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CRMS teacher says district left staff "to flounder" after March personnel action
Summary
A CRMS teacher told the Chesterfield County School District board that a personnel action beginning March 10 left staff without communication for 10 school days, eroding trust and prompting calls for a district-level review.
Kaylee Hassell, a teacher at Chesterfield Regional Middle School (CRMS), told the Chesterfield County School District board during public comment that district office staff failed to communicate for 10 school days after a March 10 personnel action and left the school without leadership.
Hassell said the silence stretched from March 10 to March 21 and that staff received no explanation during that period. "There was 0 communication from the district office from March 10 to March 21," she told the board. "That was 10 school days where there was no communication of any kind from anyone at the district office."
Hassell told the board the situation worsened when the district announced a new principal by email. "The email was sent by Dr. Hale but signed by Dr. Anderson informing us on Monday we had a new principal," Hassell said. "Dr. Anderson didn't even respect the employees enough as professionals to tell us in person or send the email himself." She identified the incoming principal as Mr. Morgan and said the previous principal—who had been at the school 13 years—had been removed.
Hassell said the lack of district leadership and inconsistent explanations given to staff left teachers distrustful of school- and district-level administration. "There is 0 trust remaining between the teachers of CRMS and the school and district level administration," she said. "How can our students feel safe when we as the teachers ... don't feel safe in our own environment."
Hassell said she had decided in January to leave education but that the recent events prompted her to accelerate that decision. "This situation is the epitome of why I'm walking away from a place I have poured my heart and soul into for 13 years," she said.
Hassell characterized the problem as systemic and directed her remarks at the board: "This was not the failure of 1 administrator on his way out. This was a failure at all levels repeatedly for a month." She asked board members to investigate district office personnel decisions and the handling of complaints, saying staff repeatedly requested help and received none.
Her remarks came during the meeting's public comment period; board members did not debate or answer questions during that segment, and no formal board action on the complaints was recorded at the meeting.
