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Teachers and parents urge board not to transfer longtime teacher Corey Fitzpatrick
Summary
Multiple teachers, parents and family members urged the Desert Sands Unified board to reconsider an involuntary transfer of Palm Desert Charter Middle School teacher Corey Fitzpatrick, describing his long service, impact on students and expressing concerns about fairness and transparency in the process.
Shannon Fix, a teacher and parent in the district, told the board she wanted them to consider “what kind of teacher do we want in our schools” and argued that Corey Fitzpatrick’s relationships with students matter more than checklist metrics. “Kids know that he’s authentic ... He gives students his time long after the school day ends,” Fix said.
Several family members and colleagues also spoke in support. Marcia Georgia, who identified herself as Fitzpatrick’s daughter speaking on behalf of his mother, described his 29-year dedication to education and asked the board to weigh his long record. “He chose a career of service because he believed that making a positive difference in lives of young people mattered more than pursuing a higher paying position,” she said.
Amy Eby, a 7th-grade humanities and ELD teacher at Palm Desert Charter Middle School, emphasized district culture and due-process concerns, saying teachers asked the board to “slow down and take another look” after earlier requests for additional information. Eby said rumors about the teacher affected students while he was on leave and urged the board to consider transparency and the lasting impact of personnel decisions on school culture.
The public comments came during the open-comment period on July 21, when dozens of community members addressed personnel items on the agenda. The board did not take an immediate vote on an individual transfer during public comment; the record shows subsequent consent and personnel actions handled later in the meeting.
