8/13/2019 PS 29 Leadership Change PR-1

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Xavier San Miguel

Friday, October 11, 2013 (718)357-3094/(917)952-0157

AVELLA APPLAUDS LEADERSHIP CHANGE AT PS 29

(College Point, QUEENS)Senator Tony Avella announced today that he fully supportsthe decision by the Department of Education (DOE) to install new leadership at PublicSchool 29 in College Point.

Following increasing complaints from parents and teachers regarding the behavior ofthe former principal Jennifer Jones-Rogers,Avella held a rally in early August to

denounce her continued mistreatment of students and faculty members. Teachers andparents accused the principal of failing to followthe requirements of the specialeducation law, including placing students in special education classroomswithoutparental consentand without individualized education programs.

Teachers were also very concerned that the principalhad failed to provide a copy ofthe budgetto the United Federation of Teachers (UFT) chapter representative for thepast two years. In the meantime, theprincipal had hired several high pricedconsultants and has spent the most money on overtimein the school district.Teachers also believed that the principal had failed to provide the necessarysupportto the teaching staff and in fact had been in violation of several aspects of theircollective bargaining agreement while also taking punitive actions against teachers whocomplain.

As a result, and with PS 29s progress spiraling down,Avella called for theimmediate removal of Principal Jones-Rogers and an investigation into heractions and behavior. At Avellas urging, the Office of the SpecialCommissioner of Investigation launched an investigation into PrincipalJones-Rogers.

Avella stated, Thischange in leadership at PS 29 is a clear victory for students,teachers and parents. The behavior of Principal Jones-Rogers as described byparents and teacherswas simply unacceptable and it became clear that she had

lost control of the school. A change was necessary before it was too late and theschools academic progress and environment plummeted even further.Ihope to work togetherwith the new leadership at the school to address theneeds of the school and to ensure that the students of PS 29 receive the educationthey deserve.