It would be my hope finally someone listens to the students because ultimately that's who we're here to serve. Its even tough to find a yardman in town. Why should my kid be drug-tested just because you cant control yours?. COLLEYVILLE - Nine Colleyville Heritage High School students involved in football and other athletics have admitted to using steroids, district officials said Friday. Summarizing his defense, he finally blurted, Mom, the majority of the football team is taking them.. She asked the druggist to decipher the label for her. Well, I had an interesting day, he told his mother by phone that night. It was from the Grapevine-Colleyville school district. For nearly 10 years, she wrote restaurant reviews for the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, and her work has appeared in 360 West, Eater Dallas, Edible DFW, A+C magazine, D CEO, GlobeSt.com and Houstonia magazine. Read more about CRT here. All students and staff are safe, the school . The coach, Chris Cunningham, denied the accusations in reports published at the time and said he was adamantly against steroids. On February 4, the Morning News dropped that bombshell and used quotes and information from their interviews with Lewis and Bryan. Get the latest breaking news from North Texas and beyond. But I didnt want any of this for Bryan, Lewis says. As Lewis recalls, Beal said, Ive talked to Coach Cunningham, and he says its not true. Oh, yeah, some of them are still doing it, Bryan says. I thought, Wow, that didnt work. But the students at CHHS had obviously read the story. I showed it to my wife, who immediately begins to well up with tears," he said. The reporters worked other sources. If my house was on fire, would you put it out? she asked. It was a football player. Among other things, SB 3 bans schools from making political activism part of a course and says teachers may not be compelled to talk about a widely debated and currently controversial issue of public policy or social affairs.. He received a disciplinary letter from the district a few weeks later and was placed on administrative leave soon after that. When Bryan got to school on Monday, it didnt take long to see that his cover had been blown. at 7pm. It had absolutely nothing to do with race. And, of course, making everyone in town proud, which is what winning does. Lawmakers eventually passed House Bill 3979, which restricts how teachers can discuss current events, encourage civic engagement and teach about Americas history of racism. One section on the report's website was called "Colleyville Heritage's team secret". Officers were called around . I knew it as soon as I finished the story. "We're talking about a very short period, weeks," district spokeswoman Robin McClure said. Hey, you little pussy, he said. Note! Also in the post, the principal referred to an incident in which a school administrator asked Whitfield to remove a photo of him and his wife, who is white, from his Facebook page. James Whitfield, the first Black principal at mostly white Colleyville Heritage High School, chose to resign but remain on paid administrative leave until 2023 in a settlement with the school district. Hes just got to get a little faster, a little bigger, a little stronger. In June, Lewis scheduled to have her lawn mowed by a Mid Cities fireman who runs a small lawn-care company. 535. ", Grapevine-Colleyville ISD issued the following statement Monday. They even went to football games, sat in the stands, and made a list of the players who looked like they might be using steroids, based on the common signs: acne, muscular definition, rage. EVEN THOUGH LEWIS HAD PULLED BRYAN out of school, he was still getting hassled. They had to get everything ready for when they return after the summer, when Bryan plans to go out for the varsity team. You may need to show identification if this was not done at walk-thru. The e-mails from parents who say they are too scared to be named publicly but who thank her for shaking up the CHHS administration and mighty football program. LIVE: Colleyville Heritage vs. Grapevine | 2023 High School Soccer - YouTube Premieres in 4 hours February 21 at 4:00 PM Rice Memorial vs. Colchester | 2023 High School Boys Basketball. Last Monday, August 23, students gathered at a school board meeting to express their support for Whitfield. Thats how competitive it is.. And when he went to his truck after school, there was a sheet of notebook paper under his windshield wiper with one word scrawled across it: SNITCH.. It was the sort of breakthrough that could take a pointy-headed newspaper treatise and make it touch people, win awards, effect change. I am not the CRT (Critical Race Theory) Boogeyman. Minutes later, her son, Bryan Dyer (Lewis remarried in 1993), walked out of the school with a friend and headed toward his truck. Colleyville Heritage High School 5401 Heritage Avenue