raced the two miles to CHHS. Copyright 2023, D Magazine Partners, Inc. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. They were extremely polite but thorough. No spam, ever. Colleyville Heritage High School (TX) Varsity Basketball Colleyville Heritage Panthers Varsity Boys Basketball Colleyville, TX 22-23 V. Basketball Home Schedule Roster Standings Rankings Photos Videos News More / Colleyville Heritage High School Basketball Colleyville Heritage Basketball OVERALL 22-10 0.69 Win % DISTRICT 9-5 4th in District Why did you stop?Jones and Jacobson, top-notch investigative reporters, had been working on a series of stories about steroid abuse in area high schools. Over time, Bryan began to trust them and open up. Colleyville Heritage became the focus of a district investigation during the 2004-2005 school year after a Panther football/baseball player and his mother confronted school administrators and GCISD about his use of performance-enhancing drugs. Whatever. Sign up for The Brief, our daily newsletter that keeps readers up to speed on the most essential Texas news. Some of the photos the district received contained poses that are questionable for an educator, especially a principal or administrator. Kids need us! the principal added. That was months ago. The school district told KXAS in a statement: When a social media concern is brought to the attention of the district, we have a responsibility to review it. We need to make sure we're providing a healthy environment for all of them. In the ensuing days, Whitfield found himself at the center of the debate over how race is taught in Texas schools. Lawmakers eventually passed House Bill 3979, which restricts how teachers can discuss current events, encourage civic engagement and teach about Americas history of racism. Colleyville Heritage High School Principal James Whitfield opened up in a lengthy Facebook post on July 31 about the incident from 2019 shortly after he had been promoted to the top post at. When he decided not to play (and when he noticed acne on his back during the family vacation in Florida), he stopped. A Black North Texas principal has agreed to resign after being put on paid administrative leave in August amid accusations he was teaching and promoting critical race theory. She knew the pettiness would get worse once she filed the lawsuit. None of the individuals had weapons on them, but a handgun was found in one of the students cars, police said. 972-983-4822 cell. "That show of love and support is a signal for me that in some form or fashion, I've made an impact in their lives and that's what I'm here to do," said Whitfield. 4:25 PM on Mar 1, 2022 CST Updated at 8:58 PM on Mar 1, 2022 CST. I am grateful for your partnership and look forward to working with you to serve and support the students of Colleyville Heritage High School.. For weeks, kids buzzed about who they thought might be the anonymous athlete caught using steroids. The move comes a week after the principal and a crowd of supporters attended a school board meeting to address claims from a group of parents who say he is teaching critical race theory. They had to get everything ready for when they return after the summer, when Bryan plans to go out for the varsity team. Get the latest breaking news from North Texas and beyond. 5401 Heritage Avenue, Colleyville, TX 76034. Hes a happily married man. As part of a settlement between Whitfield and the district, he will remain on paid administrative leave until then. They could not tell anyone her identityor else, as she put it, I will sue you. Given the extreme care administrators used with her identity in e-mail correspondence during the next few months (obtained by D Magazine), they took her threat seriously. His resignation won't be official. LIVE: Colleyville Heritage vs. Grapevine | 2023 High School Soccer - YouTube Premieres in 4 hours February 21 at 4:00 PM Rice Memorial vs. Colchester | 2023 High School Boys Basketball. Earlier this week, Abbott asked the Texas Education Agency, along with the Texas State Library and Archives Commission and the State Board of Education, to develop statewide standards preventing "obscene content in Texas public schools.". One of those parents complained. James Whitfield, 43, principal at Colleyville Heritage High School, has been placed on leave by the Grapevine-Colleyville ISD after being accused of teaching critical race theory at his. The median household income tops $150,000. ), & 6 (Mon.) GRAPEVINE, Texas (CBSDFW.COM) - A high school principal at the center of a controversy in Grapevine-Colleyville ISD is now on administrative leave. He wrote that he cant ask others to speak up if he wont, and that being a school administrator does not take away my rights and ability to be human and defend myself.. He knewfrom friends, from weight-room whispers, from his own two eyesthat many of the starters were accomplishing just that task with injected aid. Beal asked her to come into the school for a talk. She expected to hear from him in a week or so. Hate and #racism will not rule the day. He marched into his mothers room and paced in front of her. Example video title will go here for this video. He was asked to remove photos from Facebook