What TeWinkle is trying to remove

HUMBERTO CASPA

The life of Tony Valenzuela, an assistant principal at TeWinkle

Middle School, has been full of professional accomplishments, awards

and personal attainments. It has also been characterized by all

sorts of adversities, including a recent trial at his place of work.

After analyzing his case and a publicized dispute between Costa

Mesa parents and school administrators at a Newport-Mesa Unified

School District board of trustees meeting, I’m convinced his job at

TeWinkle was perhaps a few yards away from termination.

Since no one in the administrative office at this school will

speak freely regarding his case, we can only speculate on the

situation.

What seems clear is how our school system, particularly at

TeWinkle, is once again lagging behind recent developments in our

community.

In other words, the system is becoming the antithesis of an

affluent Latino community, which has grown steadily in the last 10

years. Unfortunately, leaders at TeWinkle, with a few exceptions,

don’t have the means or simply don’t know how to deal with the Latino

factor and other issues related to this population.

Instead of trying to remove or demote Valenzuela, school

administrators should have been recruiting other professional

prospects like him to cope with the multiethnic issue. At the very

least, they should have already made Valenzuela’s assistant principal

position an official matter, honoring his diligent work at TeWinkle

over about four years, and his more than 20 years in the Newport-Mesa

district (most of them in coordinating capacities).

He is, as many Latino parents have stressed many times, an

important middle point between them and their childrens’ teachers.

Valenzuela’s bilingual skills are superb, and his administrative

leadership has brought praise from both parents and teachers.

Trying to terminate Valenzuela’s job or downgrade his position is

both unethical and a “low blow” to the Latino community in Costa

Mesa. That is why, two weeks ago, a regiment of more than 300 parents

signed a petition asking to retain Valenzuela’s services. Parents

feared that the district was planning to discontinue his position

after this school year.

From now on, the school system must realize that making decisions

without parental consultation isn’t a viable alternative.

Who do they really want to get rid of?

Let’s set Valenzuela’s record straight so that the community knows

why a possible removal looks so awkward and irrational.

In 2001, Mirna Burciaga, a well-known social and political

activist in the community, had sued the Newport-Mesa school district

for not providing adequate resources and programs to students at

TeWinkle Middle School. Because of Burciaga’s complaint, the district

was forced to make radical changes to incorporate mechanisms to undo

an out-of-balance program.

Valenzuela arrived in TeWinkle right after that critical moment,

when things were falling apart. It took a group of people to

straighten up the lopsided program, and Valenzuela took a significant

role in the restoration process.

Obviously his prior experience as teacher and administrator had

positive repercussions in the group. Among other things, he taught at

various schools and in different capacities.

He coordinated a migrant education program, as well as provided

leadership to an academic intersession; he worked as principal during

summer sessions; he was administrative intern and headed an adult

educational program.

In addition, the district must be grateful for Valenzuela because

he helped get a multimillion-dollar grant from the federal government

a few years ago.

Today, having someone as articulate and knowledgeable on minority

issues as Tony Valenzuela should be seen as an asset. Since the

community is becoming more ethnically diverse, our classrooms are

turning into multiethnic settings.

Since this trend will continue to dominate the coming years and

possibly decades, we must learn to adjust and work for better places

to educate our kids.

Individuals like Valenzuela, fortunately, know the key to success.

Because of their past experiences and exposure, their input is

important for better functioning of our school programs.

Their efforts should be included, not ignored.

* HUMBERTO CASPA is a Costa Mesa resident and bilingual writer. He

can be reached by e-mail at [email protected].