The video was shot off campus and not during normal school hours.. "What he's done is said listen, we teach lots of different types of kids. Who is available? COLLEYVILLE, Texas The embattled principal of Colleyville Heritage High School is expected to learn his employment fate this coming Monday. Theres no reason for me to take this photo down,' he told KXAS. 535. Dr. James Whitfield has been on administrative leave since late August. On July 31, Whitfield responded to the claims in a lengthy Facebook post. I thought, Wow, that didnt work. But the moms wouldnt tell the other moms about it, because they want their kid to have an edge. The students named an adult with no ties to the school as the source of the substances. With some of her neighbors not talking to her, she decided to take the next step. CHHS has several sub-administrators who are given students to oversee based on last name. He was asked to remove photos from Facebook taken on a beach vacation with is wife, that some felt were inappropriate. Enjoy unlimited access to all of our incredible journalism, in print and digital. Not one single day.. He knows its just because she loves him, but, damn, so many other kids get away with telling white lies, staying out late. He called a few buddies shortly before midnight and told them to meet him at Whataburger, one of the town hangouts. Colleyville Heritage High School Unclaimed. "They did not feel there was a problem that we needed to look into," Rogers said. Not their real names, of course. Dave Denning, a former Grapevine High School principal, will serve as interim leader of the campus, Ryan said. His friend stopped him. 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. 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. In a letter to parents Monday, Superintendent Robin Ryan wrote that Whitfield has been placed on leave but that he would not go into the specifics because it is a personnel matter., Whitfield, the schools first Black principal, told The Dallas Morning News on Monday night that he was told he was put on leave indefinitely because the superintendent has determined that doing so is in the best interest of the District.. By Hannah Natanson Photos and. Do you value our journalism? She demanded to know why he was taking steroids. 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. 12. Kids need us! the principal added. Its even tough to find a yardman in town. Here is a look at the Top 3 girls teams in Class 5A. He took notes: Most Football Team taking SteroidsSon Played last yearCoach CunninghamSon Plays [blacked out]*Anomysly*. It had absolutely nothing to do with race. 5401 Heritage Avenue, Colleyville, TX 76034 . Lori Lewis carried a pair of her sons jeans into his closet. Im gonna beat your ass.. at 7pm. He loves his new school. 750 North St.Paul St. (Everyone already knew, she says.) All four got out of the car. We just have to lay low, she said. First published on August 30, 2021 / 5:42 PM. Other people in the audience shouted in support and cheered when Clark made his remarks. The story was long, one of several the Morning News would run that week concerning steroid use. The Colleyville Heritage Steroid Scandal After finding steroids in her son's athletic bag in September of 2004, a Colleyville Heritage mom approached school administrators after. The driver came after him. Thats it? Get the latest breaking news from North Texas and beyond. Why would he use steroids? They would cooperate fully with the News reporters, but they wouldnt give anyone up. Going forward, Whitfield believes his work in education isnt done. Lewis hung up. And the Grapevine-Colleyville ISD has adopted an aggressive drug-testing policy, due largely to the hot media glare Lewis helped focus on the school and its tepid (in her view) initial response to her charges. 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 Mom, they already know. Everyone would forget about it soon enough. 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. At that moment, it didnt seem like an earth-shattering admission. He sold her the needles.. She didnt believe it. That kid will know who Patrick is. Lesli Ware. The one thing that bothers Lewis is how this has affected her family. Eric Celeste is the editor at Spirit, the inflight magazine of Southwest Airlines. The tick-tock drama of Bryans story, that compelling personal narrative, the hour-by-hour recounting of his traverse from good kid to drug user, would elevate the series. The school district has called the photos questionable for an educator, especially a principal or administrator, and they said it has nothing to do with race. The theory's central idea is that racism is not something restricted to individuals, but that bias is something embedded in policies and legal systems. She said that many other football players were using them, and her son told her that, because many players knew about it, the coaches either knew and didnt care or didnt want to know so they didnt ask how players had made sudden increases in strength and size. 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. It had absolutely nothing to do with race. 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 says that many of the football players at Colleyville were introduced to steroids by someone from a nearby rival. 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. If you know that is on your trusted email list, contact your child's school office (Grade Level Learning Community, Building, or SLC) to have your email added to the system. Dude, I think thats your mom.. Three of his best friends have transferred to it in the past few years, so he has his core group of buddies together. Theyd made a mistake, she says. Students at Colleyville Heritage High took the theme and ran with it in a Donald Trump-esqe direction before a game against Trinity High in Euless. Dangit, you got me!? Summarizing his defense, he finally blurted, Mom, the majority of the football team is taking them.. 