Colleyville, TX 76034 P 817-305-4700 F 817-358-4765 He decided in the summer to concentrate on baseball. Kids had easy access to steroids, athletes were using them, and high school administrators were in denial. Ive only chosen to speak out against baseless allegations after [the district] allowed a man to speak my name at the July 26 board meeting, he said. When Ted Beal answered his phone that morning, September 23, the nightmare began for the CHHS administration. Stressed over the accusations, Whitfield said he couldn't shake the photo incident of 2019 from his head and the district's conclusion the photo was inappropriate. The school district announced Monday,. Over time, Bryan began to trust them and open up. The architects of the theory argue that the United States was founded on the theft of land and labor and that federal law has preserved the unequal treatment of people on the basis of race. Aria Jones, Breaking news reporter. It had absolutely nothing to do with race., The photo that aired in initial media reports was not the only photo that was received by the District, Kristin Snively, executive director of communications for the district, wrote in an email to The Dallas Morning News. The tick-tock drama of Bryans story, that compelling personal narrative, the hour-by-hour recounting of his traverse from good kid to drug user, would elevate the series. Dude, I think thats your mom.. Opposition to critical race theory has become a rallying cry for Texas Republican leaders, who claim its indoctrinating students and teaching white students that they are racist. Love will! It was at this moment that I knew the attack that we currently endure, was coming., In a statement to KXAS-TV (NBC5), the district said the photos it received contained poses that are questionable for an educator, especially a principal or administrator. In a town like Colleyville, you cant tell anyone a secret you want kept. 2023 NYP Holdings, Inc. All Rights Reserved, Woman in viral pizza rant now facing ethnic harassment charges, Murdaugh Judge Clifton Newman: From segregated schools to the best we want in our jurists, NYC DOE probing anti-white texts linked to black superintendent, Black children attack, force white kids to say Black Lives Matter at Ohio school: video. She says she never used the word condone, and her demeanor in all those phone calls was completely appropriate. At the first public hearing the school district held to discuss the issue, including spending money for more drug testing, not one parent showed up. All that stuff I could handle, and I do handle, she says. Whitfield reached an agreement with Grapevine-Colleyville ISD after being accused of teaching critical race theory at his high school and placed on administrative leave. They said, Could you take it down? No, she said. Can you believe those boys using steroids? one asked. Dr. James Whitfield has been on administrative leave since late August. In the minds of many, she carries with her the scarlet S affixed to those in small towns, suburban or rural, who dont honor the sanctity of high school football: snitch, squealer, sinner. Colleyville is a Yuppie burb, sure, with a median home price of $335,000, but it is affluence packed on top of a former tiny farming community, a fine cloth draped over an old couch. The student came forward only after his mother discovered a bag full of syringes and vials of liquids in his bedroom closet. The University Interscholastic League, which sets rules for competition in Texas high school sports, has no policy on steroids. Woman arrested in killing of 3 children at Italy, Texas, home in Ellis County, 41 North Texas congregations granted approval to leave the United Methodist Church, American Airlines, flight attendants file for mediation during contract negotiations, New Uptown office tower lands second major lease, Years after North Texas bid for Amazons second headquarters, retail giant halts plan, Mesquite to become the site of new 2,500-home community, North Texas builders see influx of activity in new year, but challenges persist, Mark Wahlberg pours tequila for fans at Dallas restaurant during thunderstorm, Chambelanes cambian de look: bailarines se adaptan a una nueva moda y ritmo en DFW, The Cowboys are closer than you think to a total makeover at running back, Q and A: How MLBs streaming, TV options will impact Rangers fans ability to watch team, Ex-Cowboys OC Kellen Moore opens up on Dallas departure, shows gratitude for Mike McCarthy. As a new campus principal, we wanted to provide a smooth transition for Dr. Whitfield to Heritage Middle School, which is why we advised him of the concern and made a request for the photos to be taken down from Facebook.". Rogers said the organization surveyed districts across the state in fall 2002 and asked whether they saw a need for rules on steroids or a program of steroid testing. They had