Wantagh Teachers Union Backs Beloved Teacher After Abrupt Removal

WANTAGH, NY — The union representing Wantagh public school teachers has decided to fight for a longtime elementary school educator who was abruptly moved following a dispute with a fellow faculty member.

After teaching for 27 years at Mandalay Elementary School, reading specialist Denise Burkhard was told to pack her things and leave just days before Thanksgiving break.

As Patch previously reported, parents were furious over the sudden — and quiet — relocation. Burkhard worked closely with children who have special needs. The jarring change left many in tears, and some saw their struggles return. Furthermore, some parents said they never received a Dec. 2 letter from the principal and head of literacy and humanities alerting them a staffing change was coming mid-year to their child's reading services.

Nevertheless, Burkhard moved to Wantagh Elementary School full-time. Another teacher joined Mandalay and took on her academic intervention services and reading classes.

As parents continue advocating for Burkhard's return — including at Board of Education meetings — Wantagh United Teachers, the labor union representing district educators and other faculty members, decided to support Burkhard.

Rich Colavita, president of the group, told Patch on Thursday the union decided to back Burkhard just before Christmas break. The union represents both Burkhard and the other faculty member, and has to equally support all its members.

"That's why we were walking a tight rope," he said.

However, all the union members now support Burkhard moving back to Mandalay, he said. Since all of its membership was on her side, Colavita and other representatives of the union decided to support efforts to return her to her original school.

The union will now actively try to persuade the superintendent and Board of Education to move Burkhard back to Mandalay. Colavita said even though the entire union is on board, there are "other elements at play that aren't in the union's line of sight." When asked what those elements might be, Colavita said he wasn't privy to that information.

The union plans to give a presentation at a Board of Education meeting next week, but Colavita stressed the union is a bit hamstrung; in its contract with the district, the group isn't involved in the decision.

"We're just trying to make a case," he said.

Colavita said he wasn't immediately aware of any recourse the union could take should the district refuses to move her back.

As the union prepares its efforts, the community has raised more than $1,500 for her on the crowdfunding site GoFundMe. An online petition supporting her return has also garnered 942 signatures.