Copyright 2023, D Magazine Partners, Inc. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. How many varsity football players got calls for drug deals in their SAT prep class this year? Colleyville Heritage principal responds to 'racism and bigotry' | Fort James Whitfield chose to resign from his position as principal of Colleyville Heritage High School and the school board unanimously accepted on Monday. Grapevine-Colleyville Independent School District - Wikipedia The reporters worked other sources. , Lori Lewis says the comments by Coach Cunningham slandered her and her reputation has been damaged. Had it come to that? Mom, Im going over there. I wanted to protect him. James Whitfield at his home in Hurst on Sept. 16. Texas Teacher of the Year keeps focus on students to drown out political noise, 'Its about a happy classroom': Garland ISD focusing on social emotional learning. If my house was on fire, would you put it out? she asked. It had absolutely nothing to do with race. There were several long pauses, she says. Later, they showed Bryan the list. As Lewis recalls, Beal said, Ive talked to Coach Cunningham, and he says its not true. COLLEYVILLE - Nine Colleyville Heritage High School students involved in football and other athletics have admitted to using steroids, district officials said Friday. HERE IS PART OF ABC CHANNEL 8 SPORTS director Dale Hansens on-air editorial from April 19, the day Lewis filed a lawsuit against Coach Chris Cunningham for slander, asking for $1.5 million in damages. Officers were called around 3:20 p.m. to the campus in the 5400 block of Heritage Avenue about a man with a gun. When the kids get to middle school, a lot of them go to sports camps in the summer to improve. In a Sept. 1 written statement the district said: "The District has received numerous questions regarding the decision to place Dr. James Whitfield on paid administrative leave. The school district has called the photos questionable for an educator, especially a principal or administrator, and they said it has nothing to do with race. In December, however, nine students involved in football and other unspecified sports came forward and said they used steroids last spring. Colleyville Heritage High School's new principal, Dr. James Whitfield, is now speaking out saying he wishes he could've taken more of a stand in 2019 after his photo first stirred up. 'It's Become Blatant Racism': Colleyville Students Pledge - KERA I showed it to my wife, who immediately begins to well up with tears," he said. The curriculum, an academic framework that says racism is a systemic problem perpetuated by government policies and institutions, is not taught in Grapevine-Colleyville ISD, multiple sources in the district have said. How Colleyville Heritage's Black principal was swept into a "critical CHHS is a big school, with more than 2,200 students and an operating budget of $136.5 million for the past school year (although $44.1 million of that went to Robin Hood payments). I wish I had the conviction to say, No, Im not going to take it down thats a picture of me and my wife kissing on the beach. When Lori Lewis learned that many players on her sons Colleyville Heritage football team were using steroids, she blew the whistle. He was asked to remove photos from Facebook taken on a beach vacation with is wife, that some felt were inappropriate. Greg Abbott has called for it to be abolished in Texas schools. It was at this moment that I knew the attack that we currently endure, was coming, the principal wrote on Facebook. It was all there. Colleyville Heritage 31 Arlington Heights 41 Final Box Score All Contest Videos Oct 15, 2022 @ 2:59am Texas: Defensive Touchdowns from Weekend of Oct 7th, 2022 Watch this highlight video More Videos Oct 14, 2022 @ 5:54pm Contribute to the Team Complete the Schedule Add missing games to the schedule Complete the Roster As the editorial note at the storys end explained, She and her son feared retaliation from other Colleyville athletes, coaches, and parents. Youget home! she told him. "They did not feel there was a problem that we needed to look into," Rogers said. In GCISD, we calculate 3 different GPAs following the conclusion of each semester. Instead of issuing their support of me, they came after me, he said. The weekend before the series was to run, a fax came to the Morning News. Aria writes about breaking news. 5401 Heritage Ave. Colleyville, TX 76034-5919. The tick-tock drama of Bryans story, that compelling personal narrative, the hour-by-hour recounting of his traverse from good kid to drug user, would elevate the series. McClure said school officials held meetings and questioned students, but nobody admitted to using the muscle-building