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. When Bryan got to school on Monday, it didnt take long to see that his cover had been blown. Is Whataburger healthy? Never missed one, she says proudly. Weve always been close, but since this, its been tough. When Ted Beal answered his phone that morning, September 23, the nightmare began for the CHHS administration. "The vast majority of people in that community, they know who I am. The district told WFAA again Friday that the decision has nothing to do with critical race theory or allegations by a small group of parents. Colleyville Heritage High School is a top rated, public school located in COLLEYVILLE, TX. The coaches had told him to get bigger and stronger if he wanted to earn a starting position, he said. It ate at her. Colleyville Heritage principal accused of teaching critical race theory Sports means everything to folks here, Bryan says. A black high school principal in Texas said he was told by a district official to remove an anniversary photo from Facebook of himself kissing his white wife so as not to stir up stuff amid complaints from parents, according to reports. "I chalk it up to educators are held to a different standard, unfortunately. One section on the report's website was called "Colleyville Heritage's team secret". Grapevine-Colleyville Independent School District. Bryan got out and starting jawing with him. 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 I am not the CRT (Critical Race Theory) Boogeyman. The school went on lockdown when the incident was reported. Bryan had to lie, even to friends who sidled up to him in private and asked if he was the one. We understand that members of our community have questions, but the District does not resolve personnel matters in the media. Opposition to critical race theory has become a rallying cry for Texas Republican leaders, who claim its indoctrinating students and teaching white students that they are racist. Its bad enough they identified her as a cheerleader. Can you take this picture down? Hes a good kid. COLLEYVILLE - Nine Colleyville Heritage High School students involved in football and other athletics have admitted to using steroids, district officials said Friday. He is rubbing his hands while he talks, trying to get the grime off his fingers. In a July 31 post on his personal Facebook page, Whitfield responded: "I am not the CRT (Critical Race Theory) Boogeyman. He said he agreed to take some of the photos down. She knew the pettiness would get worse once she filed the lawsuit. It was at this moment that I knew the attack that we currently endure, was coming, the principal wrote on Facebook. But no names were used. 2023 NYP Holdings, Inc. All Rights Reserved, Woman in viral pizza rant now facing ethnic harassment charges, Murdaugh Judge Clifton Newman: From segregated schools to the best we want in our jurists, NYC DOE probing anti-white texts linked to black superintendent, Black children attack, force white kids to say Black Lives Matter at Ohio school: video. Also in the post, the principal referred to an incident in which a school administrator asked Whitfield to remove a photo of him and his wife, who is white, from his Facebook page. 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. There were also names. Ironically, it was the place where hed purchased his steroids. Per Pupil Expenditures: $9,925. Bryan understands, she says. Colleyville Heritage High School in Colleyville TX - SchoolDigger At a board meeting a few weeks before last weeks, the parent group accused Whitfield by name which is against school board meeting rules. Whitfield added that he has no regrets over what has transpired over the last couple of months, hes happy that he stood up for what he believed in and he hopes thats what people can learn from his situation. School would be out soon. She didnt take long to make her decision: Bring it on.. Dallas Cowboys want another playmaker on offense. Instead, a car slowly inched into the space next to him. None of the individuals had weapons on them, but a handgun was found in one of the students cars, police said. The architects of the theory argue that the United States was founded on the theft of land and labor and that federal law has preserved the unequal treatment of people on the basis of race. Its been a roller coaster for him, she says. Home - Colleyville Heritage High School CHHS PTSA - Facebook She checked the time. Then she reached inside and took hold of the vial. Colleyville Heritage High School Principal James Whitfield has faced sharp criticism from some parents who are accusing him of teaching critical race theory. SOUTHLAKE, Texas - Carroll ISD is punishing some students for an offensive video that shows a group of teens chanting the n-word. Because even though Lewis did the right thing, and even though she took every measure to protect her sons identity when she made that call and then later took her story to the media, it is Bryan who ultimately paid the price for his moms principled stand. The high school has about 2,000 students in ninth through 12th grades. ABSENCES. Theyre open late, they have cheap food, and theyre close by. The next day, Lewis picked up her Sunday Morning News and boarded a chartered bus to Austin for a sales meeting. Cunningham wants to know, Why now? The students created a fake wall with the. She told the pharmacist she needed to vaccinate a horse. By signing up you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy, Stand with us in our mission to discover and uncover the story of North Texas, 18-year-old man, student face charges after gun found in car at Colleyville Heritage High School, What we know after 3 children killed, 2 wounded at Ellis