Above: Bertrand Avenue educators and staff joined families for a town hall at Local District North in May to raise concerns about their principal.

After a year-long fight to remove a lemon principal, educators at Bertrand Avenue Elementary Community School in the Valley are feeling the power of their unity and looking forward to next school year with hope. 

Bertrand Avenue Chapter Chair and kindergarten teacher Mikael Lewis-Mudaliar has taught at the school for 25 years. After Bertrand Avenue’s former principal retired at the end of last school year, things quickly went downhill with the principal appointed by the district. 

Principal Mendoza talked down to staff and used manipulative tactics to get her way. Bertrand Avenue Community School Coordinator Iris Moya-O’Dell says principal Mendoza was not a team player and refused to collaborate, ignoring what was in the best interest of students and families. 

“We gave her multiple opportunities,” says Moya-O’Dell. “We reminded her that as a Community School, we all have a voice, we all participate in decision making.” 

Principal Mendoza enforced strict rules on staff who spoke up, even cutting hours for some classroom aides while showing favoritism to others. She had also circumvented LSLC purview and misused school funds. 

“We discovered that she used money that was set aside for Breakfast in the Classroom to furnish her office and attempted to spend thousands of dollars on a DJ for an open-house event,” says Lewis-Mudaliar. 

Lewis-Mudaliar compiled concerns from educators and staff and brought them to principal Mendoza in late October. “We were willing to work with her,” says Lewis-Mudaliar. “And she just refused to be an open party to work with. She just kind of wanted things to be her way or the highway.” 

With no willingness from the principal to address how her behavior was impacting the school, Lewis-Mudaliar then reached out to educators, staff, and parents in January to submit written statements to Local District North leadership. 

Using already established communication channels — like their Chapter Action Team (CAT) and WhatsApp group chat set up from the 2019 strike — made it easier to get organized and devise a plan of action. 

“Having all of the communications, that I never thought I was going to have to use, having those already in place really worked,” says Lewis-Mudaliar. 

When principal Mendoza tried to sabotage the election process for Moya-O’Dell’s position and the Targeted Student Population (TSP) Coordinator’s position, Bertrand Ave educators were ready to fight back. 

“Principal Mendoza dug her heels in and said, ‘Nope. This is the way it’s going to be.’ So we had a late-night Zoom session and created a petition on a Google doc. The next day, I printed a copy and had everyone physically sign it. We were all unified on what we wanted for our school site.” 

Lewis-Mudaliar sent the petition to the principal and also to the Local District North office and their school board member, Nick Melvoin, in April. The following week, educators and staff voted 23-0 against principal Mendoza’s choice. 

Parents shared similar concerns about the principal’s mistreatment and disregard for students, families, and staff. Fifth-grade students even circulated their own petition urging principal Mendoza not to attend their year-end culmination ceremony. 

A group of Bertrand Avenue parents worked with educators and staff to call and email the district, but Local District North officials repeatedly dodged requests for a meeting or town hall. So, when a Bertrand Avenue parent found out their local district director and superintendent were visiting another school across the Valley, she rushed over to demand an in-person meeting for the Bertrand Avenue school community to be heard. 

District officials then finally agreed to hold a town hall on May 19 at the Local District North office, but limited comments to parents only. Regardless, educators and staff showed up in support. The Bertrand Avenue Elementary community packed the meeting room with over 50 people. The district tried to limit comments to two minutes, but parents weren’t having it. At least 20 parents and three fifth-grade students spoke at the town hall, demanding their concerns be taken seriously.  

Above: Parents, students, educators, and staff packed the town hall meeting room at Local District North May 19.

The entire faculty then took a vote of no confidence and was prepared to submit it to the district last week. Then, during their faculty meeting, principal Mendoza announced that she will not be returning to Bertrand Avenue next school year. The room was in shock. 

“We were speechless,” says Moya-O’Dell. “Now we now have the opportunity to bring in someone who is collaborative, someone who is a team player, someone who is going to hear parents, be compassionate and kind, and build relationships with the kids.” 

Lewis-Mudaliar says she is feeling relief at the news but that there is still work to do. The district confirmed that an interview committee representing Bertrand Avenue educators, staff, and parents will be able to make formal recommendations on the hiring of their next principal.  

“I’ve been at this school for 28 years,” says Lewis-Mudaliar. “It’s about community and it’s about standing up for those who don’t feel that that have a voice, even though it might seem scary. Retaliation is always a possibility, but you have others who will back you up. There is hope and light at the end of the tunnel if you all stand united.”