substances. Twitter Fam, Youve probably seen #IStandwithDrWhitfield coming across your timeline, wondering what on earth is going on. Our membership goal is 1 voice for every student! Colleyville, Texas, principal resigning after critical race theory The high school has been categorized as one of the top 100 high schools in the United States of America by the Newsweek magazine's Challenge Index. The paper sent a photographer, who took a picture of the vial of steroids, commonly known as Deca. And the story ran on the front page of the Courier on October 1, under a three-column headline that read: Steroid Use Suspected in Some Area Schools., The impact on the administration was less than shed hoped. In hindsight, of course I should have just called them. But as Lewis read it, she found something horrible. Colleyville Heritage High School (TX) Varsity Basketball Colleyville Heritage Panthers Varsity Boys Basketball Colleyville, TX 22-23 V. Basketball Home Schedule Roster Standings Rankings Photos Videos News More / Colleyville Heritage High School Basketball Colleyville Heritage Basketball OVERALL 22-10 0.69 Win % DISTRICT 9-5 4th in District In response to written questions from Jones and Jacobson, the district acknowledged that nine CHHS football players, eight seniors and one junior, had admitted to using steroids. Colleyville Heritage High School PTSA - Home Page No one has provided any evidence that Cunningham knew about the steroid use on his football team, and theres no evidence that Lori Lewis is a crazy mom. [2] Colleyville Heritage High School celebrated its 10th anniversary in 2006. As she waited, she overheard customers gabbing. Mom, they already know. The coaches had told him to get bigger and stronger if he wanted to earn a starting position, he said. They needed more information. Enjoy unlimited access to all of our incredible journalism, in print and digital. But on the other hand, if you can get a million-five from everyone who says youre a liar and youre crazy, then Im gonna get me a lawyer, and Im gonna be a rich man., EVERYONE IS MAD AT LORI LEWIS these days, either for suing the high school football coach or for not keeping her mouth shut in the first place. MOM ON A MISSION: Lewis (left) admits that if she had known how her city would turn against her, how her son Bryan (right) would be ostracized, how her actions would be second-guessed by the police, it would have made her think twice. Colleyville Heritage High School principal James Whitfield has been placed on paid administrative leave, according to Grapevine-Colleyville . 535. Weve always been close, but since this, its been tough. What did you expect him to say? Colleyville Heritage High School went on lockdown Tuesday afternoon, March 1. He took notes: Most Football Team taking SteroidsSon Played last yearCoach CunninghamSon Plays [blacked out]*Anomysly*. ", Grapevine-Colleyville ISD issued the following statement Monday. He will step down as principal at Colleyville Heritage High School and remain on paid leave until 2023. first accused of teaching critical race theory during a Grapevine-Colleyville Independent School District school board meeting. "I think it's sweet. I think it's silly, I can't see why a husband and wife can't have a picture of them in a sweet moment.". James Whitfield, the first Black principal at mostly white Colleyville Heritage High School, chose to resign but remain on paid administrative leave until 2023 in a settlement with the school district. Colleyville Heritage High School in Colleyville TX - SchoolDigger He had a Grapevine High School sticker on his car, so he didnt go to Heritage. Bryan understands, she says. Theyd made a mistake, she says. He decided in the summer to concentrate on baseball. The architects of the theory argue that the United States was founded on the theft of land and labor and that federal law has preserved the unequal treatment of people on the basis of race. "We're talking about a very short period, weeks," district spokeswoman Robin McClure said. THE SECRETARY AT COLLEYVILLE HERITAGE HIGH SCHOOL asked Lori Lewis for her sons last name. ABSENCES. An 18-year-old man and a juvenile student are facing criminal charges after a handgun was found inside a students car at Colleyville Heritage High School on Tuesday. When Bryan got to school on Monday, it didnt take long to see that his cover had been blown. He sold her the needles.. I guess they dont care.. Colleyville Heritage became the focus of a district investigation during the 2004-2005 school year after a Panther football/baseball player and his mother confronted school administrators and GCISD about his use of performance-enhancing drugs. Love will! "Our lawyers are looking at it," she said. ON FEBRUARY 12, A SATURDAY, LEWIS WALKED into a salon to have her hair done. A weighted scale means additional GPA points are assigned to courses with greater rigor. I wonder who it was.. A petition in support of Whitfield has hundreds of signatures, and he said he's humbled for the support he's received and regrets he held this in for so long. He marched into his mothers room and paced in front of her. The CHHS kids who posted to the Morning News steroids bulletin boards, saying everyone knew this was a problem, that it is still a problem. 