Principal rage
ABOUT 50 ANGRY students, parents and staffers from Queens’ elite Townsend Harris High School took to the steps of City Hall Friday to demand the removal of acting principal Rosemarie Jahoda.
Jahoda, a 16-year city educator, took over as provisional leader of Townsend Harris in September. Critics say she has been fighting with staff and families ever since.
Townsend Harris Student Union President Alex Chen led Friday’s demonstration, the latest in a string of student protests against the unpopular principal.
“Jahoda needs to go,” Chen told the cheering crowd. “She’s damaged our school. Now we need to heal.”
Students and parents accuse Jahoda of threatening kids’ chances of attending college by withholding their transcripts, refusing to help students with disabilities and ignoring Muslim student leaders when they reported discrimination.
Jahoda, 55, has said the accusations against her are inaccurate and has a clean disciplinary record with the city Education Department.
Local politicians, including Queens Assemblywoman Nily Rozic, called on city schools Chancellor Carmen Fariña to remove Jahoda in a letter sent to Fariña earlier this week.
Rozic said she supports the protesting students.
“I stand with the students and the school community in opposition to Ms. Jahoda,” Rozic said.
“Our students deserve better and the community has rightfully come together repeatedly to voice their frustration,” Rozic added.
Education Department officials said they will name a permanent principal for Townsend Harris by early May, but they will not say whether Jahoda is in the running for the permanent post.