Letters to Chancellor Joel Klein

Chancellor Klein:

When I heard the news today, that Celenia Chevere was “under investigation” it brought to mind the old adage “let no good deed go unpunished.” Indeed, I was disgusted by this action, but perhaps hardly surprised. In fact, the DOE has made, in my opinion, so many misguided choices over the past few years, perhaps I thought I was beyond surprise, but this decision is one of the worst.

I have three children and two of the three started in fairly well-regarded District 2 schools. At present, the oldest two have been moved to private schools. The oldest suffered in his TAG school with mediocrity, bullies and TERC math; my middle child suffered in her CTT class with an ill-informed alleged special education teacher, who did not have the skill set to teach her, not did the building offer the proper environment for her to actually be able to learn to read! But yet, I was told things were “fine.” She now thrives in her special education school. Over the years, it has become clear to me that the mediocrity present in the NYC schools, compounded by poor curricular choices made under your administration, left me with no choice but to leave the District since it was obvious that things in the system are the antithesis of “fine.”

My youngest is at NEST+m and I have finally found a school with a proper curriculum that actually teaches and assesses the children to be sure that they are engaged and on-target. I owe my thanks to Celenia Chevere and to her administration for their vision of educational pedagogy that is in line with my educational vision. Otherwise, I would have no children at present in the public schools because I believe that your schools are failing the children. Perhaps that is what irks your administration about NEST+m . . . they are succeeding and not using the DOE curriculum. The DOE curriculum, foisted on you by allegedly “reformist educrats,” actually fosters mediocrity and failure.

The DOE mandated curriculum is failing an entire generation of children. It is not “balanced literacy” but merely whole language; TERC math/Everyday math is so poor that children do not learn basic computational skills. The DOE often talks about “choice” and bandies it about as though we have so much “choice.” Do parents really have a “choice” of schools? Most parents do not . . . your “choice” might be a zoned school (a Hobson's choice) or if you are lucky enough to get into NEST+m, like my daughter was, your “choice” might almost be eviscerated by an incompetent charter placement decision and then an administration that simply “digs in their heels” once they make a decision. Finally to "reverse their decision" they decide to investigage the principal.

Your charter placement decision was inappropriate and it seems to me that your administration should just admit it and not take the steps of “removing” Celenia Chevere. Perhaps the investigation and removal of Celenia is a quid pro quo for the active parent involvement that has occurred since the announcement of the charter school placement. I thought the DOE welcomed parent involvement, at least they claim to, but obviously this is not the case. In any event, the DOE should be ashamed . . .I know that I am ashamed that I am part of this system. And, of course, it explains to me once again, that anyone who is able to swing private school, should “go for it” and forget, once and for all, this DOE mishegoss.*

Sincerely,

J. Elizabeth Scherl
Former PA member, unnamed former public school
Former CEC member, unnamed District
Current NEST+m parent

* Rosten, Leo, The Joys of Yiddish, 1968, p. 246. (Mishegoss literally means insanity or madness.)
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Dear Chancellor Joel Klein, Speaker Sheldon Silver, and CSA President Jill Levy:

As a New York City voter, taxpayer, and parent, I was relieved to learn that the Ross Charter School would not disrupt the NEST+m School by misappropriating the space allocated it by previous DOE decision (under Chancellor Harold Levy). I appreciate the administrative, legislative, and judicial stakeholders and leaders which shepherded this decision process.

NEST+m, by a simple review of its students standardized test results, is a top performing and representative school for New York. Contrary to biased media reports, it is also a beautifully proportionate representation of Manhattan's racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic diversity.

I am disturbed to learn of disciplinary action and criticism leveled against NEST+m's principal, Celenia Chevere. This is the third New York City school that Celenia has dramatically turned around, which means that the children of the schools which Celenia has lead are afforded unparalleled opportunities for their respective lifetimes. Her track record in our city, with the building of not only NEST+m but also of the Lower Lab School and the Young Women's Leadership School in East Harlem, is among the finest body of work that any active principal could possibly claim. The success of each of these schools during her service demonstrate her dedication, vision, expertise, and competitiveness. But for Celenia, the students at NEST+m would not be performing at the highest possible levels, which they are today.

Yet, instead of celebrating Celenia's passion, hard work, and accomplishments, and lifting her up as a shining example of what works for the public school students of New York, the DOE would rather defame her with false charges and accusations of misconduct. I cannot know the reason why the DOE would undermine a stellar educator, but it seems that by a scapegoating tactic, many a bureaucrat hopes to divert accountability and examination of behaviors that may be found to be unscrupulous. The Article 78 Lawsuit filed by the NEST+m PTA and presented by its attorney before Justice Robert Lippman raises many DOE, NYU, and Ross Charter behaviors that appear violative of the Department of Education's very own rules and regulations.

As George Washington's words inscribed on our court buildings state: The true administration of justice is the firmest pillar of good government. I celebrate the justice that has been meted for the sake of education in New York City. But justice will not be complete until the mendacious words and actions by the DOE on a wonderful educator are struck down and withdrawn, and Celenia is deservedly allowed to finish what she has successfully started.

I remain yours, and a voter, taxpayer, and parent,
Timothy Tien
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Dear Chancellor Klein

Like all Nest parents, I am relieved the DOE has finally reversed their ill-conceived plan to put a second school in the Nest building. But I am shocked and saddened by your attempt to distract attention from your department's inept planning by undermining the reputation of one of the finest educators in New York City.

My son has been at the Nest since it's inception. We were convinced to give this new school a try when we saw a presentation given by a few girls from Ms Chevere's previous creation, The Lab School. We saw 3 chubby, average looking latin teenage girls from the Bronx in khaki pants and uniform shirts stand in front of a room full of adults radiating confidence and joy. They were telling us about their science projects. I had never seen NYC teenage girls take such pride in themselves and their academic achievements. These girls owned their world. Celenia understands how to fight the forces of materialism and disillusionment to give this kind of world to NYC public school kids. I signed my kids up immediately.

Since the absurd decision was made to place the Ross School in the Nest, I have given a crazy amount of time to the fight to stop it despite my full time job and 2 kids. I did this not just for my kids, but because I believe all smart motivated children deserve a school that celebrates their enthusiasm. Nest is a nerd paradise. My life would have been way different if I had a Nest. Every child deserves the opportunity.

Celenia Chevere is a brilliant educator. She is not a politician or a lawyer or a business person like most of your administration. She is an expert in giving children pride in themselves. She knows how to make children want to learn. The Nest works. It is the result of outstanding planning molded by a lifetime of experience. It is a reproducible model. We need a Nest in in every borough as Chancellor Levy planned when he gave Celenia the facility on Columbia Street.

