A supporter of embattled Tanner Principal Louis Gordon said Limestone County Schools’ decision to place Gordon on paid administrative leave “has the trappings of racism.”

Local pastor Roy Rugless was one of at least two-dozen community members who gathered at a press conference outside the school system’s Central Office in downtown Athens. The event was organized by the Limestone County NAACP.

Rugless and others suggested county schools personnel had conspired against Gordon, who was placed on leave Monday. Gordon’s supporters believe many Tanner teachers did not want Gordon hired from the start and claim staff members have not warmed to his style of leadership.

“He did not get the support from the administration he should have,” Rugless said. “If the principal was white, this would have been nipped in the bud. If the principal was white, we wouldn’t be having this press conference. But because it’s a black male helping black, Latinos and white folks as well, he’s being chastised.”

Limestone County Schools Superintendent Dr. Tom Sisk said he was disappointed the NAACP is alleging racism because Gordon’s suspension is a personnel matter. Sisk said he was the one who recommended Gordon be hired as principal, despite objections by many in the Tanner community.

Earlier this week, Sisk did not explain if there was any specific event that led to Gordon’s suspension, but instead pointed to “a number of complaints about the climate and culture at Tanner High School this year.”

Gordon’s supporters said Sisk’s press conference, which was held Monday, gave the perception Gordon had done something wrong, leaving some in the community to wonder if the principal had done something illegal.

On Thursday, Sisk said 21 grievances have been filed against Gordon by Tanner employees, all of which are now under investigation.

“We are following the processes and procedures we have applied in these situations consistently and fairly,” Sisk said. “When we put (an employee) on leave, it is so we can conduct a fair and impartial investigation. In speaking with members of the teachers association, there are 21 signatures on this grievance and I will be reading them at length.”

Questions of fairness

A statement from the NAACP said there was “no justification” for Sisk’s decision to place Gordon on leave and no reason for the suspension to have been announced publicly. Local NAACP President Wilbert Woodruff said a custodian threatened Gordon’s life, but codes and locks at the school were not changed. When Gordon was put on leave, however, Woodruff said Gordon’s keys were collected and lock codes were changed.

“Superintendent Sisk stated in his press conference that his decision to place Mr. Gordon on administrative leave was for the protection and safety of students and the community,” said Woodruff statement. “Of the two, who was the obvious threat to the students and the community?”

Sisk said if locks and codes at the school were changed, he did not authorize it. He said the custodian’s keys were taken when she was placed on leave.

The NAACP’s statement also referenced a video of teacher Amy Bates, which appeared to show her playing a derogatory recording about Gordon to students in her class. The NAACP pointed out no press conference was held when the video became public and the teacher has not been placed on leave.

NAACP member Leon Steele questioned if Gordon’s suspension was part of an orchestrated effort on behalf of disgruntled teachers, board members and Tommy Hunter, the system’s human resources director. He said Bates’ daughter plays on Hunter’s softball team.

“It’s all a personal thing,” Steele said.

Sisk said a “consequence was imposed” on Bates, but he would not release details because it is a personnel matter. He added a consequence had not yet been imposed on Gordon.

Tanner not a priority?

Others who spoke gave the impression Tanner High School is of little concern to Sisk and the Central Office, except where athletics are involved. NAACP member Leon Steele said the school’s library had been closed for two years before Gordon came and reopened it.

Sisk said that is not true because he’s attended meetings at the school’s library.

Others said Gordon has been proactive in trying to raise test scores and overall academic achievement, but Sisk said that is also inaccurate because end-of-year tests are still several weeks away. He said mid-term tests conducted in November don’t show academic growth at the school.

Rylan Pendleton, president of the youth and college division of the Alabama State Conference NAACP, urged the Tanner community to stand behind Gordon.

“What he’s doing is great for the community,” Pendleton said. “It’s time we stand behind Gordon and end the racism going on in the Tanner community.”

Parent Katina Lampkin said her child, a special-needs student, made the A-B honor roll for the first time this year, and gave the credit to Gordon. Valerie Gray, the parent of a sixth-grader and a junior at Tanner, said she had seen a positive change in her children’s grades.

“This is the first time … that education has been pushed and someone is caring about the children,” she said. “I think the board and Mr. Sisk have to make the right decision according to what God wants.”

Next steps

The NAACP released a list of items it is calling on Sisk and the school board to accomplish. Chief among those is to allow Gordon to resume his duties as principal and to “stop the harassment” and ensure his safety “so he can continue to do the outstanding job he is doing.”

Woodruff said he would like Sisk to meet with the NAACP as soon as possible, but Sisk said he would not be open to meeting with the group regarding Gordon.

“If any action is required, I will make the appropriate recommendation,” he said. “If I make a recommendation that he not come back, it won’t be because he’s black. It will be because something turns up in the investigation or because we’re going in a different direction and he’s a probationary principal.”

In the meantime, Sisk said, he hopes the adults will “step aside” and do what’s best for Tanner’s students. He requested an increased police presence at the school Thursday in “response to all the anxiety of parents and adults parading around.”

He also dispelled a rumor that seniors who participated Tuesday in a walkout designed to show support for Gordon would be disciplined.

“I think the adults need to step aside and consider what’s best for the kids,” Sisk said. “There are too many half-truths we have to sort through and it’s time consuming. … This will be handled before school’s out.”