taken on a beach vacation with is wife, that some felt were inappropriate. As the editorial note at the storys end explained, She and her son feared retaliation from other Colleyville athletes, coaches, and parents. What did you expect him to say? And during the second special session, lawmakers successfully passed Senate Bill 3, a more restrictive version of the House bill that will replace HB 3979 on Dec. 2. When Ted Beal answered his phone that morning, September 23, the nightmare began for the CHHS administration. Oh, no. If my house was on fire, would you put it out? she asked. Bryan is used to getting in trouble with his mom. The reporters worked other sources. Public school 1,974 Students Grades 9-12. You may need to show identification if this was not done at walk-thru. Faking it wasnt easy. The Grapevine-Colleyville district has taken no action against the students and is reviewing school policies to determine whether disciplinary action will be taken, she said. He knew where he was: at a party one block over. Colleyville Heritage High School Principal James Whitfield has faced sharp criticism from some parents who are accusing him of teaching critical race theory. The school district announced Monday,. James Whitfield, who was named Colleyville Heritage High School's first African-American principal in 2020, posted that during the July 26 board meeting, he was publicly named and accused of . It's something he and the district have denied. On the bus, she read, careful not to catch anyones eye. But the reporters needed something else. Unfortunately, it didnt work out that way.. In his post Saturday, Whitfield explained that the photos were taken a decade ago during their 10-year anniversary in Mexico. Phone calls can only be accepted the day of the absence. Who is available? This is how competitive it is in this town, Lewis says, smiling. Its pretty simple. Whitfield's wife Kerrie said she took the photo to mean a black man with a tattoo on his arm was inappropriate. Dude, I think thats your mom.. We have established procedures for that which we are following.". Where were you when you first injected them? All four got out of the car. I just want to get on with my life. Cunningham has apologized and said it was wrong to say the things he did, but I think anybody would have reacted the same way. For questions, to submit digital entries or to coordinate pickup of entries, please contact: Kacey Bess. Im going to fight him.. The parents shes known since Bryan played tee ball with their kids a dozen years ago ignore her. Im gonna beat your ass.. It had absolutely nothing to do with race. She knew it would have to be this way. Whitfield is now speaking out about the incident and responding to what he claims are bigoted and racist attacks, including accusations that he is a proponent of critical race theory. The tick-tock drama of Bryans story, that compelling personal narrative, the hour-by-hour recounting of his traverse from good kid to drug user, would elevate the series. Opposition to critical race theory has become a rallying cry for Texas Republican leaders, who claim its indoctrinating students and teaching white students that they are racist. "I chalk it up to educators are held to a different standard, unfortunately. In a letter to parents Monday, Superintendent Robin Ryan wrote that Whitfield has been placed on leave but that he would not go into the specifics because it is a personnel matter., Whitfield, the schools first Black principal, told The Dallas Morning News on Monday night that he was told he was put on leave indefinitely because the superintendent has determined that doing so is in the best interest of the District.. If a student must be absent from school a parent should call or email the school Attendance Office, the day of the absence, to report the student's name and the reason. No, it didnt. NO NAMES. Can you take this picture down? The students named an adult with no ties to the school as the source of the substances. I'm ready to turn that next page, Whitfield told The Texas Tribune on Wednesday. They would cooperate fully with the News reporters, but they wouldnt give anyone up. Only one. "They're here to show their voice. Arent they illegal now? We just have to lay low, she said. "If they do proceed with firing him, I hope the administration knows that these people aren't going anywhere," fellow student Sunehra Chowdhury said of the students who walked out of class. The driver, the stockiest of the bunch, rapped on Bryans window. CHHS is a big school, with more than 2,200 students and an operating budget of $136.5 million for the. 562. He told KXAS that he received an email at the time from a school administrator containing an image of himself and his wife, Kerrie, kissing on their anniversary trip. Website. She checked the time. It had absolutely nothing to do with race., The photo that aired in initial media reports was not the only photo that was received by the District, Kristin Snively, executive director of communications for the district, wrote in an email to The Dallas Morning News. and I asked, 'Why? A mother raising a teenage boy who decided to use steroids like too many kids do, or a football coach who didnt know? I