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The Crack Team just got this story of a middle school teacher from Brooklyn. His name is Jeff Storobinsky who suddenly had to retire this past February for the abuse to stop.
The Crack Team has seen and heard quite a bit but after reading this they were moved to tears. We all felt sick to our stomachs and feel that not even a dog would be treated this way, yet teachers are time and time again.
We have highlighted in red what we think to be of importance.
When will all of this end?
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My Story: A 30 Year NYC veteran teacher disgraced
and humiliated.
My name is Jeff Storobinsky and I approved this message.
Here is some insight into my personal life and the events
leading to my unwanted exodus from the NYCDOE
In 2000 I was granted full custody of my two children I
always taught them to always be honest and take the high road in life.
Professionally I have navigated that same way; keeping confidences, being loyal
to my bosses and helpful to my colleagues. What transpired since September 2013
is an example of pure horror, embarrassment and disbelief.
On June 30th,
2013 my former boss retired after being at the helm of our middle school for 5
years. She was and still is an amazing principal with principles who I cannot
put into words how much I learned from this principal. Prior to this principal
and going back to 1984 I was every principal’s trusted teacher. I was held in
the highest esteem by superintendents and beyond. My Personal file was as
immaculate as a file can be with not one blemish in it, nothing but accolades.
With my former boss I was quasi administrative having done programming, Galaxy,
Famis, BEDS, Surveys, in charge of technology for the building as well as
teaching to sixth graders. I am sure I have left out a hundred more
responsibilities. I exceled at all of them.
In July, 2013
they brought in a 32 Year old man with a PHD who was previously an AP at a high
school. In July, those that were against me (For the closeness I had with my
former boss) got to him and immediately the handwriting was on the wall. Yes, I
had power in the past, but never abused it, I never ratted anyone out. I would
give my boss the pulse of the building but would never engage in “he said this”
or “she said that”
In September 2013, I was greeted with a FULL program
(Something that I did not have since 1999). Others though in less prominent
positions still maintained their reduced assignments.
So the school
year begins; Mr. Storobinsky is teaching and teachers come asking for a laptop,
an elmo, a projector etc; I’d say
watch my class for a moment I’ll go to my office and be right back; anything to
help. The main office would call up: Our Printer won’t print. Teachers would
call up “no internet” or can you configure an ipad or my personal equipment to
the school’s wireless network?
Unfortunately,
during the summer when massive cleaning is done, custodians move and disconnect
technology. Cables are snapped, IP addresses are lost etc.
Mind you, this
is only the first week back! I am leaving out ADMINISTRATOR names as my point
here is to tell MY story without embarrassing others ( I will leave the future
up to those who have the knowledge and power to make right what was done wrong)
I am 75% deaf
(Got measles at age 2 in 1960) No hearing in my left ear and only 50% hearing
in my right ear; it’s tough. Surgery to repair this has only recently been perfected.
The school has
a population of around 755 students with 4 APs, 3 of which are women. Two of
the 4 AP’s are genuinely decent human beings
Anyway, back to
September. One of the female AP’s asks me a question, I did not hear her
correctly; I asked her to repeat the question, she did by screaming it into my
face, this has occurred for years even when she was an ELA teacher.
At some point
later on in September I went down to the principal’s office, I told him I am
finding servicing the school and a full program difficult; would he consider
taking away 3 periods so I can effectively do my job. I also told him I was
being unfairly harassed by one of his AP’s. In moments he referenced that I am
teaching technology with a CB (Common Branch) license. I said I will gladly
teach Math which I did from 1984-1999. His answer: “C’mon, you’re too old for
this, you really want that, you’re going to be 55 in November, right? If you
retire, I will give you 3 days a week of F status (part time work), you’ll make
a fortune, you can even do it from home” Unbelievable, right? Yes, I have proof this happened. My mind
in disbelief leaves his office, I am shocked as can be.
I continue to
work unabated, helping staff, teaching my classes.
