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Parents at Inter American Magnet urge board to remove principal amid alleged retaliation and safety failures
Summary
Multiple parents and alumni from Inter American Magnet School told the board that Principal Juan Carlos Zayas has fostered a culture of retaliation, failed to communicate on safety incidents and that an investigation and Title IX complaints are pending; they asked for immediate removal while the investigation continues.
Several parents and former staff members who said they are connected to Inter American Magnet School pressed the Chicago Board of Education on March 20 to remove Principal Juan Carlos Zayas, alleging retaliation against parents and failures to address student safety and Title IX concerns.
What commenters said: speakers at public participation said the Local School Council voted to press charges in October 2024 and that the district’s law department subsequently opened a formal investigation. Those who testified described instances they said included bullying, harassment, threats and failures to notify parents when safety incidents occurred. Parents and alumni urged the board and Chief Executive Officer Pedro Martinez to remove the principal immediately while the investigation proceeds.
District response recorded on the record: multiple speakers referenced a statement in which the district’s law department said the initial review resulted in a formal investigation and that investigators were working to reach a thorough conclusion. The speakers said they did not feel the site-based processes had protected them and asked the board to act quickly to prevent further alleged harm.
Why it matters: school-level leadership and safety practices directly affect students and families. The board does not adjudicate personnel matters publicly but is the elected oversight body for the district. Parents’ requests for immediate action while an investigation continues put pressure on the district to expedite findings and to report back publicly on outcomes where permissible.
What’s next: parents asked for removal while the investigation continues, and the board took public testimony; district and board staff said they would handle personnel and legal matters per district procedures.