pieced together a clear picture of a serious problem. Anna Caplan covers McKinney, Southlake, Grapevine and Colleyville. But he said trouble began as far back as 2019 when someone complained to administrators he was setting a "bad example" by posting pictures of himself kissing his wife on Facebook. The Grapevine-Colleyville ISD school board voted unanimously on a proposal Monday not to renew the contract of suspended Heritage High School principal James Whitfield. While the move may have been about personnel, Whitfield said it feels personal. SOUTHLAKE, Texas - Carroll ISD is punishing some students for an offensive video that shows a group of teens chanting the n-word. This is how competitive it is in this town, Lewis says, smiling. The Grapevine-Colleyville Independent School District, a wealthy suburban district northeast of Fort Worth, said eight seniors and one junior admitted using the performance-enhancing drugs for a short period last spring. She couldnt even get her grass cut? I am the first African American to assume the role of Principal at my current school in its 25-year history, and I am keenly aware of how much fear this strikes in the hearts of a small minority who would much rather things go back to the way they used to be, he wrote. But he doesnt like it., When her son talks, she stares at him intently, looking for signs that hes upset or angry. There were also names. Hes not even playing football this year. Thats it? CHHS is a big school, with more than 2,200 students and an operating budget of $136.5 million for the. They are: 1. 6 /10. Because even though Lewis did the right thing, and even though she took every measure to protect her sons identity when she made that call and then later took her story to the media, it is Bryan who ultimately paid the price for his moms principled stand. The scandal at CHHS, as well as the well-publicized suicide of a student-athlete in Plano, Texas resulted in the implementation of random drug testing by the University Interscholastic League in 2007. 8:06 PM on Aug 30, 2021 CDT Updated at 1:21 PM on Sep 1, 2021 CDT. On their cardboard, handmade wall, they wrote: 'Paid for by . Admitted it months earlier, not long after the journalists had interviewed Coach Cunningham. Check to be sure that email from abi@luhsd.net will come through. In response to written questions from Jones and Jacobson, the district acknowledged that nine CHHS football players, eight seniors and one junior, had admitted to using steroids. Colleyville Heritage High School Principal James Whitfield has faced sharp criticism from some parents who are accusing him of teaching critical race theory. This was so she could direct Lewis to the appropriate vice principal. We just have to lay low, she said. She demanded to know why he was taking steroids. Get out of the car, Dyer, he said. COLLEYVILLE, Texas The embattled principal of Colleyville Heritage High School is expected to learn his employment fate this coming Monday. He wrote on Facebook that he could not ask others to speak up if he wont and just because I am a school administrator that does not take away my rights and ability to be human and defend myself.. James Whitfield, 43, principal at Colleyville Heritage High School, has been placed on leave by the Grapevine-Colleyville ISD after being accused of teaching critical race theory at his. He called a few buddies shortly before midnight and told them to meet him at Whataburger, one of the town hangouts. Catherine Marfin, Breaking News Reporter. The CHHS kids who posted to the Morning News steroids bulletin boards, saying everyone knew this was a problem, that it is still a problem. Can you hide it?' For weeks, kids buzzed about who they thought might be the anonymous athlete caught using steroids. The school went on lockdown when the incident was reported. GRAPEVINE, Texas (CBSDFW.COM) - A high school principal at the center of a controversy in Grapevine-Colleyville ISD is now on administrative leave. In his post Saturday, Whitfield explained that the photos were taken a decade ago during their 10-year anniversary in Mexico. Dallas, Texas 75201. She hurried downstairs and called the pharmacy at the nearby Walgreens. Lt. Gov. When Lori Lewis learned that many players on her sons Colleyville Heritage football team were using steroids, she blew the whistle. and I asked, 'Why? The vial had been photographed on Bryans glass dining room table, and the students were examining the fuzzy reflections in the glass to figure out whose house it was. Not their real names, of course. I think its silly, I cant see why a husband and wife cant have a picture of them in a sweet moment, she said. He took notes: Most Football Team taking SteroidsSon Played last yearCoach CunninghamSon Plays [blacked out]*Anomysly*. The district told WFAA again Friday that the decision has nothing to do with critical race theory or allegations