Update: Federal Way superintendent addresses BLM rumors, blasts media

Update: Dr. Tammy Campbell, Superintendent of the Federal Way School District attempted to set the record straight on a number of issues related to criticisms lobbed at, and coming out of, Todd Beamer High School in a lengthy email sent to district families Tuesday morning. In the email, Campbell blasted the media for coverage that “was splintered with truths and painted with distortions and outright inaccuracies.” She also addressed a “divisive rumor” that she promoted Black Lives Matter during her trip to the school.

“It is categorically untrue that I wore a T-shirt, or that I was handing out flyers and materials for the Black Lives Matter awareness effort,” she wrote.

Campbell also addressed an “inaccuracy” related to a School Resource Officer, who she says was reassigned from Todd Beamer not because of the Oct. 18 fight that kicked off the controversy, but because of a “compatibility issue.”

Here is the complete email:

Dear Federal Way Public Schools Families,

In my approximately 20 years of serving in education, I continue to lead with a vision of high expectations and high support for our scholars in a manner that is transparent and collaborative.

As your superintendent, I feel compelled to write you today to discuss the efforts we are leading at all sites in support of our scholars, and to respond to inaccurate information shared in the community about recent events impacting Todd Beamer High School.

First, I can tell you it has been disappointing to see and hear the media coverage of events regarding Todd Beamer High School that took place over a week ago. The coverage was splintered with truths and painted with distortions and outright inaccuracies. The district made great efforts to offer transparent, accurate information on multiple fronts, and we were disappointed in the lack of representation of multiple perspectives and accurate information explicitly omitted from the coverage.

The event that was reported at Todd Beamer was witnessed by many students.  These students who observed the event were visibly upset and in need of a place to process the event. This type of incident does not meet our high expectations for a safe, positive, and productive school climate. I would like to thank the school’s administration, counselors, teaching, support staff, and others for providing the support our scholars needed to process and heal from this experience.

Last Thursday and Friday, we took steps to restore the connection between scholars at Todd Beamer High School with an initiative called “Titan Talks.” Students signed up on a voluntary basis and engaged in a small group dialogue focused on understanding each other’s perspectives and shared ideas about what it means to be a Titan. Trained facilitators led the first rounds of talks over two days and participants in the discussion provided valuable feedback. We recognize the importance of sustaining an inclusive environment that acknowledges the strength of the rich diversity of our students. Titan Talks allow the elevation of student voice through thoughtful dialogue, courageous exchange of ideas, and mindful understanding.

In addition to opportunities for students to engage in restorative circles, further support systems have been put into place at Todd Beamer High School including: more intentional structures for before/during/after school supervision; enhanced administrative and support staff; a mentoring program; a partnership with an outside educator group to support peer-to-peer leadership focused on improving safety at the school; staff and administrative training; an extra District Safety and Security Officer; a parent/community forum; and a weekly communication to parents updating them on weekly events. These efforts provide for a comprehensive plan of support to improve the academic culture and climate at the school.

Moreover, I would like to clear up a divisive rumor that has surfaced in our community. I would like to set the record straight about the purpose of my visit to Todd Beamer High School on Thursday, October 20. As superintendent, it is part of my regular practice to be in four to five schools each week, walking the campus and classrooms, and building relationships with students, teachers, and principals. On October 20, I was visiting several schools and stopped by Todd Beamer High School to visit with the principal and the school to assess the climate and to ensure there was a sense of calm. It is categorically untrue that I wore a T-shirt, or that I was handing out flyers and materials for the Black Lives Matter awareness effort.

The other inaccuracy is surrounding the reassignment of a School Resource Officer. This change was not based on the events at Todd Beamer on October 18, rather it was a compatibility issue and was a joint decision between the school district and the Federal Way Police Department.

As a wife of a military policeman in the U.S. Air Force for 20 years, I value those who protect and serve our schools and community and I recognize the integral role they play in supporting our schools. Our team will never, under any circumstance, make a decision that would undermine or disrespect our men and women in uniform.

