By Joseph L. Kuchie –

Former Perth Amboy High School Robotics Teacher Tells His Story

PERTH AMBOY – A rare public Donaldson hearing was held at the beginning of last week’s Perth Amboy Board of Education meeting for former robotics teacher Gerald “Gerry” Brady.

A Donaldson hearing, named after the 1974 New Jersey Supreme Court case Donaldson v. North Wildwood Bd. Of Ed., allows a teacher the right to appear before the district board to contest the decision not to have their employment renewed.

Gerald Brady and Nestor Collazo *Photo by J. L. Kuchie

The length of the hearing is determined by the Board of Education and is usually held in private session. However, Brady took on his former employer with parents, teachers, and residents looking on.

Brady, who was hired in Sept. 2010, explained to the board that he was not given the proper textbooks or tools he needed to teach four full-year courses. He went on to say that a number of requests to his administrators were not properly answered.

“I met with [STEM Academy Vice Principal] Mrs. [Esperanza] Anastasio and Dr. Collazo asking for materials in these classes such as course curriculum, textbooks, software, robot kits, etc.,” he said. “I indicated to both administrators that I needed at least some of these items to help provide instruction for these four full-year courses…none of this was provided.”

Brady also believed that he did not receive a fair observation from the school’s staff. He pointed out that despite having five classes with an average grade of 85 or higher, the school only observed the class that had a low-C average.

“My classes performed very well and, compared to a lot of classes being taught, my classes did really well,” he explained. “The observation which was used to not renew my contract was done only in my first period class that had the worst average. Why doesn’t the rest count?”

PAHS Principal Dr. Nestor Collazo was in attendance for the hearing and took questions from the board. He stated that Brady did receive the equipment he needed in a timely fashion and the observations made took place during two different class periods.

“The fact is he did receive equipment and he got it in a timely fashion,” Collazo said. “Mrs. Anastasio proceeded to do the observation again in either Brady’s third and fourth period classes. She walked into that different classroom and observed the same practices and issues that had raised serious concerns.”

Collazo added that there are many components to effective instruction and that many of the issues that led to Brady’s release involved his teaching methods.

“Frankly a lot of the issues raised here in the observations had to do with [Brady] as a teacher,” Collazo said. “We can talk about the kits, which he did receive because I made sure the kits got to him… but clearly what got everyone’s attention was what was happening inside the classroom.”

After a lengthy closed session that lasted nearly two hours, the board returned to the auditorium and finished with a 4-4 vote, meaning that Brady will not be reinstated for the 2013-14 school year.

Brady was disappointed that he was not brought back because of a tie. Vice President Ken Puccio was not in attendance for the meeting, and Brady believed there should be another vote with all board members present.

“Since when in America does one side win in a tie vote and the other side loses?” Brady asked after the meeting. “This should be put up for a vote again with the full nine members present. I feel I really got cheated there.”

Some of Brady’s students were also in attendance and made their opinions heard in support of one of their favorite teachers. Brady was grateful but believed they did not get a proper say until after the decision was made.

“It was nice to see students come out and support but again, the board fixed this in their favor by voting before hearing from the students, parents, and the general public as well,” he said. “They were not allowed to talk until well after the vote.”

Superintendent Janine Walker Caffrey pointed out that the board’s attorney was present and advised them on the proper procedures for a Donaldson case. She was, however, disturbed by how the audience reacted during the case.

“This was a very serious matter to determine a man’s future,” she said via email. “Some members of the audience cheered and jeered in a way that they would at an entertainment or sporting event. He deserved dignity and proper decorum from the public.”

Brady plans to continue his fight against the school district in hopes of getting his job back.

“It’s really sad that the board members who voted against me could not see the hypocrisy in my employee evaluations and the total lack of support for a new class they assigned me to teach,” he said. “I feel a strong motivation to contact [Commissioner of Education] Christopher Cerf if they don’t rectify this situation.”