Introduction to the Case
After years of working to clear their names, a former principal and assistant principal at Lincoln Park High School have been removed from Chicago Public Schools’ “Do Not Hire” list. Former Principal John Thuet and Assistant Principal Michelle Brumfield were fired in 2020 due to allegations that they mishandled claims of sexual misconduct — landing them on CPS’ “Do Not Hire” list, which bans individuals from employment in the district.
The Road to Removal
In January, an attorney representing Thuet and Brumfield filed a petition to have their names removed from the list. CPS CEO Pedro Martinez granted the petition Tuesday. “A ‘do not hire’ designation has been like a scarlet letter on my professional reputation,” Brumfield told the Sun-Times Wednesday. “This decision opens up possibilities, and it lets me be who decides what’s next for me, not CPS.” Thuet said he felt “relieved” at hearing his name had been taken off the list. “It’s been a big weight on me for five years and something that I’ve really struggled with” he told the Sun-Times Wednesday. “I think about it daily, and of how things went so horribly wrong so quickly.”
Background on the Allegations
Despite the news, Brumfield and Thuet said they still want to know why they were fired. “I’d still really like to know the truth,” she said. “I followed the protocol that we were instructed to follow. And so I really would like to have some answers.” A request seeking comment from CPS wasn’t immediately returned.
Student and Parent Reaction
Students stage a protest walkout after Chicago Public Schools fired administrators John Thuet and Michelle Brumfield, and re-assigned the boys basketball coach Donovan Robinson, due to misconduct allegations at Lincoln Park High School in February 2020.
Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times file
Investigation Findings
A report released last year by the Office of Inspector General for Chicago Public Schools determined that Thuet’s and Brumfield’s terminations were partially due to an inappropriate, off-the-books investigation. Initially, CPS said the two administrators were dismissed for misconduct and a failure to follow protocol related to the boys basketball team, cutting their season short and wreaking havoc at the North Side school. Yet according to the OIG report, the initial reasons stated for the firings were mostly not connected to the boys team but to a separate incident that should have been handled differently. But Brumfield said she followed protocol and reported the claims to the Office of Student Protections.
Life After the Incident
“I’ve done my best to try to move on with my life and keep things moving for my family and myself, but I would love to understand more why all of this happened,” Thuet said. The firings prompted a slew of student walkouts and protests from parents demanding that Thuet and Brumfield be reinstated. “I truly love the community. The teachers, the students, the parents were so supportive throughout this process,” said Brumfield. “When I felt like giving up, and actually had given up, and lost hope, it was nice that they still believed in me, believed in us, and kept the fight alive.” Brumfield said she will continue to work in education and is “open” to the possibility of returning to CPS. She works as an assistant principal at Harvey School District 152. “I’m just really grateful that we hung in there and really never gave up on this,” she said. “I worked there for 25 years and to have all this happen so suddenly was horrific, and nobody deserves that. I hope this doesn’t happen in the future.” Thuet said he couldn’t find a job in education after the allegations, but would consider returning now that he’s no longer on the list — just not to CPS. He works in training and support for Nextpoint, a software company. “I loved teaching. I loved being an educator. I loved working with kids. It was my passion and and my whole life outside of my family,” Thuet said. “But I don’t really see a world where I could go back to CPS. Unfortunately, there’s just a lot of trust that’s required to do the best work for kids and that trust has been broken in a way that I don’t think it can be be recovered.”
Conclusion
The removal of John Thuet and Michelle Brumfield from the “Do Not Hire” list marks a significant turn of events in a case that has been marred by controversy and a lack of transparency. While this decision brings some measure of relief and vindication to the two educators, it also raises questions about the handling of their case and the broader implications for educators and students within the Chicago Public Schools system. As the community moves forward, it is essential to reflect on the lessons learned from this experience to ensure that similar situations are handled with the care, diligence, and transparency they deserve.
FAQs
Q: Why were John Thuet and Michelle Brumfield fired from Lincoln Park High School?
A: They were fired due to allegations of mishandling claims of sexual misconduct, which led to their placement on the Chicago Public Schools’ “Do Not Hire” list.Q: What led to their removal from the “Do Not Hire” list?
A: An attorney representing Thuet and Brumfield filed a petition to have their names removed, which was granted by CPS CEO Pedro Martinez.Q: How did the community react to their firings?
A: The firings prompted student walkouts and protests from parents demanding their reinstatement, showing significant community support for the two administrators.Q: What are Thuet and Brumfield’s plans now that they are off the list?
A: Brumfield is open to returning to CPS and continues to work in education, while Thuet considers returning to education but not to CPS, citing broken trust.- Q: What was the finding of the Office of Inspector General’s report on their terminations?
A: The report found that their terminations were partially due to an inappropriate, off-the-books investigation, and the initial reasons for their firings were not entirely connected to the boys basketball team as initially stated.
