Sun Sentinel Broward Edition

School worker released

Board cites history of poor performanc­e

- By Karen Yi Staff writer

The Broward School Board agreed Tuesday to fire a school guidance counselor who failed at her job at five different schools over a period of seven years.

The district found Paula Rosalee Sinclair routinely placed students in the wrong class, failed to track the academic progress of underperfo­rming students, gave parents and teachers wrong informatio­n about student schedules and failed to provide counseling to improve student behavior.

Sinclair could not be reached for comment. But a district complaint shows she took medical leaves to avoid confrontat­ions with administra­tors for her poor performanc­e, and then transferre­d to new schools.

“The performanc­e concerns were noted by school administra­tors; the employee was afforded certain rights within the collective bargaining agreement,” said district spokeswoma­n Tracy Clark. “It plays into the length of time she’s been at the district.”

The Broward Teachers Union declined to comment.

Sinclair began her career in the school district in 2007 at Walter C. Young Middle in Pembroke Pines. There, administra­tors said, she was told she needed to work on her time management skills, her understand­ing of School Board policy and to accurately use standardiz­ed tests.

The following year, Sinclair transferre­d to New River Middle in Fort Lauderdale, where her performanc­e issues continued even though she was provided assistance.

Sinclair then transferre­d to Indian Ridge Middle in Davie in 2009. From the beginning of the school year, Sinclair was cited for failing to perform her job duties. According to the complaint, Sinclair did not inform teachers of student schedule changes, made repeated mistakes on schedules and enrolled students in the wrong courses. Parents, too,

complained and said Sinclair gave them wrong informatio­n or did not return calls.

At one point, the school outsourced Sinclair’s duties to another office.

Sinclair filed for medical leave and the following year transferre­d to Northeast High in Oakland Park where the same problems

continued. She took a personal leave of absence for a year and then returned to her last school: Western High in Davie.

Sinclair worked at Western for two years, where she was cited for excessive absenteeis­m and placed on a performanc­e improvemen­t plan. This year, after failing to fix her problems, the district moved to terminate her.

kyi@tribpub.com

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