Community’s big heart shines through again On...

Community’s big heart shines through again

On behalf of Monique Donovan, her friends and family would like to

extend our enormous thanks to all of you who helped raise money for

her.

To the Daily Pilot: Thank you so much for bringing attention to

Monique’s plight. We told you the story of her accident and her need

for help, and you responded. There is no doubt that your articles

helped generate the incredible number of people who showed up for

Sunday’s car wash to donate to her cause.

To Bandera Restaurant: A big thanks to all of Monique’s coworkers

and friends who willingly gave up their Sunday to come to Bandera and

wash cars all day. Monique is truly blessed to have people like you

in her life. Also, a huge thank you to the Bandera management team

and Houston’s Corporate for stepping in without hesitation and

providing the perfect location for the fundraiser -- not to mention

the food, drinks and your time. You made this car wash possible, and

you will forever have our deepest gratitude and respect.

Last but certainly not least, thanks to all the wonderful people

who took time to come to Bandera and donate to Monique’s cause. You

are our heroes! Because of your overwhelming kindness and generosity,

Monique can focus on her long and difficult task of recovery instead

of worrying about how she will pay for her bills. You have helped

heal her spirit; now, she can concentrate on healing her body. Thank

you so very much.

REBECCA GOUIN

Newport Beach

* EDITOR’S NOTE: Rebecca Gouin is writing on behalf of all of

Donovan’s family and friends.

Fine points of reinstatement should be revealed

It would be so very interesting to learn the real details of

teacher Shannon Jay’s prompt reinstatement at Newport Heights

Elementary School amid charges of a “divisive atmosphere between

school administrators, teachers and parents.” But, of course, this is

one of those delicate “personnel issues,” isn’t it?

You can bet the Newport-Mesa Unified School District folks didn’t

roll over on this matter unless some well-informed parents had their

backs up against the wall. Parent Robert Shaw really says it all when

he offers, “There has been a use of calculated misinformation to

segregate parents, administration, teachers and the board.” Try

adding disinformation to the list, too.

After spending some 30-plus years in the business, I can attest to

the fact that the well-honed practice of keeping all parties off

balance and divided is -- for the most part -- standard district

operating procedure, here and elsewhere. And it won’t change soon.

Synergistic leadership, collegiality and shared decision-making

and governance? Forget it.

KENT S. MOORE

Corona del Mar

One teacher forgotten in elementary school gaffe

Responding to your front page article Wednesday, concerning the

return of a first-grade teacher to her classroom at Newport Heights

Elementary School:

The school district is typically mum on the details of issues such

as this. The truth of the matter is that returning this teacher to

her classroom was the right thing to do. It’s the brutal road leading

up to this that I want to comment on.

Lost in this quagmire of hurt feelings, upset parents and

questionable personnel issues is a story about an ambitious

first-time teacher, excited about the first classroom she could call

her own. Hired to replace Jay, after the fact, she spent the entire

weekend setting up her room and preparing for her first-grade class

on Monday morning.

Her first-day jitters were calmed by her enthusiasm for the

teaching profession and her organizational talents. She is a Cal

State Long Beach graduate, on the President’s List for a straight-A

grade average and a product of the Newport-Mesa Unified School

District for her entire schooling. She’s had a passion for teaching

for most of her life.

There to greet her on the weekend, and again on Monday morning,

was a group of well-meaning, upset parents who were adamant that Jay

be reinstated to this classroom. I don’t have to name names because

you will all know if you were there or not.

Ten percent of you were kind and thoughtful. The balance of you

fell into the dark side. These parents may have had good intentions,

and been fighting a just cause, but they chose to take their

frustrations out on the new, first-time teacher. Some of you were

downright rude to her. Her first three days in her first classroom

were frankly a living nightmare. You should all be ashamed of

yourselves for setting a bad example for your own children. You may

have won this battle, but you are losing the war.

I would like to commend the district for putting Jay back where

she belongs, and for pulling a first-timer out of a very

uncomfortable situation and treating her fairly. I challenge the

district to look deeper into the problems at Newport Heights

Elementary and fix the real cause of the problems there, which will

continue to impact the quality of our children’s education.

Lastly, I would like to commend my daughter, the “first-timer,”

for her strength in the face of adversity and for maintaining her

enthusiasm for teaching throughout this boondoggle. She is destined

for greatness in her chosen profession. All who come to know her will

be richer for the encounter.

PATRICK AYRES

Costa Mesa