Schools are a microcosm of a larger society, and as the most DIVERSE district in the state of Washington, this is not the first nor will it be the last time conversations such as race will come up. The conversations and issues that arose at Todd Beamer are occurring among our scholars all across the district. We must be prepared to model how to hold these conversations with curiosity and courage. We recognize that there is room to learn from this situation, particularly in how to support scholars who need to discuss perspectives on difficult topics in a manner that is inclusive, safe, and highly facilitated. We simply cannot move to “our camps or sides” and paint other people with differing perspectives as “the enemy.”

Another misconception that I have heard is that we are leading efforts in which students can no longer be suspended for misbehavior. This is not true. We are focusing our efforts to utilize consequences that CHANGE behavior. In fact, the system of restorative practices we are beginning to utilize is more rigorous than merely allowing a scholar to be suspended, go home, watch TV and return to school. Instead, students are held accountable to resolve a conflict, restore and repair relationships, and make right a harm that has been done to another or a school community. Practices such as these require thoughtful and reflective efforts on behalf of both students and staff. In instances involving serious safety concerns, school teams can still utilize suspensions when it is appropriate.

In FWPS, we have a lot to be proud of. Most recently, over 100 community partners came together to support Goal 2 in our Strategic Plan focused on the whole child: thriving, confident, responsible individuals by becoming mentors, promoting attendance, offering community service opportunities, and so much more. Each of our 39 sites has a laser-like focus to improve student achievement with each focusing on two goals in our Strategic Plan. Great efforts are being made at the school, district, and community level to promote attendance as we know students being in school correlates to better instructional outcomes. And although the numbers have not been made official just yet, preliminary numbers show our graduations rates have increased since last year.

Our district and this community are committed to the success of our scholars. As a community, this is a time to reflect and ask why, seek to understand the perspective of your neighbor(s), and focus on what brings us together to be our best for our children and community. Pointing fingers or taking sides continues to take us away from our ultimate goal: finding positive ways to interact and learn how we can join hands in making a difference for our scholars together.  It is my firm belief that by doing this, the best is yet to come!

As your superintendent, and a leader committed to this community, I will continue to lead for high expectations and high support for our students, staff, and families, and collaboratively engage with the community on behalf of our approximately 23,000 student scholars.

Over the last few days, the words of Martin Luther King, Jr. have given me hope, “Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that.”  Let’s make a difference today, and every day, for our scholars in FWPS.

Sincerely,

Dr. Tammy Campbell, Superintendent

Original story: Dr. Dani Pfeiffer, deputy superintendent for the Federal Way School District, responded to criticisms from a Todd Beamer High School freshman who said she felt unsafe after not participating in Black Lives Matter event held at the school.

Federal Way student describes mob after Black Lives Matter event

Pfeiffer told KIRO Radio’s Dori Monson Monday that a school employee advised 14-year-old Ellie Mae Haine not to come to school for a few days following the event.

“Unfortunately, our staff member did advise that and that was under no collaboration with the district office or the school administration and we certainly didn’t direct that,” Pfeiffer said. “That was just done on his own accord.”

When asked if that was the wrong advice, Pfeiffer responded: “We actually would have disagreed with that. Instead, we would have re-engaged the student, brought the students together, calmed them down and allowed them to participate in a productive conversation with one another. Really, to begin that healing process. We absolutely are opposed to the conversation that occurred between the staff member and the student.”

As for the student’s claim that a mob of 50-60 angry Todd Beamer students surrounded her, Pfeiffer said: “While I wasn’t there personally and I don’t have firsthand knowledge of this situation, I do know that there was some sort of conversation that occurred between the student and a group of young people. We did have a staff member escort her off campus and that staff member waited for her parent to pick her up. That was a phone call initiated from the student to the mother.”

Overall, Pfeiffer said she felt that organized discussions Friday among the students were rewarding. Those talks were called “Titan Talks” and aimed to remedy tensions at the school.

“There were tears shed, they hugged one another,” she said. “… It’s a much more rigorous process than merely allowing a scholar to be suspended or go home and return to school in a healthy way.”

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