Bryan is used to getting in trouble with his mom. "His diversity efforts have just been amazing," said student Samantha Zelling, who took part in Friday's march and protest. I'm ready to turn that next page, Whitfield told The Texas Tribune on Wednesday. He looked online and immediately saw a photo of him and his wife on the beach -- a photo shot by a professional photographer on their anniversary. He sold her the needles.. When Ted Beal answered his phone that morning, September 23, the nightmare began for the CHHS administration. The school district announced Monday, August 30, Colleyville Heritage High Principal Dr. James Whitfield was placed on paid administrative leave. (Even though, technically, its in Euless.) Aria writes about breaking news. As a new campus principal, we wanted to provide a smooth transition for Dr. Whitfield to Heritage Middle School, which is why we advised him of the concern and made a request for the photos to be taken down from Facebook.". He sounded drunk. THE SECRETARY AT COLLEYVILLE HERITAGE HIGH SCHOOL asked Lori Lewis for her sons last name. He wrote that he cant ask others to speak up if he wont, and that being a school administrator does not take away my rights and ability to be human and defend myself.. Not one single day.. And, of course, making everyone in town proud, which is what winning does. It was at this moment that I knew the attack that we currently endure, was coming, the principal wrote on Facebook. They werent too happy with me, she says. Why did you stop?Jones and Jacobson, top-notch investigative reporters, had been working on a series of stories about steroid abuse in area high schools. He said the district wouldn't tell him why. She said the issue comes up informally "every time a professional athlete makes headlines" for steroid use. Colleyville Heritage High School. Phone calls can only be accepted the day of the absence. The decision. The scandal at CHHS, as well as the well-publicized suicide of a student-athlete in Plano, Texas resulted in the implementation of random drug testing by the University Interscholastic League in 2007. As a new campus principal, we wanted to provide a smooth transition for Dr. Whitfield to Heritage Middle School, which is why we advised him of the concern and made a request for the photos to be taken down from Facebook, it added. THEATRE DEPARTMENT. They needed more information. Bryan understands, she says. ON FEBRUARY 12, A SATURDAY, LEWIS WALKED into a salon to have her hair done. In a Sept. 1 written statement the district said: "The District has received numerous questions regarding the decision to place Dr. James Whitfield on paid administrative leave. They were changed to Patrick and Michelle. ), & 6 (Mon.) Theres no reason for me to take this photo down,' he told KXAS. Lesli Ware. When Lori Lewis learned that many players on her sons Colleyville Heritage football team were using steroids, she blew the whistle. Enjoy unlimited access to all of our incredible journalism, in print and digital. On the front page blared her sons story: Colleyville player says pressure to improve prompted steroid use.. Its bad enough they identified her as a cheerleader. Colleyville players admit to briefly using steroids - Chron Colleyville Heritage High School (TX) Varsity Basketball Colleyville Heritage Panthers Varsity Boys Basketball Colleyville, TX 22-23 V. Basketball Home Schedule Roster Standings Rankings Photos Videos News More / Colleyville Heritage High School Basketball Colleyville Heritage Basketball OVERALL 22-10 0.69 Win % DISTRICT 9-5 4th in District When the kids get to middle school, a lot of them go to sports camps in the summer to improve. I think it's silly, I can't see why a husband and wife can't have a picture of them in a sweet moment.". That person was reported to the Colleyville police, she said. It was too quiet, she says. Twitter Fam, Youve probably seen #IStandwithDrWhitfield coming across your timeline, wondering what on earth is going on. This year Colleyville Heritage High School found only 19 girls out of a school of 2,400 students good enough for their cheerleading squad. 5401 Heritage Avenue, Colleyville, TX 76034. Grapevine-Colleyville ISD Trustees Vote to Move Forward With Process of They are: 1. August 30, 2021 / 5:42 PM Lt. Gov. Tickets for cancelled shows will be honored at these performances. While at UT, Catherine served as managing editor of The Daily Texan, UT's student paper, and interned at the Texas Tribune and Houston Chronicle. Proponents also believe race is culturally invented, not biological. How many varsity football players got calls for drug deals in their SAT prep class this year? Greg Abbott has called for it to be abolished in Texas schools. "What he's done is said listen, we teach lots of different types of kids. Hed only used them for a short while at the end of his sophomore year, when he