County home, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones defers comment on revival of sexual harassment lawsuit. It was time to do something about her own reputationand those of future whistle-blowers. It was supposed to be a celebration for Whitfield, who had just been named principal of Colleyville Heritage Middle School two years ago, and his family. "They're here to show their voice. By about 6 p.m., all students had been dismissed and all buses had left the campus, according to the school district. Hes on his third cycle.. In hindsight, of course I should have just called them. His decision. Live. He hung up. But that one sentence stuck with Lewis. On the bus, she read, careful not to catch anyones eye. Detractors have problem with diversity, suspended Colleyville Heritage At the first public hearing the school district held to discuss the issue, including spending money for more drug testing, not one parent showed up. She knew it would have to be this way. Youget home! she told him. He meant half the players who mattered were juicing. He had a Grapevine High School sticker on his car, so he didnt go to Heritage. 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 Grapevine-Colleyville ISD Trustees Vote to Move Forward With Process of 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. Theres SO much, but I am beyond humbled by the kindness, support, love, & encouragement being shown to me and my family, he said in a tweet. For nearly 10 years, she wrote restaurant reviews for the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, and her work has appeared in 360 West, Eater Dallas, Edible DFW, A+C magazine, D CEO, GlobeSt.com and Houstonia magazine. 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In May 2018, Dr. Ryan was named the 2018 Region XI Superintendent of the Year. The story said one boy admitted to using them. Mom, Im going over there. Alphabet L - Z. lesli.ware@gcisd.net. Hes just got to get a little faster, a little bigger, a little stronger. Attendance Clerk. Where did you get them? Whether the district acted over concerns from parents over racial issues or the way the couple was posed, Roppollo said there was no reason to censor the principal. She is a graduate of the University of Texas at Austin, where she studied journalism and public relations. Attendance Office - Colleyville Heritage High School James Whitfield chose to resign from his position as principal of Colleyville Heritage High School and the school board unanimously accepted on Monday. She said it to calm her son. Colleyville High School Principal Says He Expelled Gay Student Because She laughs about it more than she complains. Colleyville Heritage High School PTSA - Home Page Thank you for spreading love! Some of the photos the district received contained poses that are questionable for an educator, especially a principal or administrator. That was months ago. Colleyville Heritage High School. Carroll ISD punishing teens seen in racist online video - FOX 4 News Hey, you little pussy, he said. McClure said school officials held meetings and questioned students, but nobody admitted to using the muscle-building substances. All students and staff are safe, the school . THEATRE DEPARTMENT. Tickets for cancelled shows will be honored at these performances. Hes not even playing football this year. For questions, to submit digital entries or to coordinate pickup of entries, please contact: Kacey Bess. A petition in support of Whitfield has hundreds of signatures, and he said he's humbled for the support he's received and regrets he held this in for so long. 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. Bryan knew who it was. How long did you do it? Bryan is used to getting in trouble with his mom. No one has provided any evidence that Cunningham knew about the steroid use on his football team, and theres no evidence that Lori Lewis is a crazy mom. and I asked, 'Why? We remain committed to providing a learning environment at Colleyville Heritage that fosters and encourages student academic and extracurricular achievement," Grapevine-Colleyville ISD said in a news release. 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. Critical race theory is a way of thinking about Americas history through the lens of racism. I knew it as soon as I finished the story. When he decided not to play (and when he noticed acne on his back during the family vacation in Florida), he stopped. 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. Colleyville Heritage became the focus of a district investigation during the 2004-2005 school year after a Panther football/baseball player and his mother confronted school administrators and GCISD about his use of performance-enhancing drugs. Nov. 10, 20215 PM Central. Beal asked her to come into the school for a talk. NO NAMES. How did you feel? This Houston rodeo food vendor wants you to eat his rattlesnake, Astros GM Dana Brown has more praise team's top prospect, Heres how you can watch 'Daisy Jones and the Six', Proposed Texas bill gives tax cuts to heterosexual families only, These bites won big at the Houston rodeo's foodie awards. After months of trying, Jones and Jacobson finally interviewed coach Chris Cunningham, who declined to talk to D Magazine through a spokeswoman and through his lawyers. 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. On their cardboard, handmade wall, they wrote: 'Paid for by . When Lori Lewis learned that many players on her sons Colleyville Heritage football team were using steroids, she blew the whistle. [2] Colleyville Heritage High School celebrated its 10th anniversary in 2006. 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. Former principal files defamation lawsuit against Grapevine-Colleyville I knew what I was getting into. In fact, she knows that by filing a slander suit against the schools football coach, Chris Cunningham, she has only invited more recrimination. So I wouldnt feel comfortable mowing your lawn.. 