My fiancé, a
paraprofessional in my former school (still is) has been there since 1997 and
is the best of the best. A couple times a week she would be there with her one
on one along with the class the child is in. On occasion, a teacher would need
my help and she would watch over the kids as I left for a couple of moments or
needed to use the men’s room. This AP would come in and say “Where is Mr.
Storobinsky?” Now mind you the teacher this para is assigned to is this AP’s
friend. This teacher leaves this para alone with a class for 10- 15 minutes on
occasion, was this para questioned as to where this teacher was? No, double
standard, of course.
The year
continues as I plug along giving the job all my energy. I’m a graphics artist
too, and we had purchased 2 years ago a huge wide format printer. Always,
teachers, admins would ask “can you make a blowup of this” time, time, time. I
bent over backwards to appease everyone. I also asked the Principal who his
BEDS ( a state survey) designee was knowing the sensitivity and license
concerns involved. He did not seem concerned. Bottom line, it was done in
secrecy and God know who is in jeopardy license wise. I texted my colleagues
check the NCLB (No Child Left Behind) report, ask if you are highly qualified
or Not highly qualified. I was protecting my colleagues and bringing the
administration to task for not having distributed the BEDS forms and code
sheets. BEDS has to be signed off by the teacher and turned over to the BEDS
coordinator. Hence I am talking recently (since I retired in February) Principal
calls me up warning me to stay out of school business. Back to October and
November I continued to work my butt off, parent teacher conferences were a
success as parents couldn’t get enough of me and loved me as they have for 30
years.
On December
13th, 2013 as a result of a prior accident literally 11 teeth came out from my
mouth. Frankenstein looked better than I did.
Nothing
temporary could be done as there was nothing to connect to in my mouth. I then
began a procedure to have my mouth seeded with implants, a procedure that will
conclude at the end of this month.
I had surgeon’s
notes and all documentation to substantiate the fact that I could not work as I
could not speak properly and it would put me at an awkward disadvantage. The
principal did not believe me so I took a selfie and sent it to the entire admin
body and payroll secretary, embarrassing but necessary.
It is now early in January 2014 (I am home), after a bungled
faculty conference where a strong teacher challenged the principal and the
principal rushed out of the library rather than to answer questions he went
straight to his Personal Computer and wrote me a letter that if he was in a
rational state of mind he would not have sent.
Highlights from
this letter include the following:
Parents and
students think you are a joke (been adored for 30 years by parents and
students)
If you return
you will be investigated for any missing inventory (in the meantime on PD day
in November I gave him a complete audit of all school technology assets)
There is no
technology in this building (hmm how about the grants I helped write and the
years before putting technology into every classroom)
You are to have
no contact with your fiancé during school hours.
You are barred
from using any technology in the building whatsoever
Your
ineffective ratings shall remain. ( Never received my observations), he also
said later on that was just said
that to me to retire, that he would remove them and tear them up (Proof exists)
If you do however return, you will no longer teach
technology, you will teach ELA and Social Studies.
He said that I
said “I do not want to teach” I asked him to reduce my teaching schedule
slightly so I can service the school more effectively NOT that I did not wish
to teach. (Proof exists)
Shortly
thereafter he dismantled my office, broke open the closets and I have no idea
what he did with what.
Without teeth,
and under extreme emotional and psychological duress I retired in mid February
2014.
I started my FB
community moneyoverage on 3.1.14 .
This principal
has been heard bragging how he would get rid of senior staff.
Every memo
derogatory to me is in my possession , as well as other “UNDENIABLE” proof
When my fiancé
confided in her friends that I was forced out and all the unsavory things being
done to me she was confronted by the principal. She was told “stay out of the
web” keep your mouth shut, you’re still respected here. After humiliating her,
making her cry he then hugs her for appearance sake under a second floor
camera.
This past week,
the icing on the cake was finding out that after being forced out because of my
age and threats, and intimidation I am to receive and end of year rating of “U”
I have touched based with a wonderful lawyer, the NYC Human
Rights commission and various units within the Education department.