am the first African American to assume the role of principal at my current school in its 25-year history, and I am keenly aware of how much fear this strikes in the hearts of a small minority who would much rather things go back to the way they used to be.". Dr. James Whitfield, the former principal at Colleyville Heritage High School, filed a $250,000 defamation lawsuit against Grapevine-Colleyville Independent School District and board member Tammy . That kid will know who Patrick is. Its why she doesnt let me talk to, or even see, her husband and younger daughter. He talked quickly, stumbling over his words, trying to explain his reasoning. She demanded to know why he was taking steroids. An 18-year-old man and a juvenile student are facing criminal charges after a handgun was found inside a students car at Colleyville Heritage High School on Tuesday. This story has been shared 117,245 times. McClure said the school began investigating the matter in October. Well, I had an interesting day, he told his mother by phone that night. But Colleyville police Detective Hillary Wreay said her department has received no information from the school on the alleged sale or distribution of steroids and has no investigation in progress. Devin Bryant, a senior at Covenant Christian Academy in Colleyville, says he was expelled for being gay and "evil." Principal Tommy Jeffrey doubles down on his decision, calls LGBTQ lifestyle non . But the moms wouldnt tell the other moms about it, because they want their kid to have an edge. Had it come to that? Whitfield reached an agreement with Grapevine-Colleyville ISD after being accused of teaching critical race theory at his high school and placed on administrative leave. Some parents from Colleyville Heritage learned of the photo incident after a lengthy social media post Whitfield made over the weekend about the accusations he's faced and the pressure he and his family have been under, including the frustration over the district asking him to take down the photo. It was at this moment that I knew the attack that we currently endure, was coming., In a statement to KXAS-TV (NBC5), the district said the photos it received contained poses that are questionable for an educator, especially a principal or administrator. She went to sleep thinking it was the right thing to do. James Whitfield, the first Black principal at mostly white Colleyville Heritage High School, chose to resign but remain on paid administrative leave until 2023 in a settlement with the school district. The high school has about 2,000 students in ninth through 12th grades. If you know that is on your trusted email list, contact your child's school office (Grade Level Learning Community, Building, or SLC) to have your email added to the system. McClure said school officials held meetings and questioned students, but nobody admitted to using the muscle-building substances. Cooper vs. Colleyville Heritage - Texas High School Girls Basketball mr buva 0 No views 52 seconds ago #highschoolbasketball Stream Here https://gametoday.hs-sport.live/highs. No one could see her talking to school officials. Thats how competitive it is.. Copyright 2023 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. Sort of. No real names, anyway. But other than that, its great. Ive moved on. "The only mention we make is a warning on health effects on our Web site," she said. Check to be sure that email from abi@luhsd.net will come through. Theres no reason for me to take this photo down,' he told KXAS. It was a football player. Going forward, Whitfield believes his work in education isnt done. MLB legend makes surprise appearance at Astros' Spring Training, Houston is ugly, and I've never felt more at home, Texas A&M upset win clears path for UH to snag top overall seed, This is what Houston looks like from space, Oops! "I wish I had the conviction to say, 'No, I'm not going to take it down; that's a picture of me and my wife kissing on the beach; there's no reason for me to take this photo down.'". Lewis was dumbfounded. In a Sept. 1 written statement the district said: "The District has received numerous questions regarding the decision to place Dr. James Whitfield on paid administrative leave. In hindsight, of course I should have just called them. I wish I had the conviction to say, No, Im not going to take it down thats a picture of me and my wife kissing on the beach. He will step down as principal at Colleyville Heritage High School and remain on paid leave until 2023. first accused of teaching critical race theory during a Grapevine-Colleyville Independent School District school board meeting. Maybe he wont tell anyone.Then she read paragraph 33, which detailed Patricks efforts to have a woman buy his needles so he wouldnt arouse suspicion: The cheerleader went to a nearby Kroger supermarket. From the moment I called the school, I didnt want him involved. Wednesday and Thursday shows are cancelled due to inclement weather. When Lori Lewis learned that many players on her sons Colleyville Heritage football team were using steroids, she blew the whistle. Here is a look at the Top 3 girls teams in Class 5A. The school and district officials dismissed the mother's claims, and the school's