817-305-4717. Hey, you little pussy, he said. But that one sentence stuck with Lewis. It was supposed to be a celebration for Whitfield, who had just been named principal of Colleyville Heritage Middle School two years ago, and his family. "I wish I had the conviction to say, 'No, I'm not going to take it down; that's a picture of me and my wife kissing on the beach; there's no reason for me to take this photo down.'". The school is a part of the Grapevine-Colleyville Independent School District and serves freshmen through senior students in Colleyville and the surrounding areas of Tarrant County. The driver said he was friends with one of the players who used steroids. One day in the lunchroom, Bryan walked up to a group of students gathered around a table. 5401 Heritage Ave, Colleyville, Texas | (817) 305-4700. Lewis is suing because Cunningham told the Morning News she was a liar and a crazy mom. From the moment I called the school, I didnt want him involved. Three of his best friends have transferred to it in the past few years, so he has his core group of buddies together. What's wrong with the picture?' It has 1,879 students in grades 9-12 with a student-teacher ratio of 14 to 1. "But if it's not CRT for this group, it will be something else.". It was also about keeping up with bitter enemies from Southlake Carroll, Grapevine, Keller, all the schools on the schedule. Colleyville Heritage High School - Athletics - Steroid Controversy Its a smart school, too, well above state and national averages in students ACT and SAT scores. A Texas school board proposes the non-renewal of a contract for a It was time to do something about her own reputationand those of future whistle-blowers. He loves his new school. Im used to it.. It's something he and the district have denied. Many in town obviously dont take the steroids problem seriously. The University Interscholastic League, which sets rules for competition in Texas high school sports, has no policy on steroids. Principal Speaks Out After School District Brands His Anniversary Pic The agreement seemingly puts an end to Whitfields arduous battle with the school district that date backs to July 26, when he was first accused of teaching critical race theory during a Grapevine-Colleyville Independent School District school board meeting by Stetson Clark, a former candidate for the district's school board. I can control my kids, one parent said to her during the meeting. The misspelled word had two arrows drawn toward it for emphasis. Suite 2100 The district told WFAA again Friday that the decision has nothing to. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. Where did you get them? She has begun to work with Don Hooton, the Plano father whose 17-year-old son committed suicide in July 2003 because of his steroids-induced depression, to raise steroid awareness and stiffen national testing laws. Also in the post, the principal referred to an incident in which a school administrator asked Whitfield to remove a photo of him and his wife, who is white, from his Facebook page. And while her son was fighting his battles, Lewis was fighting hers. Who is available? While at UT, Catherine served as managing editor of The Daily Texan, UT's student paper, and interned at the Texas Tribune and Houston Chronicle. Whitfield reached an agreement with Grapevine-Colleyville ISD after being accused of teaching critical race theory at his high school and placed on administrative leave. They had a problem and needed to know about it, for the kids safety. A few days later, he dialed the players cell phone to arrange delivery, reaching him in an SAT preparation class.. 