Divisive Michelle Rhee Rally Gets Parent Advocate Fired By New Haven Schools

CT News Junkie | Parent Advocate Fired By New Haven Schools Following Rhee Rally:

Parent Advocate Fired By New Haven Schools Following Rhee Rally

by Natalie Missakian | Apr 12, 2012 1:59pm
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Posted to: Education, Town News, New Haven, Labor, Legal

NATALIE MISSAKIAN FILE PHOTO

Gwen Samuel

The founder of the Connecticut Parents Union says she was fired from her job with the New Haven Public Schools’ Head Start program just one day after staging a rally at the Capitol with lightning rod school reformer Michelle Rhee.

Gwen Samuel said she received a letter from her employer, The Geselle Institute of Child Development, on March 15 telling her not to return to her part-time job leading workshops for parents of children enrolled in Head Start.

“We have been informed by New Haven Public Schools that your involvement with Head Start parents on a personal advocacy level is considered a conflict of interest and have been asked to remove you from the program,” wrote Marcy Guddemi, the Geselle Institute’s executive director. The position was funded by a grant through a contract with the New Haven Public Schools.

Samuel, a Meriden mom and outspoken proponent of Gov. Dannel P. Malloy’s