head football coach went as far calling her a "liar" in a Dallas Morning News interview. It was also about keeping up with bitter enemies from Southlake Carroll, Grapevine, Keller, all the schools on the schedule. Colleyville Heritage High School 5401 Heritage Avenue Colleyville, TX 76034 P 817-305-4700 F 817-358-4765 Like Our Page on Facebook Follow us on Twitter He is rubbing his hands while he talks, trying to get the grime off his fingers. Dallas, Texas 75201. Hed been playing sports in Colleyville since tee ball at age 4, and through select baseball and Pee Wee football, all the way through this, his junior year, shed attended every game. This one held something. The district had no additional comments Monday night because it is an ongoing personnel matter, a spokeswoman said in a prepared statement. Well, Im a friend of Coach Cunninghams. Bryan may be able to help, but dont contact him at school. She worried he would be labeled a snitch if it became a public ordeal. Except for a few friends, he felt ostracized. COLLEYVILLE, Texas The embattled principal of Colleyville Heritage High School is expected to learn his employment fate this coming Monday. 2023 NYP Holdings, Inc. All Rights Reserved, Woman in viral pizza rant now facing ethnic harassment charges, Murdaugh Judge Clifton Newman: From segregated schools to the best we want in our jurists, NYC DOE probing anti-white texts linked to black superintendent, Black children attack, force white kids to say Black Lives Matter at Ohio school: video. Alphabet L - Z. lesli.ware@gcisd.net. Dr. James Whitfield has been promoted several times in the Grapevine-Colleyville ISD system. Bryan sat across from them, Lewis next to him. GPA is calculated on a 4.0 weighted GPA scale. By now, she had revealed her identity in subsequent newspaper stories. The 18-year-old, who is not a student, and two juvenile students were located inside the school, police said. Then, one evening the Courier reporter called Lewis and asked if he could pass along her phone number to two reporters with the Dallas Morning News who were working on a series of stories examining steroid use in high schools all across North Texas. He just wants to enjoy his senior year, and I want to do everything I can to help him., But, she says, she believes she has a mission. Who knew? Because even though Lewis did the right thing, and even though she took every measure to protect her sons identity when she made that call and then later took her story to the media, it is Bryan who ultimately paid the price for his moms principled stand. The decision to place Dr. Whitfield on administrative leave was not a result of statements made by members of the public, including those who spoke at recent meetings of the GCISD Board of Trustees. He called a few buddies shortly before midnight and told them to meet him at Whataburger, one of the town hangouts. She couldnt even get her grass cut? THEATRE DEPARTMENT. If I called your boss and said your kids and their friends are using drugs, my kid says youre looking the other way and not doing anything about it and thats not true, what would you say? And the Grapevine-Colleyville ISD has adopted an aggressive drug-testing policy, due largely to the hot media glare Lewis helped focus on the school and its tepid (in her view) initial response to her charges. Can you take this picture down? But you figure theres a problem at the school, you call the school. The University Interscholastic League, which sets rules for competition in Texas high school sports, has no policy on steroids. He mentions a senior. Good Lord, Lewis thought. Grapevine-Colleyville ISD Superintendent Robin Ryan announced Whitfield was being placed on leave in a message to parents Monday. Where did you get them? She hurried downstairs and called the pharmacy at the nearby Walgreens. Nine CHHS players have admitted to using steroids. They know.. He looked online and immediately saw a photo of him and his wife on the beach -- a photo shot by a professional photographer on their anniversary. Whitfield wrote that the allegations were connected to a 2019 presentation he took part in as middle school principal on Breaking the Barriers that addressed peoples differences. We will not sit silently while these individuals continue their bigoted attacks. by Brian Lopez Dangit, you got me!? This was so she could direct Lewis to the appropriate vice principal. Why should my kid be drug-tested just because you cant control yours?. Bryan never had to wonder whether his mom was engaged, as Dr. Phil likes to say. You heard that story earlier tonight. No big deal, Bryan thought. I think it's silly, I can't see why a husband and wife can't have a picture of them in a sweet moment.". The school district has called the photos questionable for an educator, especially a principal or administrator, and they said it has nothing to do with race. I love them, they love me," Whitfield said in an interview with WFAA's Jason Whitely on the same day the students walked out of school to support him. Grapevine-Colleyville Independent School District. I dont think that was crazy.. Police did not identify either individual. Normally, the school dismisses at 4 p.m., a district spokesman said, but