12. Carroll ISD punishing teens seen in racist online video - FOX 4 News She expected to hear from him in a week or so. The Colleyville Heritage Steroid Scandal After finding steroids in her son's athletic bag in September of 2004, a Colleyville Heritage mom approached school administrators after. CHHS PTSA - Facebook Is Whataburger healthy? Aria has interned at the Austin American-Statesman, the Texas Tribune and the El Paso Times. A new study says yes. Besides, she said. 2021 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. Then on July 26 of this year, a former school board candidate named Stetson Clark stepped up to the microphone during a public comment period to accuse Whitfield of being an advocate for critical race theory: the idea that racism runs deep and continues to shape American society today. In a town like Colleyville, you cant tell anyone a secret you want kept. I knew what I was getting into. In fact, she knows that by filing a slander suit against the schools football coach, Chris Cunningham, she has only invited more recrimination. All four got out of the car. She said that many other football players were using them, and her son told her that, because many players knew about it, the coaches either knew and didnt care or didnt want to know so they didnt ask how players had made sudden increases in strength and size. In two sentences, theyd given Bryan away., Patrick arranged the [steroids purchase] with a couple of phone calls, paying $200 to a varsity football player. How many of them bought needles for players? 8:06 PM on Aug 30, 2021 CDT Updated at 1:21 PM on Sep 1, 2021 CDT. Lewis jumped in her car and raced the two miles to CHHS. Five Texas High School Football Scandals The CHHS teacher who cornered her in the parking lot after the second public hearing and told her many teachers supported her but were afraid to speak out. Former principal files defamation lawsuit against Grapevine-Colleyville The district had no additional comments Monday night because it is an ongoing personnel matter, a spokeswoman said in a prepared statement. Ive moved on. Anybody really believe that? By midweek, Bryan couldnt take the whispers and the barely contained seething of the football players. Summarizing his defense, he finally blurted, Mom, the majority of the football team is taking them.. Get the latest breaking news from North Texas and beyond. She laughs about it more than she complains. They had to get everything ready for when they return after the summer, when Bryan plans to go out for the varsity team. Colleyville Heritage High School principal James Whitfield has been placed on paid administrative leave, according to Grapevine-Colleyville ISD officials. Thats what everybody should be doing. The 18-year-old, who is not a student, and two juvenile students were located inside the school, police said. Whitfield wrote that the allegations were connected to a 2019 presentation he took part in as middle school principal on Breaking the Barriers that addressed peoples differences. It was the sort of breakthrough that could take a pointy-headed newspaper treatise and make it touch people, win awards, effect change. At a time when newsroom resources and revenue across the country are declining, The Texas Tribune remains committed to sustaining our mission: creating a more engaged and informed Texas with every story we cover, every event we convene and every newsletter we send. With some of her neighbors not talking to her, she decided to take the next step. Per Pupil Expenditures: $9,925. James Whitfield, who was named Colleyville Heritage High School's first African-American principal in 2020, posted that during the July 26 board meeting, he was publicly named and accused of . (CHHS officials declined to speak with D Magazine.) GRAPEVINE, Texas (CBSDFW.COM) - A high school principal at the center of a controversy in Grapevine-Colleyville ISD is now on administrative leave. Hed been playing sports in Colleyville since tee ball at age 4, and through select baseball and Pee Wee football, all the way through this, his junior year, shed attended every game. It had absolutely nothing to do with race. Cooper vs. Colleyville Heritage - Texas High School Girls Basketball mr buva 0 No views 52 seconds ago #highschoolbasketball Stream Here https://gametoday.hs-sport.live/highs. I have done nothing wrong by anyone, Whitfield said. Texas School Finds Few Girls Good Enough for Cheerleading Lewis told Beal that her son had used steroids, that he obtained them from other kids on the team, that they got them from someone at the nearby Whataburger. James Whitfield, 43, principal at Colleyville Heritage High School, has been placed on leave by the Grapevine-Colleyville ISD after being accused of teaching critical race theory at his. I just want to know, Why? District: Grapevine-Colleyville Independent School District (ISD) SchoolDigger Rank: 370th of 1,876 Texas High Schools. He pulled forward into a parking space and waited on his friends, hoping everyone else would ignore him. It was, 'Hey, I am trying to avoid any conflict. Told that, McClure said she was certain the information had been passed on to the Colleyville department. Only one. She is a graduate of the University of Texas at Austin, where she studied journalism