'Proud To Be A Teacher' Signs Ripped Down by Parsippany Administrators

In a school year that has already been marred by a scheduling gaffe that costs middle schoolers weeks of class time along with the resignation of a superintendent not on the job for a full two years, another rift between Parsippany administrators and teachers is making its way through the district.

In a statement released by the Parsippany-Troy Hills Education late Wednesday night, it was revealed that signs throughout the district stating “I Am Proud To Be A Teacher” were removed by administrators, citing political motivations.

“The message, uniformly printed on standard white printer paper, had been posted on classroom doors in all district school buildings for several weeks before acting superintendent Nancy Gigante issued a directive that they be taken down,” the statement read.

“Gigante cited Board of Education policy forbidding political actions or statements on building premises as the reason for ordering the removal of the signs,” the statement continued.

“We view this statement as a positive message to both students and parents”, said Joe Kyle, PTHEA president. “We have always been proud of our role as teacher, coach, counselor and guide to the children of Parsippany, and we never intended for the sign to be anything other than a declaration of that pride.

“Our members were proud to go out of our way to willingly bail out the Board after the recent Middle School disaster, and so we are astounded that a printed declaration of that pride is deemed a political action statement,” Kyle continued.

The statement went on to say faculty at Central and Brooklawn Middle Schools went above and beyond their contract duties to help restore a workable schedule for more than 1,000 students.

Administrators at the district did not immediately return request for comment from Patch.

Photos Courtesy PTHEA