Petition to Remove Tom Szczesny as Principal of Powderhorn Elementary School
We, the concerned members of the Powderhorn Elementary School community, are united in our call for the removal of Tom Szczesny from his position as principal. His authoritarian leadership style has created a culture of fear and distress among both staff and parents, undermining the well-being and success of our school.
Reasons for Concern:
1. Authoritarian Leadership and Threats: Principal Szczesny's authoritarian approach to leadership has stifled open dialogue and constructive criticism. Teachers who dare to voice concerns are threatened with removal from their positions, creating a climate of fear and intimidation that is antithetical to a collaborative and supportive educational environment.
A. Tom sought input regarding our goals and aspirations for the 2024-2025 school year, but ultimately disregarded this valuable feedback, deeming it outdated and irrelevant. Despite the significant time and effort invested by staff in providing this input, Tom failed to communicate his decision to dismiss it, leaving staff members feeling disregarded and undervalued. Additionally, there was a lack of transparency regarding major staffing changes, as Tom made no effort to inform staff of his intentions or involve them in the decision-making process. This lack of communication and transparency has eroded trust and undermined morale within the school community.
B. Tom fails to collaborate effectively with his assistant principal and frequently undermines her authority by belittling her in front of others.
C. Tom communicates with staff through emails that carry a threatening tone, at times explicitly stating that individuals must “get on board or leave.”
D. On multiple occasions, Tom has threatened substitute teachers who are also parents with revoking their access to substitute at their child's school because of their vocal criticism of his performance and policies.
E. Tom mandates individual meetings with staff members instead of team meetings, enabling him to control the narrative and direction of discussions.
F. Tom has consistently demonstrated a lack of respect towards female teachers, staff, and parents at Powderhorn. His tone is frequently perceived as condescending and excessively authoritarian. Staff members have expressed feeling passively threatened to comply with his agenda or face consequences. Female parents have reported feeling uneasy about meeting with him individually.
2. Low Parental Involvement and Impact on Community: Parental involvement, a vital component of a thriving school community, has reached an all-time low under Principal Szczesny's leadership. The lack of engagement not only affects morale but also hinders academic progress. Studies have consistently shown that parental involvement correlates with better student behavior and improved academic performance. Furthermore, the Parent-Teacher Organization (PTO) has been severely affected, depriving our school of valuable support and resources.
A. In 2023, instead of assisting a parent who needed help making copies of a flyer to be distributed to parents while the parent was at work, he chose to cancel the school-wide talent show. The parent was given only 24 hours' notice to create and copy the mandatory flyer. This incident exemplifies why parents are reluctant to participate. These are parents who have been actively involved for many years but have opted to prioritize their mental well-being by abstaining from involvement rather than enduring belittlement from the principal.
B. Tom's actions have led to parents feeling unwelcome, resulting in a significant decline in volunteerism within the classroom. Previously, teachers would have multiple parents volunteering to assist with class parties and organizing student papers. However, now some teachers are left with only one or no volunteers at all, prompting parents from other classes to step in and offer their assistance.
C. Numerous parents now decline in-person meetings with him due to his tendency to manipulate language, opting instead for written communication to ensure clarity and transparency.
D. Parental involvement is at such a low level that the kindergarten field trip in the fall was nearly called off due to a shortage of volunteers. Typically, kindergarten sees the highest level of parental engagement.
3. Risk of Losing Beloved Teachers: There is a palpable fear among staff and parents that many beloved teachers may leave due to the hostile environment created by Principal Szczesny's leadership style. His disregard for empathy and input from both parents and teachers poses a significant risk to the stability and continuity of our school community.
A. Mrs. Kalsbeck, a beloved kindergarten teacher at Powderhorn for 13 years, has been reassigned to teach a different grade level. As a cherished member of the school community, she has warmly welcomed 312 kindergartners and their families to Powderhorn. Her decision to accept a position at another school due to these staffing changes is deeply distressing for the community. Mrs. Kalsbeck's departure is particularly impactful as she has taught entire family sibling groups and is a key reason many parents choose Powderhorn. Concerns arise among parents regarding the potential decline of the strong kindergarten team due to Principal Tom's staffing decisions.