Please Chancellor Klein, rethink your cowardly plan. Don't defame a brilliant educator to distract attention from your department's mistake. We will make sure everyone sees the truth.

Robin Perl
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Dear Chancellor Klein and Mrs. Levy,

I have had the opportunity to speak with both of you on numerous occasions, and you both know that I am Editor of the website http://www.parentadvocates.org. I am also a parent of a student at NEST+M.

I am writing this letter to express the outrage we at parentadvocates feel over the attempted – now stopped - hostile takeover of NEST+M by the Ross Global Academy Charter School, the New York City DOE, and New York University, and the subsequent removal of our principal Celenia for “charges”. Chancellor, your legacy will be one of shame, as now the public has seen your true goal in taking on the position of Chancellor (although you are without a contract, in violation of Education Law Section 2590-h): ending public school education in New York City. Mrs. Levy, we parents now are counting on your wise leadership and Union to support one of your own, Celenia Chevere, as she undergoes the horrific “guilty before being found innocent” process that Joel Klein has implemented since his appointment in 2002. We implore you to stop Mr. Klein from removing Celenia from our school, NEST+M, after a long and successful career as an activist for excellence in education.

We at parentadvocates have found that you, Chancellor Klein, have, since 2002, implemented a policy of discriminatory harassment and termination of teachers and principals from the public schools of New York City who are over 40 years of age, have cancer or other debilitating illnesses that cause absences, or are black and male. The media never writes about these stories of the hundreds of people sitting in “rubber rooms” throughout the city – for which the NYC DOE is paying more than $60 million – but we will, and we do. We are also called/emailed/ spoken to wherever we go by teachers and principals who have been told “You have 10 minutes to leave your office”; “you have been accused of ____ and you are being sent to the TRC at ________”; or ”You have been rated unsatisfactory “ because of a complaint, and you will not work in your area of certification ever again”, and “we will let you know what you are charged with later..[never]”

As paralegals, we have been astonished at the violations of civil rights, due process, and retaliation that pervades the NYC DOE at the present time. No one is safe. Everyone is terrorized and afraid.

The children attending NEST+M have just participated in the biggest protest against the unfair policies of the DOE that New York City has ever seen, and this effort has been successful. Now they will see their “leader”, as some still call you, Mr. Klein, retaliate against Celenia by removing her from her position, and the lesson will be: if you want something very much and don't get it, hurt the people who stopped you. We believe that your fury at Celenia, Mr. Klein, is a result of the fact that she represents everything that you want eliminated from New York City: an excellent gifted and talented education, a traditional curriculum that does not include TERC/Everyday math “fuzziness”, and a person – Celenia – who says, and can prove, she knows what she is doing and you don't.

There is no recourse but to admit defeat and error, Mr. Klein. I, a parent also at Stuyvesant for 7 years, know Olga Livanis and admire her greatly. She is a wonderful person and I have done independent research on xray chrystallography due to her discussion of her work in this area several years ago when I edited the Stuyvesant PA Bulletin. She is a fabulous choice for NEST, once Celenia decides, on her own, to retire.

Your removal of Celenia and the placement of Olga Livanis is an insult to both women. When Celenia retires, place Olga Livanis in the position, but don't punish Celenia for standing up to your vindictive and impossible actions at NEST+M.. Celenia's work and the schools she has started and made successful deserve your praise and admiration rather than your condemnation and punishment.

Mrs. Levy, please stand up to this despicable action by Joel Klein – the removal of Celenia from NEST+M - and permit Celenia to determine her future plans, not Chancellor Klein.

Thank you! We will be posting your response on our website as soon as we receive it.

Sincerely,

Betsy Combier
212-794-8902
betsy@parentadvocates.org
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As a NEST+M parent, I am writing this letter to strongly oppose the suspension of Celenia for misconduct. Instead of being penalized, she should be commended for exemplary leadership in starting and maintaining one of the best schools in New York City and for her courage in standing up to the callous attitude of the DOE towards talented and gifted children of New York City.

For the four years that I have known Celenia, she has had only one objective – to act in the best interests of the children of NEST. That is not misconduct; it is the best conduct possible. To me misconduct implies one of the following: self-enrichment, nepotism, discrimination, or professional negligence. There is not even a trace of any of these actions in Celenia’s behavior.

Before maligning and punishing her for her “actions,” the DOE should ask one simple question – What was in it for Celenia? The unambiguous answer – to help NEST kids succeed. In contrast, DOE seems to have had an agenda of providing mediocre education to NEST kids. Celenia has shown how public schools can provide outstanding education that is better than expensive private schools. Instead of recognizing that NEST is now at par (if not better) than other talented and gifted programs in the city such as Hunter, Stuyvesant, and Lab, DOE has constantly tried to shove NEST back into the morass of many failing schools in New York City. [NEST building housed such a failed middle school before Celenia took over.]

Talented and gifted programs are often a subject of unspoken envy by the rest of the school system because such programs have to turn many kids away. Because they serve a select few, very few bureaucrats have the courage to support talented and gifted programs. [Speaker Sheldon Silver is a notable exception.] The selectivity of talented and gifted programs is often confused with arrogance or worse yet, discrimination. Celenia is neither arrogant nor discriminatory. Running a top quality school in a location that had housed a failed school requires taking tough actions. She and her staff should be commended for making tough choices that help children succeed.

DOE’s only focus appears to be on abdicating its responsibility of running the school system to the Ross Academy who had no regard for the damage the Ross Charter School was going to do to NEST. Shoving a charter school into NEST, which is one of the best success stories in the last decade in NYC is a prime example of DOE’s incompetence. In the process, DOE has managed to divide parent bodies by pitting them against each other. There were plenty of other locations in which the Ross school could have been housed. But DOE chose to destroy NEST.

Celenia’s only “fault” is that she has stood up to DOE. The only reason DOE is dismissing her is to seek revenge because they are upset that NEST parents have successfully thwarted DOE’s attempt to destroy NEST by letting Ross cherry pick the best part of NEST. When DOE saw imminent defeat in its plan to bring in ROSS or it realized that NEST parents will not watch idly by as their school is destroyed, it canceled its plans to bring in Ross and decided to teach NEST parents and kids a lesson by taking their leader away. DOE knows that without Celenia there would have been no NEST and by announcing her dismissal, they have announced their plan to eventually shutter NEST. NEST is still a fledgling school; to prosper it needs Celenia’s leadership for many more years. It is not yet ready for someone else to take over.

Charging Celenia for misconduct is a travesty of DOE rules and tragedy for Celenia and the NEST community. The DOE must reverse its decision and act in the interest of NEST kids. They want Celenia, not someone else. Over the last few years, NEST parents have wasted countless hours defending their NEST from the DOE. We hope that such diversions would stop so that we can devote our entire time to building the NEST.