wanted to make the varsity team as a junior. An 18-year-old man and a juvenile student are facing criminal charges after a handgun was found inside a student's car at Colleyville Heritage High School on Tuesday. GPA is calculated on a 4.0 weighted GPA scale. She says she never used the word condone, and her demeanor in all those phone calls was completely appropriate. I wonder who it was.. He will step down as principal at Colleyville Heritage High School and remain on paid leave until 2023. first accused of teaching critical race theory during a Grapevine-Colleyville Independent School District school board meeting. It was a football player. Feb. 5, 2005. The professionally shot photos, which were provided to People magazine by the Grapevine-Colleyville school district, show the couple in an intimate pose on a beach. Scholars developed it during the 1970s and 1980s in response to what they viewed as a lack of racial progress following the civil rights legislation of the 1960s. And when he went to his truck after school, there was a sheet of notebook paper under his windshield wiper with one word scrawled across it: SNITCH.. Over time, Bryan began to trust them and open up. He talked quickly, stumbling over his words, trying to explain his reasoning. Website. In February 2005, The Dallas Morning News published an in-depth report entitled "The Secret Edge", a look at the topic of steroids in high school sports. Colleyville Heritage High School 5401 Heritage Avenue Colleyville, TX 76034 P 817-305-4700 F 817-358-4765 Not Bryans. Ironically, it was the place where hed purchased his steroids. Media pundits like Hansen say she should shut up and let it be. The photos were from an anniversary trip. The school district told KXAS in a statement: When a social media concern is brought to the attention of the district, we have a responsibility to review it. Can you take this picture down? Colleyville is a majority-white city with only 1% of residents identifying as Black or African American, according to census data. Instead of issuing their support of me, they came after me, he said. Whitfield is now speaking out about the incident and responding to what he claims are bigoted and racist attacks, including accusations that he is a proponent of critical race theory. The coach, Chris Cunningham, denied the accusations in reports published at the time and said he was adamantly against steroids. CHHS is a big school, with more than 2,200 students and an operating budget of $136.5 million for the past school year (although $44.1 million of that went to Robin Hood payments). First published on August 30, 2021 / 5:42 PM. Updated at 1:12 p.m. Wednesday with details throughout. / CBS Texas, UPDATE: Grapevine-Colleyville ISD Releases New Statement On Decision To Put Principal James Whitfield On Paid Administrative Leave. Meanwhile, a petition in support of Whitfield has garnered hundreds of signatures, and he said hes humbled for all the support hes received. Black principal told to remove Facebook photo with white wife 6 /10. She didnt feel proud that shed proven the school wrong. He agreed not to name the family members. Aria has interned at the Austin American-Statesman, the Texas Tribune and the El Paso Times. Join us today so we can achieve that goal! Sign up for The Brief, our daily newsletter that keeps readers up to speed on the most essential Texas news. It was, 'Hey, I am trying to avoid any conflict. The 18-year-old was arrested on charges of trespassing on school grounds and having a weapon in a place where its prohibited. Cooper vs. Colleyville Heritage - Texas High School Girls Basketball Sitting in her living room, Lewis moans slightly and puts her head down when her son explains what his life is like now: I just want this to be over, Bryan, 17, says. The agreement seemingly puts an end to Whitfields arduous battle with the school district that date backs to July 26, when he was first accused of teaching critical race theory during a Grapevine-Colleyville Independent School District school board meeting by Stetson Clark, a former candidate for the district's school board. Kids had easy access to steroids, athletes were using them, and high school administrators were in denial. Going forward, Whitfield believes his work in education isnt done. Colleyville Heritage High School - Athletics - Steroid Controversy Beal said she was not cooperating. 