by a small group of parents. / CBS Texas, UPDATE: Grapevine-Colleyville ISD Releases New Statement On Decision To Put Principal James Whitfield On Paid Administrative Leave. No big deal, Bryan thought. She is a graduate of the University of Texas at Austin, where she studied journalism and public relations. When he decided not to play (and when he noticed acne on his back during the family vacation in Florida), he stopped. She is suing the coach and the school district for $1.5 million because Cunningham said Lewis was a liar and crazy in an interview with the News. They had the Courier article spread out, and several people were closely eyeing the photo accompanying the story. Everyone would forget about it soon enough. Updated at 1:12 p.m. Wednesday with details throughout. He said the district wouldn't tell him why. Aria has interned at the Austin American-Statesman, the Texas Tribune and the El Paso Times. They asked Bryan to relive every detail. The school district announced Monday, August 30, Colleyville Heritage High Principal Dr. James Whitfield was placed on paid administrative leave. People know each other. Whitfield's status with Colleyville Heritage High School is expected to be decided at a Monday school board meeting. COLLEYVILLE HERITAGE. During the following months, the reporters put together their package of stories. Brings new meaning to the phrase Sunday Funday. Normally, the school dismisses at 4 p.m., a district spokesman said, but around 5:15 p.m. the district tweeted that it was doing a controlled dismissal of all students.. Its he and his beautiful wife, they have a beautiful family, Sunni Roppollo, who has children at Colleyville Heritage High, told KXAS, adding that there was no reason to censor him.I chalk it up to educators are held to a different standard, unfortunately. If you know that is on your trusted email list, contact your child's school office (Grade Level Learning Community, Building, or SLC) to have your email added to the system. That they will no longer give into that culture of forcing to assimilate and being ashamed of their identity," said student Sunehra Cowdhury. Ive told you everything I know. Feb. 5, 2005. Mom, they already know. 12. Eric Celeste is the editor at Spirit, the inflight magazine of Southwest Airlines. "They're here to show their voice. Dangit, you got me!? Because the use took place away from school and in the off-season, when it was not related to a school activity, it is unclear whether any school policies have been violated, McClure said. Who is available? No one could see her talking to school officials. They would cooperate fully with the News reporters, but they wouldnt give anyone up. Colleyville Heritage High School. Scholars developed it during the 1970s and 1980s in response to what they viewed as a lack of racial progress following the civil rights legislation of the 1960s. While at UT, Catherine served as managing editor of The Daily Texan, UT's student paper, and interned at the Texas Tribune and Houston Chronicle. We hid the photo, no one from above ever mentioned anything else about it, but the damage was inflicted on us in profound ways. He wrote that he cant ask others to speak up if he wont, and that being a school administrator does not take away my rights and ability to be human and defend myself.. He hopes he starts, he says. After months of trying, Jones and Jacobson finally interviewed coach Chris Cunningham, who declined to talk to D Magazine through a spokeswoman and through his lawyers. Lewis told Beal she was left with no choice but to take her story to the media. Mom, Im going over there. Cunningham has apologized and said it was wrong to say the things he did, but I think anybody would have reacted the same way. My mom catches me at everything, Bryan says. She says she has had to endure the communitys anger despite what should have been ample vindication: the Dallas Morning News, in an ongoing and exhaustive investigative series, has proven that steroids use in North Texas high schools is greater than many want to believe. By now, she had revealed her identity in subsequent newspaper stories. The median household income tops $150,000. Perhaps it goes without saying but producing quality journalism isn't cheap. Just over a month later, the district has suspended Colleyville Heritage High School Principal James Whitfield without explanation, he told The Washington Post on Tuesday. A high school principal in Colleyville says his bosses ordered him to remove a photo of him embracing his wife from social media. Jones and Jacobson, sick that theyd inadvertently revealed Bryans identity, suggested that the papers lawyers could convince the school district to pay for Bryans tuition. When Bryan got inside, Lewis pointed the bottle at him. That was months ago. I am grateful for your partnership and look forward to working with you to serve and