Thanks.

Regards,

Dan Gode
Clinical Associate Professor, Department of Accounting. NYU
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Dear Chancellor Klein,

What is it about NEST that makes you want to destabilize it at any cost? First it was the Ross Charter School taking over classrooms essential for the success and excellence of the school; now that this fell through you are removing the principal of the school. Instead of bringing principals from all over the city to see an example of leadership dedication and vision, you are penalizing Celenia Chevere for the same. It just seems very vindictive – a retaliation at Principal Chevere for standing up to you.

I haven’t had the honor to see Celenia Chevere at work – my son is going to NEST+m this fall. But I’ve seen her school and I fell in love with it. I have been a teacher and also come from a country where education is at such high regard there is a national holiday celebrating it. After two years of touring NYC public schools I saw a gem of a school where everything made sense and the results were obvious. I was delighted to learn that there is no TERC/Everyday/Math in the city. Frankly I couldn’t stand the thought of my children wasting years of their life trying to figure out how much 3 by 7 is. I did not see on the walls 2nd and 3rd graders written work with spelling and grammar mistakes and was relieved to learn that Kindergartners are expected to finish the year being able to read and write. Finally there was a school where teachers expected hard work and diligence and did not assume that kids were dumb, ignorant or afraid to tackle math, science, grammar etc.

NEST+m is an excellent school with students who take pride in it, love and respect it. Don’t you think that if more students around the city felt like that about their schools and teachers public education would not be in such a dismal state. Do not penalize a great leader and pedagogue for succeeding. Please reconsider your decision to remove Celenia Chevere from NEST. If you don’t it will be obvious that you are not interested in the well-being of the school and its students, but are being malicious and vengeful.

Regards
Evelina Ivanov
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Dear Chancellor Klein:

I recently learned that you are considering removing Celenia Chevere from NEST+m, and I am writing to ask that you discontinue any such effort against this phenomenal educator and leader.

Like you, and like Celenia Chevere, I am a leader of an organization. I know what it takes to start an enterprise from scratch, to articulate a vision of something that does not yet exist, and to build support among a community of people who embrace the vision and collaborate towards the realization of common goals.

Celenia has done just that with NEST+m. She has provided the leadership needed to develop this amazing school. My family is truly grateful to her for doing so.

Every action Celenia has taken has been in lockstep with the vision she laid out for the parents, administration, and faculty who joined her quest to develop a high-standard, integrated K-12 curriculum on the Lower East Side. She has never compromised in pursuing any aspect of the vision she laid out: she is serious about discipline, hard work, and accountability; she demands that kids arrive on time, abide by the dress code, and eat quietly during lunch. She does not let kids run or make noise in the hallways, bring toys to school, or roughhouse. From the opening day, when a corporate sponsor joined us in celebrating the playground equipment and plants in the outdoor courtyard, she has been serious about the physical environment both inside and outside the NEST+m building, and she has been clear regarding her expectations of parent involvement -- from financial contributions, to attending seminars on the Singapore Math program, to participating in parent reading, and in guiding us in many other ways as to how we can be a vital part of helping our children to love to learn.

If she ever compromised in any of these areas, the school's standards would suffer, parents like me would begin to question her resolve, and ultimately our resolve would falter. And NEST+m would not be the great school it has truly become.

Celenia's role as leader demanded that she oppose sharing our physical space with the Ross Charter School, just as she has opposed sharing the space with others before Ross. Her job as the champion of NEST+m is to develop the space in a way that will enable the NEST+m community to realize its shared vision for the school. Any good leader -- whether another school principal, a business leader, or even a Chancellor such as you -- would have done the same thing. There is no reason to fault her for wholeheartedly opposing the plan to place the Ross school in our building.

You may call Celenia overzealous, but that is a highly desirable trait in a leader. To accuse her of "misconduct" on account of this situation, however, is a political maneuver that bears no relation to her achievements as an educator and leader. Focusing your efforts on ousting Celenia from NEST+m will not only hurt this amazing school, but will distract from the much more important work you do as Chancellor.

Sincerely,
Kevin Rees
President, The LanguageWorks, Inc.
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Dear Chancellor Klein--

We are parents of a kindergartner at NEST + m. It has come to our intention that you have or intend to "remove" Principal Chevere based on charges of "misconduct." While we are all aware of the recent controversy, it is truly unfortunate that you are choosing to punish Ms. Chevere. By punishing her, you are, of course, harming our children and undermining the school by removing its founding leader.

As you know, Ms. Chevere has a decades long career of creating and fostering the success of innovative schools in many neighborhoods of our city, dare we say decades longer than your career in education. It is our understanding that the "misconduct" to which DoE refers has to do with enrollment figures for next school year and your view that Ms. Chevere somehow "fudged" the numbers in an attempt to keep out the Ross School. We can tell you that in our experience as parents, the figures on enrollment quoted to us have always been consistent.

Moreover, as you are well aware, it is the DoE's fudging of the numbers regarding the number of students who can fit in the building that partly gave rise to the NEST/Ross controversy. The School Construction Authority always placed the maximum population at 800 or so until, lo and behold, it shot up to 1,400 when the Ross Charter appeared. In addition, in their Court papers, Ross suggested placing NEST middle schoolers in an old locker room in the basement, further undermining DoE's credibility when it comes to numbers debates. So, it strikes one as more than a little disingenuous to charge Ms. Chevere with "misconduct" over a) something she didn't do and b)if she did do it, it was not nearly as bad as what the DoE and SCA did.

The removal of Ms. Chevere serves no purpose. She has been a wonderful leader and innovator for decades. This transparently retaliatory action by DoE strikes one as a petulant "pound of flesh" response to a frustrating fight. It is a response that is beneath your dignity and one that neither Ms. Chevere nor the wonderful students and staff at NEST deserve.

Please reconsider your decision and restore Ms. Chevere to her position as the Principal and leader of NEST. Thank you.

Very truly yours,

Michael Bauman and Calla Jo
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Dear Chancellor Klein,

It is with mixed emotions that we again write to you. First, thank you for making the decision to find an appropriate space for the Ross Global Academy. We truly wish the new school and its students success, and hope they've found a more permanent home. We are extremely pleased to know that our concerns for our children in the coming school year(s) at NEST+m are now groundless.

However, we are most disturbed to learn that our principal, Celenia Chevere, is to be removed from NEST+m and is facing DOE misconduct charges. We hope you will remember that Celenia Chevere is one of your most senior and most successful school principals. She is more than just a principal, she is also NEST+m's chief planner and designer. We owe her a great debt of gratitude for creating the flourishing public school in which we have two children enrolled. We support her without reservation, and we are confident that Celenia will be cleared of the charges that the DOE is pressing.

