November 2, 2017 Jefferson County Board of Education 3332 Newburg Road : Louisville, KY 40218 Dear Board Members, {tis my understanding that you have received a letter regarding my son RRR who is 2 student at duPont Manual High School. In response, please know that Mr. Jerry Mayes, principal of duPont Manual High School by no means has inflicted any type of emotional or psychological abuse to my child. | have known Mr. Mayes for many years. We have been co-workers at the same school, and | can attest to his fairness, kindness, and his overall love and desire for every student to be the very best he/she can be, regardless of skin color/ethnicity. However, | am furious regarding the fact that several teachers (who are leaders at duPont Manual) have used my son as a vehicle to bring harm to Mr. Mayes, chaos fo the school, and to promote their own personal agenda or vendetta. They are the ones who should be held accountable for influencing young minds in such a negative way. Please know that it gives me great pride and honor having my son at duPont Manual High School under Mr. Mayes’ leadership. | know first-band the type of leadership and guidance Mr. Mayes Provides his students, teachers, and staff. He is honest and treats people the way he wants to be treated. He is optimistic, intrinsically helpful, and genuinely concerned for others. Mr. Mayes is always looking for ways fo gain consensus and get people to work together efficiently and effectively as a team. He holds everyone accountable, including himself. When things are going well, he praises. When problems arise, he identifies them quickly, seek solutions, and get things back on track. | have seen Mr. Mayes make tough decisions; but he does not make them unilaterally, instead he fosters a collaborative approach, Mr. Mayes is a school leader who communicates clearly, concisely, effectively, and motivates everyone to give his or her best at all times. Therefore, | am proud to have my son under Mr. Mayes’ leadership at duPont Manual If | can be of additional assistance, please let me know. Sincerely, S foo MMbeinead Tiffani L. Williams: } Mr. Jerry Mayes, PrincipalOctober 28, 2017 Dear Mr. Mayes, Please know that I am very sorry for the troubles that@igigshas caused, Tam disappointed in his actions but very disturbed by the actions of several teacher leaders in your building. Being an educator, I know and understand how impressionable young minds are, In our role, we should uplift, encourage, motivate, and promote student Jearningyin aavay that will bring out the best in every student, I am furious to find out those teachers, who are leaders in your building and who my son trusted, have used him as a vehicle to bring haum to you (the principal), chaos to the school, and to promote their own personal agenda or vendetta. Mr. Miller is a teacher who is the sponsor of Black Student Union (BSU) and Ms. Findley is a teacher who works very closely with BSU members. Ms. Finley advised BSU board ‘members to record any conversations they have with Mr. Mayes. Mr. Miller also discussed with BSU board members that they cannot get in trouble for recording as long as one party is aware of the recording. As a result, this prompted {JINN actions to record a conversation he and another student had with you. Tbelicve we all should keep in mind to do what is best for students! In this situation, I believe teachers listed above are not acting in the best interested of students. All parties involved have received corrective actions, as I believe they should. In addition, I believe staff involved in encouraging students to act in « way that is underhanded, sneaky, and untrustworthy, which goes against everything that Manual stands for, should also receive corrective action. Again, Tam sorry for the part my son has played in this situation. You are a prineipal who hhas an open door policy, who cares for every student, parent, staff and faculty member. The evidence of your impact is apparcat fo me every time I walk on campus. You are always looking for ways to improve your school to promote student success in and out of class setting, Sincerely, Stow Lend Tiffani WilliamsFrom: Horton, Dana (ICAO) Sent: Wednesday, Novernber 15, 2017 2:32 PM To: Kuhn, Greg § Subject: BSU Leadership Good afternoon Mr. Kuhn, ‘My name is Dana Horton and my son, QIN is a Sr. at DuPont Manual. He is also a board member on the Black Student Union (BSU). ™m contacting you out of concer for what | See happening with the BSU. While | believe that the BSU as a whole Is a good thing, | feel that those in leadership are using ané manipulating the students for their benefit. ‘The sponsors of BSU have allowed an outside organization in the community to come in and ‘manipulate the students also for their own agenda. From conversations with (lM | believe that persons with Black Lives Matter have been allowed to come in and take over the BSU to push their thoughts and beliefs. It is bad enough that those teachers entrusted to lead our children hhave misled them as their sponsors. The sponsors have allowed Chenelle Helm and her intern to come in end manipulate them further. As a parent of a BSU student, | have a problem with those individuals being allowed to interact with the students. | personally do not know them and have. ‘no assurances that they have been properly vetled to be around my child, Do these individuals. have the proper documentation (Schoo! Volunteer Records Check)? If not, then they should be prohibited from student contact until that process is completed, | am also requesting that those staff members in charge as sponsors for the BSU be removed and replaced You may contact me at GIB? 21d at my personal email adéres: I, Thank you, Dana R. Horton Parent of a DuPont Manual Student