DeKalb teachers want board member to resign

By Megan Matteucci

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

DeKalb County’s largest teachers’ union is calling for a board member to step down after she threatened to slug a reporter.

The Organization of DeKalb Educators, which represents about 4,700 school employees, said Monday that vice chairwoman Zepora Roberts is a bad example for students.

“How can you tell children not to call each other names, not to make threats and not to bully each other when you have a school board member that continues to act this way? This is conduct that is inexcusable for a school board member,” said David Schutten, the union’s president. “We think she should step down.”

On Friday, Roberts threatened to “slug” CBS Atlanta reporter Wendy Saltzman after questions about the board member’s two daughters working in the school system.

“I have no more comments to say to you. And don’t you come to me, or I’m going to slug you,” Roberts told the reporter.

The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools also has questions about Roberts.

“We would certainly examine whether or not the district followed its policies and procedures in response to the matter,” SACS president and CEO Mark A. Elgart told the AJC.

SACS already has asked DeKalb schools officials to answer questions about hiring practices, training, conflict of interest, nepotism, procurement policies and the superintendent search.

Roberts’ remarks, which have aired on television and are posted online, have caused outrage among parents. Some parents have asked the board to sanction Roberts.

“As a parent, I would have hoped she said no comment and kept walking,” said Barbara Arne, a mother of four. “The board needs to look at the code of conduct for teachers and students, and respond appropriately.”

On Monday, Roberts told the AJC that no parents have expressed concern to her and she did not regret her statements to the reporter.

“When you just keep telling lies, you are going to get it,” she said. “When you mess with me and my children or grandchildren, it’s either going to bring out the worst or best of me. My children have done nothing wrong.”

Under its current policies, the only action the board can take is to publicly censure Roberts for her behavior.

“As public figures we expect that we will receive public criticism. However, it is our responsibility to respond in a way that best exemplifies the school district even when we don’t agree with what is said,” board chairman Tom Bowen said. “A response threatening physical violence is inappropriate in any circumstance.”

CBS Atlanta’s news director said the station does not plan to file a police report, but is disappointed that a board member took it to that level.

“Part of our goal at CBS Atlanta is to ask the tough questions and hold our public officials accountable. We’re disappointed that she would threaten Wendy as she worked to pursue the story,” news director Steve Schwaid said.

Roberts, who has served on the board eight years, is up for re-election in November and insists that is why she was “singled out.”

Board members Eugene Walker, Pamela Speaks and Sarah Copelin-Wood also have children who work in the district, Roberts said.

However, Roberts is the only board member who has a child who is an administrator, an assistant principal. Her other daughter is a parent facilitator, she said.

This year, the legislature passed a school board ethics policy that prohibits people from running for school board if they have an immediate family member who works as an administrator in the system. Roberts was grandfathered in and allowed to qualify to run for re-election.

“There are deep concerns from employees about the manner one of her daughters was promoted. SACS needs to investigate that,” said Schutten, of the union. “We’re concerned about her bullying and the way it has impacted this school district.”

DeKalb schools have been previously criticized for allowing bullying to go on in schools. Jaheem Herrera, 11, committed suicide last year after being bullied at Dunaire Elementary School in Stone Mountain. His death led to the governor signing an anti-bullying law.