Again we must urge you to reconsider your course of action. A principal should not be punished for running a successful public school, nor for fiercely supporting a program of her own design and the children who attend the school. Isn't supporting one's position and beliefs a quality which all successful public school administrators should have?

We urge you to support one of your most senior public school administrators, NEST+m's principal, Celenia Chevere. Please, let's put this acrimonious battle for classroom space behind us, support one another, and move forward with the goal of solid education for all New York City children foremost in our minds. Let us not waste time and precious resources in more battles. Thank you again for preserving our building.

Sincerely yours,

Deborah Moore & Yuri Yanchyshyn
Parents of NEST+m 7th & 9th graders
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Dear Chancellor Klein:

When it came time to choose the educational path for our son, Owen Lombardi, in the fall of 2004, my wife and I had many options, as New York City inhabitants. We took the various tours of both public and private schools, went on interviews, did a large amount of research, and talked to many, many parents throughout The City of New York.

Our decision was unanimous. We didn't choose a school. We chose a person: Celenia Chevere.

Ms. Chevere's dedication, intelligence, energy, drive, and love of children was clearly evident from our research and even more clear in our personal meetings and in our observations of NEST + m. Our feelings have gotten stronger in our two years at NEST + m.

Today, we feel extremely fortunate that Ms. Chevere has been a part of our son's life and also a part of our educational community. Her love of our child, our school, and our educational desires is something for which we will always be grateful.

We would not have chosen NEST + m if not for Ms. Chevere.

We would have moved out of New York City if not for Ms. Chevere.

Very truly yours,

John L. Lombardi
Attorney At Law
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Dear Chancellor Klein,

While I applaud your decision not to house the Ross Global Academy Charter School within the Nest+m building, I am astonished at the removal of Celenia Chevere as our principal.

Your Departments actions in the entire Ross matter have been disingenous at best - and to now retaliate against a dedicated and accomplished principal on the eve of her retirement is yet another example of politically motivated behavior and back door dealing at the Department of Education.

As an involved District 1 public school parent I ask you personally
examine the facts and recind the charges against Ms. Chevere. The
record will show this action against Celenia is a high level premeditated plan many months in the making hatched in concert with the Ross plan. Allowing your staff to make her the scapegoat because of our comitted parents action is no way to build a successful school system or run the Department of Education.

Ultimately the decisions your department makes harms our children which is our reason for such active participation in the success of our schools. Please take a careful look within Tweed and address this problem where it starts instead of in the trenches at the level of the dedicated educators.

I appreciate your support in this matter.

Sincerely,

John A Field
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Dear Chancellor Klein,

You know, of course, how elated the parents of NEST+m are this evening in hearing word that our school will not have to squeeze another school into our environment in the Fall. I'm a hopeless optimist and wish that, over time, you will watch our school continue to thrive and grow and will perhaps even one day agree that our school is the essence of everything a public school should and could be. Without the tireless efforts of our devoted PTA we would not have come this far in this battle to preserve our school.

But we're also devastated to learn that there is an effort to remove Celenia Chevere from our school. We're begging you not to do this. Celenia is the heart and soul of our school, and all you have to do is look around the school to see evidence of her love everywhere. She is our vision and our strength, and it would be cruel to have her taken away from the school she loves and is loved by in return.

Please, please reconsider. Please don't punish her passion and dedication. If anything, every school in the system could use a Celenia on their side. Please don't do this.

An act such as this will be viewed as a spiteful and vindictive act. And it will only mean that we will have to continue our battle to its just end.

Know that even though the Summer is upon us and the schools will be empty, the parents committed to NEST+m and Celenia Chevere will continue to make sure our voices are heard.

Don't be the Grinch That Stole Celenia from our school.

Thank you.
Sheri Whalen
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Dear Chancellor Klein,

As a NEST +m pioneer parent, I am quite dismayed to hear of the recent allegations by your department against Celenia. To this point your department has spun, weaved and distorted whatever it could to achieve it's end and I am sorry to say that this is just more of the same. Your failed support of our amazing school and its visionary director is beyond disappointing and just blatantly wrong. Celenia is the reason that NEST is so successful. It is her vision and dedication that has made NEST the great school it is.

Celenia should be rewarded for all her hard work and tireless committment and instead she is the victim of unsubstantiated charges, the Department of Educations pathetic attempt at smoke and mirrors. The reprehensible conduct of the Department of Education is the conduct that should be investigated. A Department which failed in every way a school to which it should have been commited to protect. With its lack of communication and downright secrecy, it's lack of respect and support for this thriving and successful school, lack of consideration for its student body and now, unsubstantiated charges against our director, your department has shown that it is capable of some very foul actions.

I am thrilled to be a part of this wonderful school that Celenia has created and I am so delighted by how my children thrive and are surpassing all expectations. I pray that her good name will be cleared and she will continue at NEST. She is the backbone, the heart, soul and blood of the school and the children will be greatly saddened to not have her. I am also saddened that your Department has failed her, this school and NYC's children so horribly.

With hope that right shall prevail, I remain,
Donna Villella - NEST+m pioneer parent
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Chancellor Klein:

Have you no shame, sir? At long last have you no shame?
Your ploy to pressure Speaker Silver into allowing more Charter Schools, so that the DOE could get out of the education business (if a charter school succeeds, DOE takes the credit; if the charter fails, it takes the blame) has failed. You tried everything, including despicable racial pandering that risked dividing a neighborhood for years to come. You claimed that there was room nowhere else for Ross. Yet, according to the papers, it will now be placed elsewhere. Liar! You claimed it would not be disruptive to house Ross at Nest, yet now, you claim it would be disruptive in light of your replacing Principal Chevere. Liar! You plan to replace Principal Chevere on trumped up charges. Liar! Liar! LIAR!!! Is it because you have the title "Chancellor" that you feel empowered to act like an absolute dictator, absolutely corrupted? Celenia is an educator. You are a lawyer and a sinecure. Respect her devotion, hard work and great and consistent success over a lifetime in education. You will never love her the way we love her. She, after all, did not save your child's education from the mediocrity of other schools in your system, as she did ours. In three years, she has undone the first five years of destructiveness and turned our daughter into a student, not just beyond our expectations, but beyond our hopes. Now, having lost your gambit with Ross, you act like a petulant child, flailing about, looking to get even. There is nothing to get "even about." Quality education, a rare commodity in your system, has won out. You should be pleased. Do not, do not, embarrass yourself further by giving in to your frustrations. Grow up and drop these charges.

