The principal of P.S. 398Q in Jackson Heights, who faced significant criticism for mishandling an incident involving a second-grader bringing a knife to school with the intention to harm another student, has announced her resignation. This decision comes after parents launched a campaign calling for her removal.
In a letter to the school community on Friday, Erica Ureña-Thus, the founding principal of The Héctor Figueroa School, announced with mixed emotions her decision to step down from her position at PS 398Q. She stated that her departure would take effect on December 6th.
Ureña-Thus and her union, the Council of School Supervisors and Administrators, did not provide an immediate response when contacted for comment. Similarly, the Department of Education’s spokesperson also did not respond promptly to the request for comment.
Concerns about Ureña-Thus had already been brewing among parents and teachers for several months. This came to a head when multiple students reported that a second-grader had brought a knife to school on November 1st, and had even expressed intentions to use it on another second-grader during lunchtime.
Parents received information about the incident only on November 4, through an online post by Ureña-Thus. In the post, Ureña-Thus stated that “nothing untoward was found.” However, in the days following the incident, higher-ups at the DOE privately discussed the possibility of withholding additional “detail/context” about the incident, as reported by THE CITY.
The aunt of the boy who was allegedly targeted revealed that the incident was kept hidden from everyone’s knowledge. Last month, THE CITY reported that the boy, who continued to attend the school, even went on to threaten the students who had witnessed him with the knife.
The names of the students, who are all second graders, are being withheld by the city to respect their privacy. The parents of the boy who allegedly brought the knife and made the threats have not been contacted by the city because he has not been named by the school.
In a recent message to parents on November 10th, Lisa Hidalgo, the superintendent of District 30, addressed the issue of insufficient and delayed communication from the school. She acknowledged that this lack of timely updates had caused speculation, fear, and the spread of misinformation within the school community.
Within a week, an overwhelming number of parents had signed a petition demanding the removal of Ureña-Thus.
Over the summer, teachers also voiced concerns about the school’s ‘hostile’ environment, claiming that teachers who supported a grievance complaint accusing Ureña-Thus of anti-union actions faced retaliation.
Parents who testified before the Panel for Education Policy last Wednesday pleaded with city officials to remove and replace her, according to a report by Gothamist. Deputy Chancellor Dan Weisberg reassured the parents that investigations were currently underway and expressed optimism that they would be resolved in the near future.
Panel member Tom Sheppard expressed his deep sadness as he witnessed the distressing scene. He shared with Gothamist, “It was heartbreaking to watch. These people have been desperately trying to raise awareness, but unfortunately, their voices have fallen on deaf ears.”
In a message to the school community on Friday, Ureña-Thus acknowledged the difficulties of establishing a new school amidst the ongoing pandemic. She also shared her personal health battles, having overcome a stroke in 2021.
In a heartfelt message, she expressed her gratitude for the unwavering support of the close-knit community throughout the challenges faced by the school. Despite the difficulties brought about by the pandemic and teacher shortages, she highlighted how the school’s dedicated staff worked tirelessly to ensure that the students were not adversely affected. She also mentioned her own personal struggles with health conditions but emphasized her commitment to supporting the staff and ensuring a safe and high-quality education for all.
“I am filled with gratitude for the chance to serve the community where I was raised and for the privilege of contributing to the growth and development of your children.” Ureña-Thus stated that she will be transitioning to a new role upon her departure, without providing further details.
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An elementary school principal, who allegedly attempted to conceal an incident where a student brought a knife to attack a classmate, has resigned from their position.
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