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According to state test scores, 55% of students are at least proficient in math and 77% in reading. Texas school district suspends Black principal after critical race The story was long, one of several the Morning News would run that week concerning steroid use. Its a smart school, too, well above state and national averages in students ACT and SAT scores. It has 1,879 students in grades 9-12 with a student-teacher ratio of 14 to 1. She couldnt even get her grass cut? At a board meeting a few weeks before last weeks, the parent group accused Whitfield by name which is against school board meeting rules. Tarrant County pastors call for fair treatment of principal | Fort Clark said Whitfield was encouraging the disruption and destruction of our district because Whitfield, the high school's first Black principal, wrote a letter to the community during the summer of 2020 detailing how hurt he was over the deaths of three Black Americans: George Floyd in Minnesota, Breonna Taylor in Kentucky and Ahmaud Arbery in Georgia. But on the other hand, if you can get a million-five from everyone who says youre a liar and youre crazy, then Im gonna get me a lawyer, and Im gonna be a rich man., EVERYONE IS MAD AT LORI LEWIS these days, either for suing the high school football coach or for not keeping her mouth shut in the first place. She wants a million-five. Colleyville Heritage High School 5401 Heritage Avenue Colleyville, TX 76034 P 817-305-4700 F 817-358-4765 Like Our Page on Facebook Follow us on Twitter Never missed one, she says proudly. Its why she doesnt let me talk to, or even see, her husband and younger daughter. She didnt take long to make her decision: Bring it on.. They had to get everything ready for when they return after the summer, when Bryan plans to go out for the varsity team. Lewis hung up. Carroll ISD punishing teens seen in racist online video - FOX 4 News "They did not feel there was a problem that we needed to look into," Rogers said. How did you feel? About 20 showed up to the second meeting. Updated at 1:12 p.m. Wednesday with details throughout. Dallas Cowboys want another playmaker on offense. Grapevine-Colleyville sources have said that the district does not teach CRT, a doctrine that pushes the notion that racism underpins Americas history, laws and institutions, according to the Dallas Morning News. Get the latest breaking news from North Texas and beyond. He took notes: Most Football Team taking SteroidsSon Played last yearCoach CunninghamSon Plays [blacked out]*Anomysly*. Whitfield's wife Kerrie said she took the photo to mean a black man with a tattoo on his arm was inappropriate. These Valuable Pennies Are Worth Thousands. "The vast majority of people in that community, they know who I am. Lets go, then, he said. Cooper vs. Colleyville Heritage - Texas High School Girls Basketball mr buva 0 No views 52 seconds ago #highschoolbasketball Stream Here https://gametoday.hs-sport.live/highs. "When a social media concern is brought to the attention of the district, we have a responsibility to review it. She said it to calm her son. It has 2,123 students in grades 9th through 12th. Gregg Jones and Gary Jacobson sat at Lewis kitchen table, in her upper-middle-class, redbrick home, on a quiet street in Colleyville, and grilled the mother and son for hours, during several interview sessions. They could not tell anyone her identityor else, as she put it, I will sue you. Given the extreme care administrators used with her identity in e-mail correspondence during the next few months (obtained by D Magazine), they took her threat seriously. School would be out soon. COLLEYVILLE - Nine Colleyville Heritage High School students involved in football and other athletics have admitted to using steroids, district officials said Friday. A new study says yes. "As this is an ongoing personnel matter, we will not comment further. Unfortunately, it didnt work out that way.. by Brian Lopez She tries to focus on the things shes helped accomplish. As Lewis recalls, Beal said, Ive talked to Coach Cunningham, and he says its not true. Then on July 26 of this year, a former school board candidate named Stetson Clark stepped up to the microphone during a public comment period to accuse Whitfield of being an advocate for critical race theory: the idea that racism runs deep and continues to shape American society today. Dr. James Whitfield has been on administrative leave since late August. The driver said he was friends with one of the players who used steroids. This was so she could direct Lewis to the appropriate vice principal. She was still at her sales conference. Football players were calling him Patrick. Conversations stopped when he arrived. Colleyville Heritage High School Principal James Whitfield opened up in a lengthy Facebook post on July 31 about the incident from 2019 shortly after he had been promoted to the top post at the middle school. Colleyville Heritage High School Unclaimed. Dangit, you got me!? Butbefore he could pop open the champagne his boss called and asked him to check his email. On July 31, Whitfield responded to the claims in a lengthy Facebook post. They had pieced together a clear picture of a serious problem. Check to be sure that email from abi@luhsd.net will come through. Who is available? Let your love shine so brightly & your