Paul and Lori Weissman
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Dear Chancellor Klein,

NEST +M is a great school. It is Celenia Chevere’s brain child and she has put in tremendous effort to make it work. I believe she’s done a fabulous job and she should be allowed to continue doing it.

After much consideration, my daughter, wife and I chose NEST +M as the best choice for middle school. We were attracted to the comfortably sized classes, separation of sexes for some subjects, the advisories, and the general learning climate. We had two other good choices nearby, but Nest stood out despite the daily hassle in getting there. In the year she’s been there, our daughter has thrived as a student, light years away of where she was in 5th grade.

I am writing to you to implore that you drop the disciplinary charges you have brought against her and that you reinstate her as principal at Nest.

Sincerely, James Willimetz, parent of a 6th grader at NEST +M
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Dear Joel Klein:

The decision to save NEST+M from destruction is one being celebrated tonight by the many concerned parents and children of NEST+M. I would wager that perhaps countless other NYC parents who watched with concern our struggle to keep a successful public school in tact, are also celebrating this victory. Because of this highly publicized battle it has brought to the forefront the need for more planning and better communication with the public regarding the future for charter schools. This is an important step to ensure that before the state goes ahead with pushing this new educational approach, proper planning should be done- especially with regards to the question of public schools being forced to share resources (which are already extremely limited)!

Tonight we are also celebrating the fact that our children have witnessed democracy working! It is a great thing when voices of reason are able to organize and be heard by the powers that be. Thank you for your reconsideration and for your renewed support for superior education.

I would ask that you continue to listen to reason when I suggest that the success of several of your high achieving schools (including NEST) are the result of years of preparation, planning and experience having been implemented by Celenia Chevere. It would seem to me that because of her successes and years of dedication to the NYC public schools, she could be treated with more respect and consideration as she faces this transition in her career. I would ask at this time for you to reconsider dragging her name through the mud and think instead about the value of what she has learned over the years and how it could continue to support the system in creative and innovative ways. Surely there is a place of importance in the education system for her in the future as the struggle to improve the NYC public schools continues. I would suggest a position in which she could mentor and collaborate with other dedicated educators who have the connection and passion for NYC public schools that she has. I am certain that there are few who have her expertise but many who could use it in this desperate time of need in our failing public school system. An olive branch would show great insight and wisdom on your part and would certainly gain you the support of this parent. If she is to leave NEST she should then be elevated to a position in which she can continue development and successful planning for schools that can work! DON'T ALLOW THE CITY SCHOOLS TO LOOSE THIS VALUABLE RESOURCE!

Sincerely,
Pat Watkins, Pioneer Parent of Nest+M
Parent of Graydon Fritzsching (successful 4th grader)
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Dear Mr. Klein,

The convoluted logic announced in Saturday's NY Times takes my breath away: to protect our children from the detrimental impact of an over-stressed new principle your office will place Ross Global Academy in another location.

Didn't our children need protecting from the impact of a charter school landing on them when there was no room for it? They did, and your decision to place Ross elsewhere indicates to me that your office has come to the same conclusion. I applaud you for that. But it seems that, being unable to admit that the figures spoke for themselves--that there was never room for Ross in our building--your office must camouflage its withdrawal of Ross through impugning Celenia Chevere.

There would be no NEST+m at all without Ms. Chevere. Can you not enjoy the great success of NEST+m without using Ms. Chevere to disguise the real grounds of the withdrawal of Ross--that the case stood on its merits?

I write to ask you to avoid visiting further trials upon NEST+m by dropping your plans to remove our principal.

Antonia Lant
Parent of pioneer 4th grader
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Chancellor Klein,

As a parent of a Kindergarten child at NEST+m I am disgusted with your plan to remover Celenia Chevere from her position of principal of the school.

One year you are awarding NEST+m, under her leadership, the honor of being a GIfted and Talented School; the next year attempting to remove her for misconduct. For you to remove Principal Chevere from NEST+m for what you call misconduct would be incomprehensible and destructive in any circumstance; however, given that you have had to rescind your sycophantic offer of the NEST+m building to Courtney Ross, removing Principal Chevere is a bitter and spiteful attempt at revenge.

It is the PTA from NEST+m who uncovered and fought your perfidious plan to place the Ross Global Academy in NEST+m. You can't fire us, though, can you? Come on Mr. Klein, surely a man of your stature should be able to find a more subtle way to save face; have you no shame whatsoever?

Sincerely,
John Marchini
NEST+m Parent
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Dear Chancellor Joel Klein,

My daughter will be attending Nest next fall. I’m much relived to learn that the Ross charter school will no longer be located at the NEST facilities. I’m a true believer in a school like NEST and it is a rare Jewel in the New York City School System.

The reason the school is a rare Jewel is because of Principal Celenia Chevere and how tirelessly she has worked for our children, her dedication, intelligence, drive and her love of children. She is an experienced educator. When my daughter was accepted at NEST I felt I won the lottery and I was such a firm believer in Celenia Chevere and her work, that even when DOE was trying to put Ross Charter School at NEST (my daughter had other choices) I felt she should go to NEST because of Celenia. I felt as long as Celenia is there it will still be alright.

I fail to understand Chancellor Joel Klein why:

When there are so many failing schools you wanted to tamper with a successful school
Why there is so much politics
Why you are pandering and pampering a rich woman
Why you are frightened of experience
Why you are bringing false charges against Celenia
Why a DOE cannot be run like a Corporation because we are dealing with children
Why is every teacher with 10 year experience unhappy with the way you are running DOE
Why is experience not cherished but insulted under your leadership
Why is under your leadership the DOE only interested in Puppets as teachers, principals etc
Why you are wasting time and money when these resources can be used for our children

There are so many why’s Chancellor Klein that as a tax payer I could be sitting here all night. But I recommend you step down immediately and that Principal Celenia Chevere be the next Chancellor of New York City Public School because she has the experience, dedication, drive, intelligence and love of children. She will definitely do a better job than what you corporate people are up to, because she has worked with children and she knows what they need.

Sincerely
Grace Haener
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Dear Chancellor Klein,

Shame on You!!
Your vindictive actions are incredibly transparent. You should be kneeling down to Celenia Chevre. She has devoted her entire career to making the NYC public school system a better one. She has founded four of the most successful and sought after schools in the City. We, the parents of children at NEST+m, all witness her hard work and dedication every day. Under Celenia's leadership we have created one of the most active and supportive parent bodies in the entire system. You should be emulating her not trying to bring her down. It is unbelievably petty that you are unable to embrace her success and learn from it. Your record should be half as successful! How dare you try to deflect the defeat of your ill conceived plan to squeeze the Ross Global Charter into the NEST+m building with trumped-up charges against one of the City's most accomplished educators. You are quite clearly punishing Celenia for her dedication and activism on behalf of the children of New York City. Differences of opinion, approaches and methods are not a sign of insubordination. They are living signs of democracy and growth. I can only conclude that the children of this City will be better off when you are no longer in a position to do more damage than good to our schools.

