Dozens rally behind teacher let go by Oakland school board
Dozens of teachers and residents attended the Oakland school board meeting Wednesday to show support for a kindergarten teacher after her contract wasn’t renewed by the district — a decision the teacher’s union alleges is retaliatory.
Darnisha Wright worked as a kindergarten teacher at Markham Elementary School in East Oakland under a oneyear contract that expires June 30. Wright was informed in April that she would be out of a job.
She and her supporters believe the district’s refusal to renew her contract is connected to an incident that occurred during the teachers’ strike in March, when a video circulated on social media that showed a school board member wrapping her hand around Wright’s throat on the picket line.
“I was hurt and angry,” Wright told The Chronicle about the district’s decision. “I couldn’t believe they could do such a thing. I thought it was hateful, reactionary and unfair.”
The district’s April 29 letter informing Wright that her position at Markham was no longer available encouraged her to apply for other teaching positions within the district. Wright said the letter
came as a surprise because the principal of the school had previously told her that she would be returning for the next school year. Wright said she saw that her position was posted as vacant and she reapplied, but didn’t get a response.
She also applied for other vacant teaching positions, but said she has not received a response.
The letter came shortly after Wright said she would pursue charges against school board member Jumoke Hinton Hodge for assault. Wright never did file a police report. Since receiving the letter from the district, Wright has filed a grievance through Oakland Education Association, the teachers union.
“We have a (teacher) shortage in Oakland,” said Ismael Armendariz, the vice president of the union. “There are hundreds of vacancies that need to be filled. (The district) is doing this because of her political activity. She was a picket leader at her school.”
The Oakland Unified School District declined to comment due to the “sensitive nature of the topic.”
After the altercation between Hodge and Wright in March, Hodge released a statement apologizing.
“I would never have intentionally touched another person or a sister in that way,” Hodge said. “And I regret any harm that I might have caused her. I am deeply troubled by this and when realizing afterwards who it was, I offer my sincerest apology to Ms. Wright. I acted out of fear and self-defense, and would never seek to hurt anyone, least of all a teacher.”
At the meeting Wednesday, Hodge frowned as teachers spoke during public comment in support of Wright, who is currently in Ghana on a summer Fulbright fellowship. A video of Wright was played during public comment where Wright urged the school board to “please stop the retaliation against me.”
Amanda Seaton, a teacher at Cleveland Elementary School, read a letter by the Black Women’s Caucus of the union calling Wright’s release “reprehensible and unacceptable.” Her comments were met with loud boos directed at Hodge.
Hodge reacted by frowning and holding her phone in front of her.
Seaton said it appeared that Hodge was filming her and other teachers speaking out. She said Hodge’s actions during public comment were intimidating teachers who spoke against her.
“I’m not sure why (Hodge) is still on the board,” Seaton said.
When a Chronicle reporter approached Hodge at the meeting, Hodge refused to talk.