Educator reflects on firing

Jeff Benson

Mary Letterman still loves Mariners Christian School, where she

served as headmaster for 13 years, and trusts the school board’s

capacity to make decisions for the betterment of the 650-student

campus. But she disagrees with the way she was fired.

Letterman, whose contract was terminated two weeks ago, said in a

Jan. 14 letter to faculty and staff that the board made the decision

to pursue a new headmaster without discussing it with her first, even

though trustees had told parents and staff in an earlier letter that

it was a mutual decision that they’d all prayed over.

Board President Mitch Vance has declined to comment several times

on any aspect of Letterman’s termination, citing it as a personnel

matter and therefore confidential. But trustees told parents last

week that much of the timeliness of their decision rested on their

ability to conduct a thorough search for Letterman’s replacement

before September, when the next school year begins.

Still, Letterman said she’s unclear as to the reasons why she was

fired, but she feels it may have something to do with her aggressive

fundraising methods and the way she handles personnel.

“The board still has not given me any reason why they changed

leadership,” she said Wednesday. People are going to have to wait and

see what kind of leader will take my place. That will show a lot.”

The board’s decision comes in the wake of an April 2004

Christianity Today magazine article that listed Mariners Christian as

“The Best Christian Workplace in the U.S.” among institutions its

size.

Letterman claims the board told her Dec. 17 that the change in

leadership was “what was best for the school” and was “not incident

related.” But rumors began to spread, and subsequent conversations

she had with parents and faculty led her to believe the board may

have found items in her personnel file that didn’t match the board’s

vision.

“It’s within their realm [to check my file], and I think that’s

wise,” she said. “But they made it sound as if there were things I’d

done that were wrong.”

She understands, however, that the board’s responsibilities

include making leadership changes as it sees fit.

Trustees hosted a meeting with more than 300 concerned parents and

teachers last week, but declined to give their reasons for

Letterman’s departure. Letterman was not in attendance at the meeting

but said she plans to give her side of the story at a public meeting

at the Neighborhood Community Center, 1845 Park Ave., Costa Mesa. The

meeting scheduled at 6:30 p.m. Feb. 8 is not sanctioned by the school

board. The meeting is not intended to be a gripe session about the

board, she said, but rather a chance for parents and teachers to get

her take on what happened.

“I am deeply saddened that your trust in my leadership has been

shaken through false statements by board members,” she wrote to

school staff Jan. 14. “I have been very respectful of the board’s

authority to make a leadership change, but I cannot remain silent

while my reputation is being challenged.”

The board also would not comment on how Letterman was treated

after her termination, including whether she would receive any

benefits or compensation.

“[The trustees] are really very wonderful people, very committed,”

she said. “It was a matter of doing what they thought was right.”