I sincerely hope you reconsider your short-sighted decision to reprimand Celenia Chevre.

Respectfully,
Julie Schapiro Thorman
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Dear Chancellor Klein,

We are glad the DOE has dropped its plan to squeeze the Ross Global Academy into the Nest+m building. The plan was ill-conceived, in violation of legal requirements, and would have devastated one of NYC's top public schools, a school which NYC should be proud of, should encourage, and should emulate.

It now appears that DOE is retaliating against Celenia Chevere, a principal whose goal is the bettement of her students. The DOE's apparent message is that any resistance to DOE plans -- especially plans for a secretive, hostile takeover of a flourishing school to serve the purpose of a favored charter school -- will be punished. The DOE must recognize that its removal of Celenia and "investigation for improprieties" is widely viewed throughout NYC as purely vindictive.

Celenia Chevere deserves better, the students of Nest+m deserve better, and the people of NYC deserve better and more responsible leadership from the DOE. Celenia Chevere has been a guiding light and leader to many of NYC's top schools. The DOE should immediately drop its actions against her.

Very truly yours,
Les and Susana Honig
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Dear Chancellor Klein,

Like other NYC parents in search of elementary and middle schools for my children, I looked at schools all over NYC. When I came across NEST+m, it immediately became our first choice.

The school's mission, its curriculum, its expectations for excellence, its standards of conduct, the dedicated teachers, the ambitiously talented children, and the involved parents all in one place are what makes NEST+m uniquely appealing.

The creation of NEST+m is the result of Celenia Chevere's 30+ years as an educator. Celenia Chevere is a pioneer because with her vision, determination and hard work, she has created numerous successful public schools. There was no NEST+m when I was a public school student, but I am grateful that my children are the beneficiaries of Celenia's talents and experience as the most senior principal in NYC's Dept. of Education. Celenia's only "misconduct" is her drive for excellence.

Sincerely, Lilia Fung
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Dear Chancellor Klein

As a citizen of New York and resident of Lower Manhattan, I am much interested in educational results. Although such credentials should not matter, I hold a Master’s Degree in Open Education from Howard University, a K-12 Teaching Certificate, and am a veteran of Teacher Corps in Washington, D.C. and Peace Corps-Kenya.

I am writing to express my admiration of the educational achievements of The NEST and of its exceptional principal who is under threat of dismissal by the New York Chancellor of Schools.

The issue of the survival of The Nest has been much politicized and is well presented on the website: savethenest.org which has generated more than 230,000 visits to date.

There is a rumor circulating that Chancellor Joel Klein is attempting to destroy this extraordinarily successful school in order to protect and sustain far more average system results. Can this be so? The Nest is a model of progressive education with outstanding test results, thoroughly engaged parents and happy, well-adjusted kids.

Why would the leader of such an exemplary enterprise be the subject of dismissal rather than recognition, study and emulation?

I would personally invite Chancellor Klein, Mayor Bloomberg or any member of the City government to meet with the parents, the teachers and the youthful products of The Nest.

And only afterwards, let us evaluate what is to be done about its principal.

Very sincerely,

Robert J. Schneck, Jr.
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Dear Chancellor Klein,
Upon hearing that the Ross Charter school would not be housed within Nest+m premises, my son and I were elated. Nevertheless, our joy was short lived due to the injustice done to Ms. Chevere.

It is thanks to Celenia Chevere that there is a school like Nest+m. Her work should serve as an example to all schools that wish to succeed. She is the stabilizing force to all of us. I believe that we have all been rewarded by her vision, dedication and perseverance. We at Nest+m have been fortunate and grateful that our children have been placed under her guidance where they have excelled and flourished.

I urge you, Chancellor Klein, to reconsider your decision. We need Ms. Chevere as our Principal and our leader.

Sincerely,
Vivian Liepa, Parent of a 6th grader
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Dear Chancellor Klein:

We can't thank you enough for your decision on Nest. It meant a lot to us personally.

The news was bittersweet, however, in that it included the removal of Celenia Chevere. She's the reason we came to the school in the first place given her track record for excellence. Our child has flourished under the program that she fostered and nurtured over these last five years.

It was a hard-fought campaign, to be sure, but we think Nest is much better off under her leadership and would encourage you to do whatever you can to keep in the system such a tireless advocate for NY kids.

Madhuri, Jeff and Maya Black
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Dear Chancellor Klein,

While I am delighted that the Department of Education has seen clear to find a more suitable location for the Ross Global Academy Charter School, I am very disheartened by your shameful treatment of NEST's principal, founder and chief architect in the process. As you are well aware, Principal Celenia Chevere has an extensive and impressive track record of accomplishments over the past 30+ years. Her remarkable achievements and contributions to the public education system in NYC should not be dimmed by a vindictive Department of Education hell-bent on ruining her reputation to cover up for their own miscalculations.

Principal Chevere has been a tireless fighter and champion for NEST and its children and families, and she should be rewarded for her extreme courage and dedication, not punished! You should direct your energies elsewhere, for example into providing higher quality education (of the kind that Celenia has consistently provided!) to all NYC schoolchildren.

I urge you to reinstate Principal Chevere now, and to learn from her experiences rather than trying to stifle her.

Sincerely,

Elizabeth Langwith
Parent of NEST+m kindergartner
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Dear Chancellor Klein:

We were surprised and delighted to hear the news that the Ross Global Academy will not be forced to share space with NEST+m. We firmly believe that this is in the best interest of both schools, and we hope that you find a space for Ross as soon as possible so that they can move forward with their mission.

While we applaud the decision to move Ross, we are dismayed to see that you have tied this decision to your misguided move to oust Celenia Chevere. Celenia founded this school, she shepherded it into the great educational institution it is today, and she has stood firm in this most recent battle to save our space. She does not deserve to be used as a scapegoat in this manner. She should be honored for her accomplishments and allowed to make her own decision as to the best time to stand down and retire. We implore you to reconsider this decision. Please allow Celenia to return to NEST+m.

Sincerely,

Katie, Matt and Benjamin (1st grader) Sperling
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Dear Chancellor Joel Klein:

We are so happy that the DOE has seen its way to preserve, protect and promote public education by preserving Nest+m's integrity. My children have had a wonderful civics lesson and now we must press on for justice for our wonderful principal, Celenia Chevere. As you know Ms. Chevere has developed many wonderful schools in our city which thrive today. Nest+m is surely one of them. Under Ms. Chevere's leadership my children have truly learned to love learning. I don't know how she does it but what a gift it is. Would that every child could receive such a gift.

