Walter Reed Music Programs Win First Places—Again, and One Teacher Gets RIF'd—Again

It's that time of year again. It's the time of year for the amazing award-winning to win awards in singing and jazz and orchestra—and it's time for the of that same group to worry about staying on another year.

The school just heard that the Walter Reed Music groups won 1st Place in all three categories at the Heritage Music Festival.

But, once again, the team that created the award-winning musical magic is jeopardized, because instrumental teacher Jessica Johnson doesn't have enough tenure.

Band department manager Stephen McDonough and vocal teacher Janice Kueppers are safe and didn't receive the Reduction in Force letter that is a warning that there may not be enough funding for their positions. But, Johnson once again received a RIF notice.

"This is a frustrating exercise that we will have to go through year after year, and it's unfair for the teachers," McDonough said in last year when he received the notice. He sad that talented teachers like Johnson deserve to be treated better and could easily find more secure jobs. "She of course is an important element to the success of our music department."

Last year, about the music departments in LAUSD led to the RIF notices being rescinded, but once again, it's another distraction for Johnson and the music department as the school prepares for their year-end concerts.

Yet once again Music Teacher Ms Johnson has received a RIF notice from the LAUSD.