support the students of Colleyville Heritage High School.. And while her son was fighting his battles, Lewis was fighting hers. Over the next year, he wants to work closely with educators and students, especially helping teachers who are fearful that what happened to him will happen to them. A mother raising a teenage boy who decided to use steroids like too many kids do, or a football coach who didnt know? Thank you for spreading love! The misspelled word had two arrows drawn toward it for emphasis. Officers were called around 3:20 p.m. to the campus in the 5400 block of Heritage Avenue about a man with a gun. As the editorial note at the storys end explained, She and her son feared retaliation from other Colleyville athletes, coaches, and parents. His resignation wont be official until Aug. 15, 2023. First published on August 30, 2021 / 5:42 PM. He told KXAS that he received an email at the time from a school administrator containing an image of himself and his wife, Kerrie, kissing on their anniversary trip. Why did you stop?Jones and Jacobson, top-notch investigative reporters, had been working on a series of stories about steroid abuse in area high schools. I just want to get on with my life. Beal asked her to come into the school for a talk. ABSENCES. 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. Heritage Elementary School 4500 Heritage Avenue Colleyville, TX 76034 Eagle 1991 507 Bransford Elementary School 601 Glade Road . Only a worried mom and a kid who felt he owed it to her to fess up, do the right thing, be a man. It wont change anything. Catherine writes about breaking news, crime and the Dallas Zoo. Aria writes about breaking news. Bryan sat across from them, Lewis next to him. Nor was the decision made in response to allegations Dr. Whitfield was teaching Critical Race Theory, or because of the photos on his social media account that were brought to the attention of the District in 2019. The driver, the stockiest of the bunch, rapped on Bryans window. Compare Colleyville Heritage High School to Other Schools gcisd-k12.org He agreed not to name the family members. He had a Grapevine High School sticker on his car, so he didnt go to Heritage. Only 22,000 people live in Colleyville. By signing up you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy, Stand with us in our mission to discover and uncover the story of North Texas, Colleyville Heritage principal accused of teaching critical race theory put on paid leave, the principal and a crowd of supporters attended a school board meeting, multiple sources in the district have said, an incident in which a school administrator asked Whitfield to remove a photo of him and his wife, who is white, After call for his firing, Colleyville Heritage principal speaks about critical race theory claims, What we know after 3 children killed, 2 wounded at Ellis County home, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones defers comment on revival of sexual harassment lawsuit. I can control my kids, one parent said to her during the meeting. I cant run from this. Wednesday and Thursday shows are cancelled due to inclement weather. August 30, 2021 / 5:42 PM NO NAMES. "They did not feel there was a problem that we needed to look into," Rogers said. Had that photo been the only image, there would have been no request to remove it., In the superintendents letter Monday, Ryan told parents that the entire District leadership team and I are fully committed to the success and well-being of Colleyville Heritage students as we move forward together.. Police did not identify either individual. The CHHS teacher who cornered her in the parking lot after the second public hearing and told her many teachers supported her but were afraid to speak out. If a student must be absent from school a parent should call or email the school Attendance Office, the day of the absence, to report the student's name and the reason. Ive counted. Welcome to the Colleyville Heritage PTSA Facebook Page intended to keep our parents, teachers, and students current on upcoming events and opportunities CHHS PTA is a noncommercial, nonsectarian, nonpartisan association that does not endorse any candidate or political party. Can you hide it? and I asked, Why? Going forward, Whitfield believes his work in education isnt done. Grapevine-Colleyville sources have said that the district does not teach CRT, a doctrine that pushes the notion that racism underpins Americas history, laws and institutions, according to the Dallas Morning News. The story said one boy admitted to using them. She makes mention of that one time someone said or did something to her daughter relating to the steroids backlash, but when I ask about it, she says she wont talk about it. Dec 29, 2022 The 2022-23 UIL high school soccer season officially starts today and the Star Telegram released its first soccer area rankings this week.