Please reinstate Celenia Chevere's good name immediately. She has most certainly earned it.

Best regards,
Jean Marie Strauss
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Dear Chancellor Klein,
As parents of two children enrolled at NEST+m, we would like to write to you in support of our principle, Celenia Chevere. As you know, Ms. Chevere has made NEST+m one of New York City's most successful schools. She has made successful education her life's work with over 30 years of service. To remove her from her position, on "trumped up" charges of misconduct, is simply outrageous! Since when should hard work, dedication and a passion for what you believe in be treated as a misdemeanor? This all appears to be a misguided attempt at "face saving" in lieu of the Department of Education's correction in policy, regarding overcrowding NEST+m with the Ross school. We hope that you answer to "the angels of your better nature", and decide not to remove Ms. Chevere as principle of NEST+m, or seek any form of reprimand.

Yours truly,
David and Jill Keller
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Dear Chancellor Joel Klein,

I am writing to you about a genuine champion of education.
The principal of NEST+m Celenia Chevere.

In September 2001 my daughter Shelby Joy began attending Kindergarten at NEST+m. Five years of hard work, with Ms. Chevere¹s leadership, have created a nine year old girl who can read, write and do math very well, but best of all she loves learning. Shelby Joy¹s skills could not have developed to such a high level, if it were not for Ms. Chevere¹s high standards. Principal Celenia Chevere, takes her job seriously, and has earned our respect.

Please do not remove her from her role at NEST+m. To date the school has exceeded all our expectations. Our country, and the world, need brilliant and inspired educators, like Principal Chevere.

While she may be a thorn in your side, she is also a powerful warrior, fighting to make my daughter and all our children as smart and hungry to learn as possible.

Sincerely,
David and Jojo Cole
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Dear Chancellor Joel Klein:
Thank you for dropping the idea of puttin de Ross Global Academy school into the Nest+M building.
Our grandchildren attend Nest+m (6 th. and 9 th.grades) and are extremely happy with de academic rigor and school activities. The school has thrived under Celenia Chevere's leadership,and we feel that DOE's.aparent vindictive actions against her are totally inappropriate and should also be dropped.

Yours truly,
Herman and Berta Epelbaum
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Dear Mr. Klein,

I urge you not to remove Celenia as Principal of NEST+m. We need her extraordinary leadership and dedication to carry on the vision of and to maintain the integrity of our school. As far as I am concerned no one can do it better. As a business owner, a tax payer – and concerned parent - wanting to have a say about the quality of my child’s education – I do not want to see special interests weigh in against what is best for my child.


Best Regards,
Marlene Eskenazie
________________________________________________________

I am writing you today to express my deep concern, disgust and disappointment regarding the charges made against our principle Celenia Chevere. In fact I'm positive that the charges have no basis and I expect her good name to be cleared.
If not for her hard work, dedication and vision, NEST+M would not be the tremendous success that it is today.
I met Celenia five years ago when my son entered NEST in 6th grade. She had such vision, dedication and consummate professionalism that I was
blown away by it all. She is passionate about her job, her school, and the level of excellence which she maintains there each and every day. She has
worked long, hard days because she believes that each and every child there can achieve high levels of success. Her caring and dedication are unparalleled. I have the utmost respect and admiration for Celenia; and my gratitude is beyond words. I have grown to love her for who she is, what she has achieved and her incredible discipline. She is truly a great human being, an inspiration and a woman to be honored. I thank God for Celenia Chevere.

Phyllis Bahaj
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I thank you for allowing Nest to continue its vision of high quality education. I sincerely hope that you find the Ross Charter School an adequate to fulfill their vision of quality education and sucess. Although it has been very difficult for all parties involved, we still have to work together and must find a way of doing so. Charging Celenia with misconduct is spiteful and not a sign of peace but a sign of continued animosity. We are all on the same side and should behave in that matter. Please reconsider your decision.

This is the best school my son has ever gone to and Celenia was instrumental in creating it. She deserves her legacy to be one of sucess not one of misconduct. I'm sure you are very angry with her for not promoting your vision, but think of all the people that fought for their vision, like Rosa Parks and Martin Luther King. Many people wanted to kill their dream. 40 years later we see that their vision was the correct vision. Is Celenia going to have to wait 40 years to clear her name. She followed her dream of providing the best public education for the most gifted and talented New York children. She created an enviroment where learning is fun and cool. She put together a school that one day can get on the top 100 list of schools in America and turn out children who will be able to compete globally.

Please re-think your decision.

Thank You
Yvette Ortiz
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Dear Chancellor Klein:

We're writing to thank you for your decision to not house the Ross Institute Global Academy Charter School with NEST+m at 111 Columbia Street, and to express our support for our esteemed principal, Celenia Chevere. Celenia's vision, along with that of her staff and the parents who began NEST+m, is an indispensible part of NEST. We would hate for her to be held responsible for the actions of our committed parent and student community in our efforts to save our school. We hope that you will reconsider your planned removal of her from our school.

Diane Spear
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Dear Chancellor Joel Klein,
We're very happy that NEST will not be crowded out by the Ross School but
we're very unhappy that our principal's job may now be in jeopardy because of a differing of opinions. Celenia is the reason NEST is the success that it is.
It would be unfair to take our principal away because of a conflict in personalities and it would be truly unfortunate for NEST students.
Please reconsider taking this type of action.

Sincerely, Cindy Wu and family
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Dear Mr. Klein,

I am another proud Nest parent

I have read some of the letters parents have sent to you. But I chose to see this entire Ross Charter insertion incident in a positive light and differ from my fellow Nester's in taking a moment to thank you.

Thank you Mr. Klein, if it wasn't for you, I would have never seen so much of New York City. I have lived here for twenty years and until this Incident I had never been inside the Tweed Building. I say, what amazing architecture, what opulence, I had no idea anyone in public office worked in such magnificence, I had no idea what our tax money was doing.

Thank you Mr. Klein, if it wasn't for you I would never have met Courtney Ross. She is beautiful, and elegant, and how many people she employs. That is all good for our tax base right? I am sure she must be grateful to you, to have met the real life parents of her future students, and had the opportunity to visit the supreme court, and share our benches and see how justice treats the little people. She must have missed a few appointments uptown, but I am sure because of her noble and altruistic nature, she would feel it was time well spent.

Thank you Mr. Klein, if it wasn't for you I would never have met Mr. Sheldon Silver. I didn't realize there was such tangible concern, honor, and support from politicians in New York. He made the time to visit our school. He was wise enough to appreciate what was being done at 111 Columbia Street. He was able to see through the political DOE PR spin, and brave enough to stand beside us. Until today, I have thought all politicians were alike. Thanks to you, I know otherwise.

