Update: Since the initial reporting of this story Mr. Joseph Shields and Ms. Nicole Reese have been reassigned their positions at John Marshall High School. Mr. Nasar, still being displaced, has begun working at a neighboring school. Talk of getting Mr. Nasars job back is currently still underway.
The recent news of Marshall losing three of its Special Education teachers: Mr. Joseph Shields, Mr. Nasar and Ms. Nicole Reese, hit all of John Marshall High very hard. Nobody questioned the fact that these teachers helped immensely with the special education program. So, teachers and students alike were left dumbfounded as to why these teachers were being displaced with little to no notice. All have been left wondering what was happening behind the scenes. I spent some time with Mr. Shields, who is not only a Special Education teacher, but my former coach for Cross country and Track, to clear up the misinformation.
AP: How will this experience affect your job moving forward?
JS: My job is safe at the moment but it definitely makes one more scared about their job security. I have 7 years experience yet it wasnt enough for them to try and displace me.
AP: Why were you displaced?
JS: It started as a result of the inclusion program that the district adopted. We were told that it would help special education students be integrated into other classes. This was a good plan but what they didn’t tell us was that it would displace faculty in the special education program who were no longer needed, phasing out the special education program. Since I was at the bottom of the list in regards to credentials despite my 7 years teaching here, Mr Nasar had less experience and Reese had more.
AP: How did you get your job back?
JS: Thanks to community backlash primarily, seeing hundreds of faculty and 200 students protest the decision definitely made the district rethink their proceedings. I know for a fact that Rosievell received hundreds of emails from angry parents.
AP: What step will you and the community need to take to get Mr .Naser’s job back, if possible?
JS: At the moment thanks to the community’s approach already we were able to get meetings behind doors to discuss Nasars displacement. For this reason the community doesn’t need to do much else and is on stand-by while the UTLA and the teachers union resolve the issue at hand.
AP:Do you have anything you would like to say to the district?
JS: If you wish to move towards an all inclusive program your first priority should be the community, not saving costs by displacing teachers.