positive voice be so loud that it drowns out the noise. There were several long pauses, she says. Nor was the decision made in response to allegations Dr. Whitfield was teaching Critical Race Theory, or because of the photos on his social media account that were brought to the attention of the District in 2019. (817) 305-4700. The school became the focus of national attention during a 2005 steroid scandal involving multiple student-athletes. She called a reporter at the weekly Colleyville Courier and told him her story. Compare Colleyville Heritage High School to Other Schools gcisd-k12.org The paper sent a photographer, who took a picture of the vial of steroids, commonly known as Deca. And the story ran on the front page of the Courier on October 1, under a three-column headline that read: Steroid Use Suspected in Some Area Schools., The impact on the administration was less than shed hoped. Wednesday and Thursday shows are cancelled due to inclement weather. He's a happily married man. But they would not be more specific. Our membership goal is 1 voice for every student! Rogers said the organization surveyed districts across the state in fall 2002 and asked whether they saw a need for rules on steroids or a program of steroid testing. Aug. 5, 2021 In June 2019, shortly after James Whitfield, a Black educator, was hired as the principal of a middle school in Colleyville, Texas, an administrator with the school district. But the students at CHHS had obviously read the story. She laughs about it more than she complains. I just wish everyone else would.. She says she has had to endure the communitys anger despite what should have been ample vindication: the Dallas Morning News, in an ongoing and exhaustive investigative series, has proven that steroids use in North Texas high schools is greater than many want to believe. Lewis said she didnt want the schools help. We need to make sure we're providing a healthy environment for all of them. Whats wrong with the picture? It was, Hey, I am trying to avoid any conflict, he told the station. ", "Nothing he's done has anything to do with critical race theory," said civil rights attorney David Henderson ofEllwanger Law, which is supporting Whitfield. Aug. 31The Colleyville Heritage High School principal who was put on paid administrative leave after he was placed at the center of a critical race theory debate said he has been given no . Contact info. "We're talking about a very short period, weeks," district spokeswoman Robin McClure said. COLLEYVILLE - Nine Colleyville Heritage High School students involved in football and other athletics have admitted to using steroids, district officials said Friday. Colleyville Heritage High School is the 235th largest public high school in Texas and the 1,266th largest nationally. The Tarrant County Narcotics Unit, now working the steroids investigation, told Lewis that her first call should have been to them months ago. Love will! Since then, the district has stressed the move has nothing to do. Submission Deadline: 11/4/22. 5401 Heritage Avenue, Colleyville, TX 76034 . Jones and Jacobson, sick that theyd inadvertently revealed Bryans identity, suggested that the papers lawyers could convince the school district to pay for Bryans tuition. The CHHS teacher who cornered her in the parking lot after the second public hearing and told her many teachers supported her but were afraid to speak out. Normally, the school dismisses at 4 p.m., a district spokesman said, but around 5:15 p.m. the district tweeted that it was doing a controlled dismissal of all students.. I think its sweet. I thought, Wow, that didnt work. Theres not a steroids problem on his team.. They know.. For Lori Lewis is, if not a pariah in Colleyville, a shamed woman in the eyes of many who believe her campaign has unfairly smeared its high school, coach, and football program. The Grapevine . Dallas Cowboys want another playmaker on offense. At Colleyville Heritage High, students rushed to defend James Whitfield, who has been accused of embracing critical race theory and is in danger of being fired. , Lori Lewis says the comments by Coach Cunningham slandered her and her reputation has been damaged. The curriculum, an academic framework that says racism is a systemic problem perpetuated by government policies and institutions, is not taught in Grapevine-Colleyville ISD, multiple sources in the district have said. Some of the photos the district received contained poses that are questionable for an educator, especially a principal or administrator. You heard that story earlier tonight. By about 6 p.m., all students had been dismissed and all buses had left the campus, according to the school district. 