Two years ago the DOE, without the approval of the school staff, the community, or the parents of Central Park East 1 elementary school, installed a new Principal in the legendary progressive school. The new Principal is named Monika Garg, who came from the embattled Pan American International High School as an Assistant Principal under the infamous Minerva Zanca who was indited for racial discrimination for her actions during Ms. Garp's time at the school. How in the world could the DOE allow a person who was tainted with the racial discrimination issue at her previous school, get promoted to be Principal herself is mind boggling. Yet, the unaccountable DOE did make her Principal through the flawed C-30 process, despite all the negatives associated with her, lack of community, parent, and staff support, ran a failing school,and of course the alleged racial discrimination issue. Time and again, the DOE puts people in charge of schools with a checkered past. Just look at Townsend Harris and Forest Hill High Schools?
Since being appointed Principal, Monika Garp has targeted the veteran teachers of the school and has started investigations against any teacher that speaks out against her. Ms. Garp's trust and communication factors, according to theschool's latest snapshot is"0%"! The lowest in the City. Yet the DOE continues to keep her in charge, go figure.
This week the parents occupied the school overnight and demanded that the Principal step down. Moreover, last June, parents and their students staged a walkout and demanded that Ms. Garp be removed as she was destroying the progressive school culture.
According to Ed Notes Online, who has been writing about the CPE1 saga. Ms. Garp has been targeting the veteran teachers of the school and has even sent the Chapter Leader into a 3020-a hearing. You can read it Here and Here. Finally, see the timeline from the beginning of Ms. Garp's selection till November of 2016, just before the Chapter Leader was removed in December and is a must read.
Its time for Chancellor Carmen Farina and her appointed Superintendent, Alexandra Esrella, to admit their terrible mistake in selecting Monika Garp to be Principal of a school that she knew nothing about and remove her for the sake of the students and the culture of the school.