around 5:15 p.m. the district tweeted that it was doing a controlled dismissal of all students.. James Whitfield chose to resign from his position as principal of Colleyville Heritage High School and the school board unanimously accepted on Monday. Sports means everything to folks here, Bryan says. Never missed one, she says proudly. He meant half the players who mattered were juicing. They even went to football games, sat in the stands, and made a list of the players who looked like they might be using steroids, based on the common signs: acne, muscular definition, rage. . But no names were used. And the News reporters agreed that they wouldnt identify any of the other students who Bryan knew or suspected used steroids. The driver said he was friends with one of the players who used steroids. All rights reserved, Highlighter: North Texas Students Help NASA Scientists, Educational Trailers Stolen After Presentations at Dallas Schools, Novak Djokovic Denied' US Entry Ahead Of Indian Wells, Joe Biden Asked To Intervene, Counseling Services Offered After Three Children Killed, Two Hurt In Ellis County, Check Your Change! The coach, Chris Cunningham, denied the accusations in reports published at the time and said he was adamantly against steroids. Whitfield's status with Colleyville Heritage High School is expected to be decided at a Monday school board meeting. Are insane ticket costs pricing Astros fans out of Opening Day? No one from above ever mentioned anything else about it, but the damage was inflicted on us in profound ways, he wrote. On the front page blared her sons story: Colleyville player says pressure to improve prompted steroid use.. Officers were called around . There were also names. But as Lewis read it, she found something horrible. Colleyville Heritage High School 5401 Heritage Avenue Colleyville, TX 76034 P 817-305-4700 F 817-358-4765 Texas Teacher of the Year keeps focus on students to drown out political noise, 'Its about a happy classroom': Garland ISD focusing on social emotional learning. Minutes later, her son, Bryan Dyer (Lewis remarried in 1993), walked out of the school with a friend and headed toward his truck. Note! By midweek, Bryan couldnt take the whispers and the barely contained seething of the football players. During the following months, the reporters put together their package of stories. With some of her neighbors not talking to her, she decided to take the next step. Dallas Cowboys want another playmaker on offense. Football players were calling him Patrick. Conversations stopped when he arrived. In February 2005, The Dallas Morning News published an in-depth report entitled "The Secret Edge", a look at the topic of steroids in high school sports. Tickets for cancelled shows will be honored at these performances. She didnt believe it. Whitfield added that he has no regrets over what has transpired over the last couple of months, hes happy that he stood up for what he believed in and he hopes thats what people can learn from his situation. She is a graduate of the University of Texas at Austin, where she studied journalism and public relations. That Friday after the story had come out, near midnight, Bryan got a call on his cell phone. Notifications can be turned off anytime in the browser settings. Hes just got to get a little faster, a little bigger, a little stronger. First, she noticed the syringes. Were set to play more disadvantaged and diverse opponents Trinity. Whether the district acted over concerns from parents over racial issues or the way the couple was posed, Roppollo said there was no reason to censor the principal. Submission Deadline: 11/4/22. Lewis said she didnt want the schools help. This Houston rodeo food vendor wants you to eat his rattlesnake, Astros GM Dana Brown has more praise team's top prospect, Heres how you can watch 'Daisy Jones and the Six', Proposed Texas bill gives tax cuts to heterosexual families only, These bites won big at the Houston rodeo's foodie awards. Scholars developed it during the 1970s and 1980s in response to what they viewed as a lack of racial progress following the civil rights legislation of the 1960s. Im used to it.. Anna Caplan covers McKinney, Southlake, Grapevine and Colleyville. She knew he didnt mean that literally more than half the Colleyville football team was on steroids. Colleyville Heritage High School Unclaimed. Some of the photos the district received contained poses that are questionable for an educator, especially a principal or administrator. Grapevine-Colleyville sources have said that the district does not teach CRT, a doctrine that pushes the notion that racism underpins Americas history, laws and institutions, according to the Dallas Morning News. They said, Could you take it down? COLLEYVILLE HERITAGE. The weekend before the series was to run, a fax came to the Morning News. (817) 305-4700. Three of his best friends have transferred to it in the past few years, so he has his core group of buddies together. In the minds of many, she carries with her the scarlet S affixed to those in small towns, suburban or rural, who dont honor the sanctity of high school football: snitch, squealer, sinner.
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