Parents and students press Ann Arbor board over suspension of We the People coach, ask for graduation inclusion for exchange student

Several students and parents used the board's public-comment period to press the Ann Arbor Public Schools Board of Education for more information about a recent suspension of a We the People teacher and to ask that an exchange student be allowed to participate in graduation ceremonies.

"He helped me and other 24 students to study such huge array of information very quickly and with deep understanding," said Alexander Gladunin, a Pioneer High School student and former We the People team member, urging the board to return the teacher to the classroom next year. Other students and family members described lost instructional time, missed AP preparation and concern that students' competition coaching had been disrupted.

Owen Murdoch, who said he is affiliated with the We the People program, told trustees he believes the suspension of Alexander Constantellos was "without cause to the best of my knowledge" and asked for more opportunities for students and families to be heard during the investigation. Linden Dibble, another student coach, said the teacher dedicates long evenings to preparing students and that the team missed crucial review time before the AP government exam.

A separate public commenter, Kelly Shelton, asked the board to reconsider a school administrator's decision to bar Magdalena, a German exchange student, from participating in graduation. Shelton said Magdalena has participated fully in school activities and was seeking only to "stand with her peers to be part of a moment," not a diploma. Shelton recounted that Mr. Carter initially said Magdalena could not participate because she did not meet Michigan diploma requirements and gave other reasons Shelton challenged as inconsistent with district values of inclusion.

Superintendent Jazz Parks responded to public comment by saying staff will follow up on individual student concerns but reiterated that the district does not comment publicly on personnel matters. "The staff will follow-up on the individual student concerns and we, as is our practice, we don't comment on personnel," Parks said.

Trustees did not take any formal board action on the disciplinary matter or on the graduation request during the meeting; several speakers asked for greater transparency, additional opportunities for parents and students to present their perspectives to investigators, and assurance that students' instructional time and safety are being prioritized.

The board closed public comment after nine speakers and moved on to regular business; Parks said staff would follow up individually on the concerns raised.