and public relations. Hes a happily married man. Dan Patrick has called it a ridiculous leftist narrative. Gov. A mother raising a teenage boy who decided to use steroids like too many kids do, or a football coach who didnt know? ", "Anything that has to do with being inclusive, having a safe and nurturing environment for all students, they want to attach that to CRT, because it's the boogeyman buzzword of the day," added Whitfield. According to state test scores, 55% of students are at least proficient in math and 77% in reading. An 18-year-old man and a juvenile student are facing criminal charges after a handgun was found inside a student's car at Colleyville Heritage High School on Tuesday. Like most teens, he acts blas, even when talking about how much he cant wait for college so I can get away from this town, all the crap thats gone on., Not that hes obsessing about it, either, he says. Her son, a junior at Colleyville Heritage High School, had several such travel bags in his closet, but the others were all pressed flat, unused. She told the pharmacist she needed to vaccinate a horse. Buy tickets online here. Beal said she was not cooperating. His resignation won't be official. Dallas Cowboys want another playmaker on offense. Eric Celeste is the editor at Spirit, the inflight magazine of Southwest Airlines. 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. In early August, Grapevine-Colleyville ISD placed Whitfield on administrative leave. Aug. 31The Colleyville Heritage High School principal who was put on paid administrative leave after he was placed at the center of a critical race theory debate said he has been given no . Colleyville Heritage High School Unclaimed. My friends are used to it. Attendance Clerk. Only 22,000 people live in Colleyville. The decision to place Dr. Whitfield on administrative leave was not a result of statements made by members of the public, including those who spoke at recent meetings of the GCISD Board of Trustees. 18-year-old man, student face charges after gun found in car at They were changed to Patrick and Michelle. 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The vial had been photographed on Bryans glass dining room table, and the students were examining the fuzzy reflections in the glass to figure out whose house it was. I just wish everyone else would.. Officers were called around . The Tarrant County Narcotics Unit, now working the steroids investigation, told Lewis that her first call should have been to them months ago. CHHS is a big school, with more than 2,200 students and an operating budget of $136.5 million for the. Updated at 1:12 p.m. Wednesday with details throughout. Its bad enough they identified her as a cheerleader. Instead, a car slowly inched into the space next to him. Bryan knew who it was. Live. Theyre mad at my mom because shes messing with that.. Some parents learned about the photo incident when they read Whitfields account on Facebook. She says she sued Coach Cunningham not just because she feels his remarks made life tough in Colleyville, but because she says she wants to be sure other schools will think twice before ignoring a whistle-blower. But the students at CHHS had obviously read the story. She wants a million-five. So when Bryan pulled into the drive-thru and ordered, he wasnt surprised to see people he knew. Some parents from Colleyville Heritage learned of the photo incident after a lengthy social media post Whitfield made over the weekend about the accusations he's faced and the pressure he and his family have been under, including the frustration over the district asking him to take down the photo. No one from the school called her. Not one day has gone by that I havent had to deal with this or talk about it to someone. It was from the Grapevine-Colleyville school district. He was just letting her know that he wasnt alone. It didnt take long for more questions to come. Cunningham wants to know, Why now? An anonymous parent called the high school and said football players were using steroids, which are illegal to use or possess in Texas without a prescription, and that the school's football coach condoned it. As a new campus principal, we wanted to provide a smooth transition for Dr. Whitfield to Heritage Middle School, which is why we advised him of the concern and made a request for the photos to be taken down from Facebook, it added. He mentions a senior. Lewis said she didnt want the schools help. She is a graduate of the University of Texas at Austin and Dallas College. Why did you stop?Jones and Jacobson, top-notch investigative reporters, had been working on a series of stories about steroid abuse in area high schools.
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