Firing shocks head of school Parents say principal of Andover-Morris rude, inattentive. Saturday, May 19, 2007 • By DANIEL HAUSMANN • The Express-Times PHILLIPSBURG | The embattled principal of Andover-Morris Elementary School said she had no idea her job would be on the line at Monday's school board meeting. The board did not renew Jeanette Gilliland's contract, meaning the 29-year educator will be out of a job this summer. Board President Paul Rummerfield had cited what he called "anger-management issues" with Gilliland. Parents also criticized the 49-year-old administrator. "If I had some warning, I would have made some changes," Gilliland said Friday. Gilliland, a former administrator in Ohio and Canada, joined the district almost three years ago after her husband's career moved the family to Allentown. When her contract expires June 30, Gilliland will fall one day short of tenure. Tenure would have given her more employment rights in the position that paid $101,681 a year. On May 11, Gilliland was called to Superintendent Gordon Pethick's office. She was notified that the board planned to discuss her job status and performance at Monday's meeting. That night she had a closed-door meeting with the board's personnel committee during which she touted her credentials. She said no one from the committee said anything to her. She gave the board permission to discuss her job in public. The only discussion, however, came after the board voted not to renew her contract in defiance of Pethick's recommendation. "I had no idea, I'm completely confused. I'm confused and shocked," Gilliland said. "I had no reason to think I had anything to fear." Since Monday's meeting, several parents have called Gilliland rude and inattentive to their children's needs. Jayne Houston said her 10-year-old son, who suffers from Tourette's syndrome, has been bullied. Houston said she has had several run-ins with Gilliland. "She is just somebody who is not approachable," Houston said. "She called my son a liar to his face. She made comments to me that I baby my son." Selina Valentin said her 11-year-old son also was bullied at school, and she felt Gilliland didn't take the issue seriously. "She gave me a big attitude," Valentin said. "She didn't talk well with people. She liked to yell a lot, cut parents off in the middle of discussions." Citing sensitivity to student and parent confidentiality, Gilliland declined to address Valentin and Houston's allegations. In general, she said, "I believe I treat parents and students appropriately. I treat all students equally, fairly." In the course of a year, she said, it was normal to get parent complaints. The most often cause being a bully-victim situation. Gilliland said that over her career she has gotten nothing but "exemplary" reviews. She said she made an average of 30 annual calls to Phillipsburg police and the Division of Youth and Family Services for family referrals. She said the most common suspicion was abuse. She declined to say whether she will seek legal action or what her future career plans are other than to say she would like to stay in education. Reporter Daniel Hausmann can be reached at 610-258-7171 or by e-mail at dhausmann@express-times.com. © 2007 The Express-Times. Used with permission.