Mr.

DanaEscalante
JordanHieh School
2265E. i03'dSt.
LosAngeles, CA 90002
June2,2008

To WhomIt May Concern:

My nameis DanaEscaiante,andasthe year closes,I approachthe compietionof my

sixth yearof teachingwith LAUSD. For threeof thoseyears,I havebeenthe Lead
Teacherfor the StarrSmal1LearningCommunityat JordanHigh School

As LeadTeacherit is my obligationto ensurethe optimal educationalenvironmentfor

the studentswithin my academy.And there is no teacherthat epitomizesthe spirit of
culturally relevanteducationwith crirriculum andinstructionthat engagesandinvolves
our Stan studentsmorethan KarenSalazar.

In Ms. Salazar'sroom I haveconsistentlyobservedimovative lessonsthat relate

students'experiences to masteryofELA Standards, content,concepts andskills. In fact,
it is my siricerebelief that Ms. Sa.lazar
is one of the bestteachersat JordanHigh.

Ms. Salazarbasforgedextremeiypositiveand productiverelationshipswith students,

particularly"difficult" sfudentswho haveproven"challenging,'for otherteachers,but
often produceexcellentacademicresultsin her class. Additionally, asLead Teacher.I
havebeenworking with a StarrStudentsteeringcommittee to developthe futureof the
SLC togetherwith students.In this group,I haveseenthat the studentswho demonstrate
the most exemplaryleadershipqualitiesand arethe mostarticulateandthoughtfrd.have
comeout of Ms. Salazar's ciass.

Ms. Salazaris a teamplayerhasmadetremendouscontributionsto the SLC. Shehas

consistently beenpartofthe planningandimplementation ofpracticallyall Stan
activities,andhasvolunteered hertime withoutquestions.Overall Karenhasbeena
steadysupporterof the SLC by her contributionsto its stability andgrowth. And Karen
hasalsocontributedto the school-wideELA "workgroups"who collaborateto design
instruction.

Karen'spersonalqualitiesareexemp1ary. Sheis a personof unquestionabie

character,
thoroughintegrity, andhasalwaysbeenkind" considerateandrespectfulin her
interactionswith studentsandadultsalike.

I feel that JordanHigh is forhrnateto haveKaren Salazarasan instructor.

 Australasian Association

APAE for Progressive and

Alternative Education

Dear LAUSD,

We were most disheartenedto hear that the devoted progressiveteacherKarenSalazar,

from Jordan High, California has had her contract terminated. We have reports from
her students who speakof her dedication to the sfudent'srole in and responsibilityfor
their education and thus their lives. They speakof her ability to build rapport and her
commilment to teaching the basic tenets of critical thinking, such a core requisite for life
in the 21stcentury.

We, membersof the AustralasiarLAssociationof Progressiveand Alternative Education

(AAPAE), are passionateabout the iearner'scentral role in their learning. Without
taking responsibilitv for their learning, learners are uaable to make the critical decisions
that are requiredin the daily life of a democracl.

We fail to understand how a progressive democracy like the United States,in a state
that prides itseif on being a beaconof the country's political freedom,can disbar a
comrnitted professionalwho is engagingthe studentsmost teachersfear to iearnwith.
IArhatis the schobldistrict cohcernedabout? Arr educatedstudent bodv? A citizenri- . '
with a voice?

The processthrough which Ms Salazarpassedis also of concern. Mark Gonzales,a

fellou' teacherhas reported that teachersare usualll' evaluatedtwice a year and that
Ms. Salazarwas not only evaluatedon seventeenoccasionsbut that inspectors
interrupted her classes,disturbing students'learning. \zVhywould this action happen?

we ask you to reconsideryour decision.we suggestvou considera topical scenarioon

the American agenda-\Arhichstudentsare more likely to be fodder asfuture terrorists?
Those who foliow teachers obediently without question or challenge,,or the students of
Salazarwho use their minds to analyse,evaluateand make their own decisions?

Hopeful Regards,

Juli Gassneron behalf of AAPAE

Australasian Associationof Progressiveand Alternative Education
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