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. In the minds of many, she carries with her the scarlet S affixed to those in small towns, suburban or rural, who dont honor the sanctity of high school football: snitch, squealer, sinner. Heritage Elementary School 4500 Heritage Avenue Colleyville, TX 76034 Eagle 1991 507 Bransford Elementary School 601 Glade Road . It has 2,123 students in grades 9th through 12th. (CHHS officials declined to speak with D Magazine.) Phone calls can only be accepted the day of the absence. It was the right thing to do. Its a stupid lawsuit. MOM ON A MISSION: Lewis (left) admits that if she had known how her city would turn against her, how her son Bryan (right) would be ostracized, how her actions would be second-guessed by the police, it would have made her think twice. Lewis decided that she had an obligation to inform the school. Catherine Marfin, Breaking News Reporter. Lewis said she didnt want the schools help. "We're talking about a very short period, weeks," district spokeswoman Robin McClure said. Then, one evening the Courier reporter called Lewis and asked if he could pass along her phone number to two reporters with the Dallas Morning News who were working on a series of stories examining steroid use in high schools all across North Texas. He decided in the summer to concentrate on baseball. The University Interscholastic League, which sets rules for competition in Texas high school sports, has no policy on steroids. "I look at the picture, and I look at the words above it, and it says, 'Is this the Dr. Whitfield we want leading our schools?' Five Texas High School Football Scandals They were changed to Patrick and Michelle. GPA is calculated on a 4.0 weighted GPA scale. Ive told you everything I know. James Whitfield chose to resign from his position as principal of Colleyville Heritage High School and the school board unanimously accepted on Monday. I am the first African American to assume the role of principal at my current school in its 25-year history, and I am keenly aware of how much fear this strikes in the hearts of a small minority who would much rather things go back to the way they used to be.". 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.. But I didnt want any of this for Bryan, Lewis says. Colleyville Heritage High School in Texas hosted controversial event. Colleyville Heritage High School in Colleyville, TX The school district announced Monday, August 30, Colleyville Heritage High Principal Dr. James Whitfield was placed on paid administrative leave. Lewis made it clear that they could not take her son out of class to talk to him. They said, Could you take it down? District: Grapevine-Colleyville Independent School District (ISD) SchoolDigger Rank: 370th of 1,876 Texas High Schools. Its why she doesnt let me talk to, or even see, her husband and younger daughter. 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. As a nonprofit newsroom, we rely on members to help keep our stories free and our events open to the public. But on Friday morning, students marched out of school to protest his treatment by Grapevine-Colleyville ISD administration, and to demand that their beloved principal be brought back to the campus. For weeks, kids buzzed about who they thought might be the anonymous athlete caught using steroids. In June, Lewis scheduled to have her lawn mowed by a Mid Cities fireman who runs a small lawn-care company. The median household income tops $150,000. In two sentences, theyd given Bryan away., Patrick arranged the [steroids purchase] with a couple of phone calls, paying $200 to a varsity football player. In December, however, nine students involved in football and other unspecified sports came forward and said they used steroids last spring. They even went to football games, sat in the stands, and made a list of the players who looked like they might be using steroids, based on the common signs: acne, muscular definition, rage. He told KXAS that he received an email at the time from a school administrator containing an image of himself and his wife, Kerrie, kissing on their anniversary trip. All rights reserved, Highlighter: North Texas Students Help NASA Scientists, Educational Trailers Stolen After Presentations at Dallas Schools, Novak Djokovic Denied' US Entry Ahead Of Indian Wells, Joe Biden Asked To Intervene, Counseling Services Offered After Three Children Killed, Two Hurt In Ellis County, Check Your Change! Sign up for The Brief, our daily newsletter that keeps readers up to speed on the most essential Texas news. I just want to get on with my life. I guess they dont care.. Can you take this picture down? The answer, anabolic steroids, provided a bit of relief. Texas teens defend Colleyville principal James Whitfield on critical By signing up you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy, Stand with us in our mission to discover and uncover the story of North Texas, Colleyville Heritage principal accused of teaching critical race theory put on paid leave, the principal and a crowd of supporters attended a school board meeting, multiple sources in the district have said, an incident in which a school administrator asked Whitfield to remove a photo of him and his wife, who is white, After call for his firing, Colleyville Heritage principal speaks about critical race theory claims, What we know after 3 children killed, 2 wounded at Ellis County home, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones defers comment on revival of sexual harassment lawsuit. He wants to play wide receiver. A few days later, he dialed the players cell phone to arrange delivery, reaching him in an SAT preparation class..
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