San Jose Unified approves controversial assistant principal

Despite widespread district pushback and concern San Jose Unified School District approved the appointment of a controversial new assistant principal at San Jose High School after more than a month of debate The district s board of instruction voted - at Thursday s board meeting to appoint former Abraham Lincoln High School principal Joseph Heffernan as the new assistant principal of San Jose High Board president Teresa Castellanos and trustee Nicole Gribstad voted against appointing Heffernan while board vice president Jose Maga a and trustees Carla Collins and Brian Wheatley voted in favor The decision comes as claims multiple vague in nature that Heffernan engaged in racist behavior and oversaw a hostile working climate at his previous school have torn through the group Heffernan did not respond to a request for comment from this news organization but has firmly rejected the assertions against him Thursday s meeting saw dozens of parents students and concerned locality members speak out against Heffernan s appointment over assertions regarding his behavior toward students teachers and staff especially minorities women and immigrants It s extremely painful Plenty of a large number of stories of pain and tears were shared and they didn t hear it It did not influence them at all commented Stephanie Jayne a parent of a rising senior at San Jose High It is despicable that these are our elected leaders who are supposed to be protecting our children More than Lincoln High teachers and staff sent a letter to Superintendent Nancy Albarran earlier this year imploring her to investigate Heffernan and his behavior toward students And last month more than San Jose students teachers and public members sent a letter to Albarran demanding the district rescind Heffernan s placement at San Jose High and formally investigate the complaints against him In a February district inspection into charges against Heffernan by Lincoln High assistant principal Neeraja Nambula Nambula alleged that Heffernan created a hostile work surroundings by making inappropriate comments about politics and immigration communicating with female staff and teachers unprofessionally and acting with a lack of professional courtesy as well as an overemphasis on punitive discipline and excessive and unnecessary bathroom supervision The inquiry s findings dated May unveiled no evidence of misconduct or wrongdoing by Heffernan although it did conclude that Heffernan discussed politics with Nambula had strong expectations around morning supervision and bathroom supervision policies and that there was a different perspective regarding Heffernan s communication style among male and female staff Related Articles Rural schools feel the pinch from Trump administration s cuts to mental medical grants Supreme Court says parents can pull their kids from constituents school lessons using LGBTQ books Supreme Court OKs fee that subsidizes phone internet services in schools libraries and rural areas Trump admin puts California on the clock over its stand on transgender athletes in sports Pleasanton school board promotes interim superintendent permanently In a video message posted to YouTube earlier this month Heffernan disclosed the accusations against him are entirely false and deeply troubling and he and his family have been deeply affected I got into this work because I care deeply about how young people are treated and prepared to live a life full of opportunity No matter your place of birth immigration status cultural background first language race or identity I believe every learner deserves to feel seen supported and empowered when they go to school Heffernan declared I want you to know this The insists about me being made aren t true They won t stop me from showing up every single day The board of development proven an outside assessment into his conduct at Thursday s meeting Trustee Collins reported that if an assessment confirms claims about an employee s misconduct or wrongdoing the person would be gone Gavin Rust a De Anza College sophomore and staff reporter at campus publication La Voz News contributed reporting for this story