B. Several teachers were reassigned for the 2024-2025 academic year without their consent, displacing them from the grades they have taught for many years. As a result, they are now actively seeking employment elsewhere rather than continuing to work under his leadership. Despite soliciting input regarding our intentions and desires for the 2024-2025 school year, Tom chose to disregard this valuable feedback, claiming it had expired and was no longer relevant. He failed to inform the staff of his decision not to utilize their input, and when questioned about it, he dismissed their concerns by asserting that minimal change had occurred. At no stage did Tom provide transparency regarding his plans for significant staffing changes.
C. Tom wears a facade of a smile and urges us to press on, disregarding our genuine emotions. He dismisses our current frustrations, suggesting that we will eventually feel better by August.
D. He has failed to visit those he relocated, simply asserting that they will adjust. His decisions lack coherence, with no discernible rationale provided. By treating seasoned teachers as pawns in a game, he fails to offer meaningful justification for his actions.4. Detrimental Impact on School Community: Principal Szczesny's actions have created an unsafe and unstable environment for both staff and students. His failure to prioritize safety and inclusivity, coupled with his authoritarian demeanor, has eroded trust and cohesion within the school community. Furthermore, his lack of transparency regarding major changes, such as staffing adjustments, has led to confusion and discontent among staff and parents.
A. He consistently fails to notify parents when significant incidents occur, such as instances where teachers are assaulted or students threaten their peers. Additionally, he neglects to provide adequate support and training for staff, especially after the school received a high-support needs program this year. This lack of support and preparation raises concerns among families and students about safety, particularly for students with high needs who may lack necessary support. Students are worried about their classmates experiencing mental health crises, with many feeling that Tom isn't taking sufficient action to assist them.
B. Tom adheres to an 8-hour workday from 7:45 to 3:45 and mandates that all staff attend committee meetings during regular work hours, resulting in paraprofessionals covering classes for extended periods, causing students to miss valuable instructional time.
C. Tom consistently fosters an environment where parents of students with disabilities feel like an inconvenience rather than advocates for their children's right to a free and equitable education.
5. Lack of Accountability and Transparency: Despite numerous grievances and concerns raised by staff and parents, Principal Szczesny has failed to take responsibility for his actions or engage in meaningful dialogue. His dismissive attitude towards feedback and his refusal to address legitimate concerns demonstrate a lack of accountability and transparency that is unacceptable for a school leader.
A. He has altered staffing allocations, resulting in larger classroom sizes for the 2024-25 academic year without providing justification. Moreover, he failed to inform the current third-grade class that their teaching team would be reduced from four to three teachers. Despite inquiries from parents and teachers regarding the budget, specifically questioning the decrease in teacher numbers juxtaposed with the district-funded Assistant Principal position and the significant increase in school size following the addition of students from Colorow Elementary, Principal Tom refuses to engage in discussions about the rationale behind these decisions.
B. Tom lacks transparency with the community regarding these changes. He showcased a veteran kindergarten team during Kindergarten Information Night in late November, only to see multiple teachers leave the kindergarten team afterward. Families selected Powderhorn based on the teaching staff, rendering this a case of false advertising.
C. A formal grievance was filed against Tom concerning the reassignments. In addition to the three grievants, 19 other staff members endorsed the grievance. Among them, 15 out of Powderhorn's 24 classroom teachers lent their support.
During the grievance hearing, Tom was confronted with concerns about how his actions have harmed the staff and community. His sole response was, "I will reflect on this." He has yet to issue an apology.
D. Additionally, Tom's absence or lack of visibility at community events is notable. When he does attend, it is often for brief periods, and he rarely engages with members of the community.
Call to Action:
We urge the school board and district administration to act swiftly and decisively to remove Tom Szczesny from his position as principal of Powderhorn Elementary School. His continued presence jeopardizes the well-being and success of our students and undermines the trust and cohesion of our entire school community.
