Sheila Silver Firing Sparks Student and Parent Uproar

Teacher Sheila Silver was baffled when she found out she would not be returning to Culver City High School next year.

"It has nothing to do with the quality of my teaching," she said about the decision. "I'm here to work with kids and I teach five different classes and I have glowing, glowing reviews."

But Silver, who has been recognized for her work as creative director of Culver City High School's Academy of Visual and Performing Arts, will not be back at the school next fall. Earlier this month, she received notice from the school that it will exercise its option not to re-hire the popular teacher. A decision, later approved by the school board, that has triggered a protest by students and teachers.

"I was shocked and I almost laughed because it's almost ridiculous," said senior , age 17, who has been one of Silver's AVPA students for the two years she has been at the school. "I don't understand how she couldn't be a good long term fit, given how much she's done for us."

Silver did say that she first became aware that there was a problem at the school in November, when she was notified that she was not considered a good collaborator.

David Mielke, president of the Culver City Federation of Teachers and a psychology teacher at CCHS, said it was fairly well-known that Silver didn't get along with some of her colleagues in the AVPA, although he declined to mention any by name. He added that the personality problem didn't seem like a valid reason not to re-hire Silver, especially since she is so very good with students.

"If you hire me as a teacher, you are hiring me to be good with the students," Mielke said. "It's management's job if there are personality problems."

Geoff Maleman, speaking as spokesperson for the school district, said that Principal Pam Magee could not comment on the decision not to re-hire Silver because it is a personnel matter. School board members Scott Zeidman and Karlo Silbiger both reluctantly said the same thing.

"I wish I could," Zeidman responded to Patch's request for comment.

Silver said that she did do as she was asked after being written up in November, although she did not specify what was the reason for the notice.

"But then, it was never about making progress as it was about long-term fit," she said, which confused her. "Because what's being said is cryptic and inconsistent."

The one thing most of the people Patch interviewed seemed certain of is that the decision not to re-hire had nothing to do with her choice to direct her students in The Laramie Project, the controversial play about the reaction to the 1998 hate crime murder of gay student Matthew Shepard.

"It definitely has not been an issue of any backlash whatsoever," Silbiger said.

Silver, herself, agreed.

"I have not heard anything to that effect," she said. "There was not a moment of questioning on it. They [the school] were so supportive. I felt Culver City Unified was a model of academic freedom when it came to The Laramie Project."

In fact, when the Culver City council recently recognized the students and their teacher for their recent first place award from the California Educational Theater Association, Silver made sure to thank her colleagues along with the council and the school board for their support.

During the same presentation, one of the students—who was not named—stood up for the cast to thank the council for the honor. He did not hesitate to add his feelings about Silver's situation.

"It's an affirmation of the work we do, especially with the recent firing of our teacher, which we're very upset about," the student said.

Mielke said that because all teachers are hired on a two-year probationary basis (Silver is ending her second year at the school), there is little the union can do. That being said, he and Silver have requested a meeting with the board.

"I'm trying to do everything I can think of," he said.

But, he added there may be some hope. Usually, on personnel matters, he said the school board will vote unanimously to support the principal.

"Normally, the board rubber stamps these decisions," he said, explaining that the decision not to re-hire Silver was a much closer three to two vote. "That's almost unheard of. That suggests the board should meet with Sheila and me."