Miramonte Elementary teachers to speak out after months of silence
After nearly three months of silence, the Miramonte Elementary School teachers removed from their classrooms as part of an investigation into two teachers arrested for misconduct will speak publicly Thursday.
The "UTLA South Area Action" will be held outside the unopened Augusta Hawkins High School in South Los Angeles, where the teachers have been placed since Feb. 9. A march with posters and chanting will begin at 3:30 p.m. around the campus and then teachers will read anonymous statements from their colleagues about their experience, said Ingrid Villeda, chair of the United Teachers Los Angeles South Area, which includes Miramonte Elementary School.
The entire elementary school staff, including teachers, the principal, teaching assistants and cafeteria workers, was removed over two pupil free days in early February after two teachers Mark Berndt and Martin Springer were arrested, in two separate cases, for lewd acts upon children.
Los Angeles Unified Superintendent John Deasy said at the time it wa