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She makes mention of that one time someone said or did something to her daughter relating to the steroids backlash, but when I ask about it, she says she wont talk about it. Hes a good kid. Instead, a car slowly inched into the space next to him. Only a worried mom and a kid who felt he owed it to her to fess up, do the right thing, be a man. Some parents learned about the photo incident when they read Whitfields account on Facebook. "Because of his extreme views I ask that a full review of Mr. Whitfield's tenure in our district be examined and that his contract be terminated effective immediately," said Clark, who lost a recent campaign to join the Grapevine-Colleyville ISD school board. . Catherine writes about breaking news, crime and the Dallas Zoo. Police did not identify either individual. He came at him againObviously, Bryan says, this kid did not know how to fightand this time Bryans punch knocked him to the ground. There were also names. Get the latest breaking news from North Texas and beyond. Sports means everything to folks here, Bryan says. Some in the district have accused him of implementing critical race theory in the classroom. Nine CHHS players have admitted to using steroids. COLLEYVILLE HERITAGE. He hopes he starts, he says. COLLEYVILLE, Texas The embattled principal of Colleyville Heritage High School is expected to learn his employment fate this coming Monday. Focusing on unique things school districts are doing to help children succeed. Grapevine-Colleyville Independent School District - Wikipedia Whitfield's status with Colleyville Heritage High School is expected to be decided at a Monday school board meeting. No spam, ever. Ive told you everything I know. Well, I had an interesting day, he told his mother by phone that night. He is rubbing his hands while he talks, trying to get the grime off his fingers. This PTA does not endorse n See more 636 people like this Weve always been close, but since this, its been tough. Lewis begged him to calm down. The CHHS kids who posted to the Morning News steroids bulletin boards, saying everyone knew this was a problem, that it is still a problem. He decided in the summer to concentrate on baseball. I wanted to protect him. They had the Courier article spread out, and several people were closely eyeing the photo accompanying the story. Thank you for spreading love! Colleyville Heritage principal responds to 'racism and bigotry' | Fort As she waited, she overheard customers gabbing. Had it come to that? In December, however, nine students involved in football and other unspecified sports came forward and said they used steroids last spring. Her son, a junior at Colleyville Heritage High School, had several such travel bags in his closet, but the others were all pressed flat, unused. Dallas, Texas 75201. Her discovery. Can you take this picture down? The next day, Lewis picked up her Sunday Morning News and boarded a chartered bus to Austin for a sales meeting. Are ticket costs pricing Houston Astros fans out of Opening Day? Then, two weeks later, Bryan left a movie theater on a weekend night. Whitfield wrote that the allegations were connected to a 2019 presentation he took part in as middle school principal on Breaking the Barriers that addressed peoples differences. Colleyville Heritage High On Lockdown After Gun Reported In - MSN In response to written questions from Jones and Jacobson, the district acknowledged that nine CHHS football players, eight seniors and one junior, had admitted to using steroids. Arent they illegal now? Other people in the audience shouted in support and cheered when Clark made his remarks. Texas high school principal and district agree to part ways after he My mom catches me at everything, Bryan says. Colleyville Heritage 31 Arlington Heights 41 Final Box Score All Contest Videos Oct 15, 2022 @ 2:59am Texas: Defensive Touchdowns from Weekend of Oct 7th, 2022 Watch this highlight video More Videos Oct 14, 2022 @ 5:54pm Contribute to the Team Complete the Schedule Add missing games to the schedule Complete the Roster So I wouldnt feel comfortable mowing your lawn.. All that stuff I could handle, and I do handle, she says. Catherine Marfin, Breaking News Reporter. In his post Saturday, Whitfield explained that the photos were taken a decade ago during their 10-year anniversary in Mexico. Thinks he will. It was all there. By midweek, Bryan couldnt take the whispers and the barely contained seething of the football players. Colleyville Heritage High School 5401 Heritage Avenue Colleyville, TX 76034 P 817-305-4700 F 817-358-4765 She has begun to work with Don Hooton, the Plano father whose 17-year-old son committed suicide in July 2003 because of his steroids-induced depression, to raise steroid awareness and stiffen national testing laws. But Colleyville police Detective Hillary Wreay said her department has received no information from the school on the alleged sale or distribution of steroids and has no investigation in progress. Can you hide it? and I asked, Why?
