Cobble Hill letter to klein - Special Commissioner of Investigation

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Hon. J. I. Klein -60- June 26, 2007 • September 29, 2004 – George sent a letter to District 8 indicating that Nobile completed his probation on September 1, 2004. 218 Attached was an Annual Professional Performance Review and Report on Probationary Service of Pedagogical Employee form which indicated that the principal had given Nobile a satisfactory rating for the 2003-2004 school year. 219 At Cobble Hill – Post-Capra Threats to a Teacher On June 22, 2004, Rebecca Ostro, a female teacher at Cobble Hill wrote a letter to George complaining about Nobile. Specifically, she said: “When I suggested that he resign as Chapter Leader of the UFT he left a threatening message on my answering machine about going to the press with Regents ‘cheating’ scandal information, and admonishing me that any action I take against him … would act as a boomerang that would come back to get me.” 220 Intimidating Tactics Toward the New Assistant Principal After Capra was removed from the school, Suzane Thomas replaced her as an assistant principal at Cobble Hill. In January 2006, Thomas informed SCI investigators that Phillip Nobile had been harassing her since October 2005, by sending several defaming letters about her to the school staff, the Region, and others. Thomas asserted that Nobile began these actions after she placed a letter in his file and also gave him a “U” rating in an observation report. The assistant principal informed investigators that, each time she tried to supervise or reprimand Nobile, he retaliated with a barrage of letters defaming Thomas to the school staff. Thomas also reported that one incident of harassment involved the administration of the January 24, 2006, Global History and Geography Regents examination (“GHG Regents”). According to Thomas, on January 26, 2006, Nobile informed her that he had conducted an investigation and knew that an 18-year-old male student at the school (“Student A”) was inappropriately given extra time to complete the January 24, 2006, GHG Regents, as an English as a Second Language (“ESL”) Student, when Student A was not an ESL Student. Thomas stated that Nobile claimed that he had spoken to 218 George’s signature on the front of the document was dated June 15, 2004. The back of the document, which indicated that the principal had recommended certification of completion of probation for Nobile, was dated “9/ /04.” 219 Lyles determined that there was not enough documentation in Nobile’s file to support George’s end of the year unsatisfactory rating of Nobile. 220 Nobile made this same assertion to Capra.
Hon. J. I. Klein -61- June 26, 2007 several teachers, knew that Student A had passed the English Regents, and that Student A should not have been given the extra time to complete the exam. 221 According to Thomas, Nobile demanded an updated list of ESL eligible students and then showed her a list that he claimed was not up-to-date. Thomas said that Nobile proclaimed: “How is it that you have enough time to give me two observations, but you don’t have the time to update this list?” Nobile advised her that he would report the results of his investigation to the NYSED. Thomas added that, on January 27, 2006, Nobile told her, “I conducted an investigation and you were right,” and informed her that he would not make a report to the NYSED. According to Thomas, she reported Nobile’s actions to this office because she was concerned that she was experiencing the same kind of retribution from Nobile that ended the career of her predecessor, Theresa Capra. 222 Observations of Nobile • November 3, 2005 – Thomas observed Nobile and rated him “S” for satisfactory. • January 17, 2006 – Thomas observed Nobile and rated him “U.” 223 • November 22, 2006 – Thomas observed Nobile and rated him “U.” 224 • December 20, 2006 – Thomas observed Nobile and rated him “U.” • March 1, 2007 – Cobble Hill Principal Kenneth Cuthbert observed Nobile and rated him “U.” • May 7, 2007 – a designee sent by LIS Pelles observed Nobile’s classroom performance and, in a report dated May 9, 2007, rated him unsatisfactory. 221 Thomas said that ESL students are identified by taking the English as a Second Language Aptitude Test (“ESLAT”). A student who is identified as ESL eligible is entitled to ESL services for up to one year after coming off of the ESLAT list. Thomas said that ESL eligible students are allotted extra time to take a Regents exam. 222 Thomas said that she was in contact with the CSA and was considering filing a grievance against Nobile. Thomas did not file a grievance concerning Nobile. The current Cobble Hill principal, Kenneth Cuthbert, relieved Thomas of her duty to supervise Nobile to avoid further problems. 223 On the resulting written observation report, dated January 24, 2006, Nobile inserted a handwritten entry meant for Cobble Hill Principal Cuthbert: “Ken – Here’s the retaliatory U.” Nobile refused to sign the observation report. 224 Nobile refused to sign the observation report.
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Cobble Hill letter to klein - Special Commissioner of Investigation

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