Recently a
message is conveyed to me through a third party that this principal is possibly
going to remove the “U”. Am I being played with? Is this not adding insult to
injury? Was the “U” removed? NO
How and why has
my illustrious career been reduced to shambles?
I have lost
$750,000 in future income and had to go belly up on unpaid QPP and TDA loans
which are now taxable. My original plan was to retire in 2020 at age 62. This
is a financial hardship and nightmare.
The
psychological, emotional and mental toll on me has been the worst nightmare of
my life.
I am taking money I cannot afford to part with to heighten
public awareness and to pay facebook thousands of dollars for to advertise as
far and wide as I can.
Lastly, how do
I know so much of what is going on in my former school? Simple at least a third
to a half of faculty texts or calls me daily for advice and to fill me in on
what they perceive is wrong or questionable. They trust me, plain and simple.
There is so
much more to this, but I cannot go into it here due to its sensitivity.
In my life I
have never made waves; always a team player and supporter of the underdog. It
is here and now I make a stand, perhaps a part of a few vanguards setting the
way for justice and fairness and accountability.
If you truly wish to help you can like the facebook Host page
(community) that hosts the post you are reading now at https://www.facebook.com/NYCMoneyOverAge We are currently up to over 2,050
page likes and steadily growing.
Another outlet is respectourseniorteachers.org a safe place
to post under an alias what you feel is right and wrong with the school system
and a myriad of other topics.
Lastly, nycprincipals.org exists as a relay service to
forward to the correct and reliable people any reports of misdoings that you
are aware of. These will not be posted; it exists strictly as a relay service.
And the Campbell Brown's of the world want to do away with tenure?
What is sad is this is not being done in a vacuum, this is not the exception, this is the NEW NORMAL!
Worse, is that this can't happen without an enabler, THE UFT!
Jeff is the real deal. Jeff is a mensch. This story needs to get out there. Soon.
8 comments:
I am sick to my guts after reading this. I don't understand why more people aren't suing. I have heard this poor soul's story time and time again. I don't believe the corruption of the DOE will ever end; it's too firmly entrenched.
But the UFT loves the new "tone" at the DOE.
This teacher needs to find a lawyer and sue. Its time to use the courts to fight this. The more time the BOE has to spend in court will change these horrible work conditions. It takes time and money but the UFT needs to take these cases and make examples of these horrible principals. I hear these horror stories all the time and its time for teachers to stand up and fight. Beat them at their own game. Big financial loses will make a big difference.
My problem with this is that the name of the administrators are not mentioned. Let them be Googleable.
Anonymous said...
I find it strange that No former colleagues, parents, students or administrators have come forward to attest to Jeff's stellar 30 year career. Why did he leave classes not properly supervised on numerous occasions while his fiancé babysat them? Why was he out for the entire week prior to thanksgiving? If you are 75 percent deaf and can't read lips doesn't a person HAVE to raise his or her voice to be heard by you? Why haven't Jeff's alleged tape recordings been posted? I was just wondering about this one sided affair.
I'm Jeff Storobinsky NOT ANONYMOUS
First, I know who this is and even though he is doing this I won't say anything disparaging about him; we use to be friends but jealousies and politics made him turn; like a walker on the walking dead.
Yes, my fiancé (a Para for the class i had) watched my class as I serviced other teacher's and admin's technology needs. This was no different then when she watched the teacher's class across the hall for long stretches of time so that teacher could make copies or other things.
Guilty, I took off Monday and Tuesday to celebrate my 55th birthday. Wednesday I got ill; Thursday was Thanksgiving. Is this relevant?
By making fun of my hearing you are being cruel since you too have hearing loss.
Do you think I'd be foolish enough to say I have voice/phone conversations and NOT be able to produce them? There is a time and a place. Now that a complaint has been served and this comes forward of course the tapes will be played.
Anonymous said...
Thank you Beth for clearing up my misconception regarding hearing impaired persons and please understand that it was not posted to ridicule anyone. Again, thanks.
Systemic age discrimination in NYC supported by the UFT.
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