Thank you Mr. Kein, for the civics lesson. My children were able to see how a citizen must fight to be heard. They are proud of their school, their teachers, their PTA, and of course their parents. They learned your name, and because of you, they attended their first protests, they learned that the law can be made to work for them, if they stay committed and together and use their intelligence, resources and energy. This incident brought together the grandparents, uncles, aunts, and extended families, to the front line, they joined our movement, they wrote letters, contacted their friends, and spread the word, across the city, the country and yes, even across the oceans.... about how hard it is to enjoy good and secure education in a big city like New York.

Thank you Mr. Klein, for bringing all the committed parents at Nest together. You enforced our beliefs that good education is rare and worth fighting for, even if we had three months of take out dinners, little sleep, and suffered through incredible stress. In the end the rats abandoned ship and left Nest clean, and lean, strong and secure.

Thank you Mr. Klein, for getting the word out about Nest. Some parents had heard of our young, growing school, because of you and Ross, now everyone has. I anticipate that next year, we will have to hire extra personel to interview scores more prospective applicants. There may even be a strong movement to replicate our school in each borough. There might, one day be a Nest for every child that wants to work and is willing to follow rules. WOW. You have singlehandedly proven that we don't require fancy, new educational experiments. You might even be able to get rid of metal detectors in your schools, because when you honor children and treat them with respect and house them in decent conditions, nothing fancy like Tweed, but plain, bright, spacious classrooms with windows, expose them to dedicated administrators and inspired teachers, or even simply give them a building with clean washrooms, with stalls that lock, and soap and paper in the dispensers, well, amazingly enough, they don't attack each other. But when you cram them into boxes without windows and treat them like cattle...., well you get my point.

Thank you Mr. Klein, if your educational operation wasn't failing so miserably citywide, and you hadn't singlehandedly made Great Public School an oxymoron, made public schools the forgotten orphaned sons to the new Charter Schools, then there might have been other options for committed parents. As it is there was no other option, but to dig our heels in, and take on Golaith. Giving up was not an option. We had to fight to hold on to our preicious small share of the pie. Your efforts creating experimental schools and stuffing them into existing buildings, will not continue to be accepted. I worry that you are not proactively preparing your department to absorb the growing numbers of families as we experience a boom in residential housing going on in Brooklyn and lower Manhattan. You cannot afford to sell off anymore Public School real estate. You need to BUILD new schools, not create them and stuff them into existing spaces. We are on to your smoke and mirrors sir. We really need NEW SCHOOL BUILDINGS and fast.

Thank you Mr. Klein for making a public spectacle out of your leadership by openly kowtowing to the wealthy. The vacuum of educators in your administration is glaring, as you trample over the children, to grab their spaces. Your administration, Garth Harries for one, demonstrated glib and haughty arrogance. He came in under the mantel of your Chancellorship, to trample and ignore the very essence of a successful model, in his haste to accomodate the monied Courtney Ross, as she staked out her new domain, caring not a lick that the space already held wide eyed children who were under the illusion that this was their school, fully occupied, and a public school building not for sale, even at the bargain price of $1.00.

Thank you Mr. Klein, for my new friends, the other committed parents of children at Nest. I have seen noble, dedicated, and generous parents who, if you didn't realize before, hopefully you do now, consider their children's education, worth leaving work, worth standing in protests, worth sitting in court, worth sending their dollars, worth staying in New York City. You have single handedly created more school spirit than you can measure.

Thank you Mr. Klein, for calling us "the White School" at the CPAC meeting for all to hear, after my initial shock, I realized at that moment that you wanted to destroy Nest. And I knew this was a personal war, and you were using PR tactics against us. That was shameful Mr. Klein, low and shameful, trying to undermine our good work and compromise our standing with the community. I expect more from a Harvard Grad. That was the lightbulb moment for me. If you did not support Nest, ie. good results in education, then I wondered, what was your agenda? I thought of the Watergate reporters, "follow the money" and it all became sadly clear.

So it comes as no great surprise that you are taking you pound of flesh from our esteemed and loved principal. This is your attempt at revenge. How could you rationalize the removal of your best example of dedication and commitment, other than to make a power statement? You are such a coward. There is more wisedom and generosity and care and humanity in our principal than in your entire staff at the snotty, self absorbed, Tweed Building. The removal makes no business sense. You are throwing away seniority and experience, expertise and success, all translatable into dollars and cents. This final act is made purely out of anger at your authority being exposed and questioned. Although I could thank you for showing your true baseness, I cannot thank you for this. Our principal deserves honors as the most successful of all your employees. I imagine it is useless to appeal to your conscience, so I chose not to try.


Sybil and Bob Graziano
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Chancellor Klein,

The removal of Celenia Chevere from NEST+m is a travesty. If Celenia is guilty of anything it is of fighting for her students and her school.

Which of the DOE bureaucrats will lose their job over the NEST/Ross situation? It was they who poisoned the waters from the very beginning by secretly planning the Ross takeover of part of the NEST building without discussing it with the NEST community. Perhaps if the DOE bureaucrats had acted in a less deceitful way the situation would not have been as acrimonious.

My son is currently in tenth grade at NEST. In just two years at the school he has grown tremendously, both academically and personally. NEST is everything we could have hoped for. And it was Celenia and the others working with her that made this possible by putting their hearts and souls into NEST, developing it into the outstanding learning community it is today.

It is a shame to now see Celenia attacked by weak bureaucrats because she dared to stand up for her kids. When a large bureaucratic system tells its members that subservience to those above you is more important than service to those below you, it is a system that will ultimately fail.

The removal of Celenia from NEST will send a chill through the public school system. The people who do the hard, stressful work of teaching kids and running a school are being told that it is not your students you are working for, it is the bureaucrats of the DOE. But it is not some faceless bureaucrat in a distant office who makes a great school great--it is the people like Celenia, working in the school every day to make it the best it can be, doing what she thinks is the right thing for her kids.

This petty act of bureaucratic revenge against one of our city's great educators must not be allowed to stand. I urge you to please reinstate Celenia to her position at NEST. Thank you.

Kevin Lane
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Dear Chancellor Klein;

First off I want to thank you for your decision to relocate Ross Global Academy from 111 Columbia Street. I think you did the honorable thing in allowing NEST to fulfill Chancellor Levy's promise that NEST be allowed to fulfill it's 12 year program without any school infringing on it's space. After all NEST was a school that was failing and left to drug dealers and neighborhood kids who went there as a last resort. It was the very thing that "no child left behind" and education reform was created for.

To that means, I would now like to focus my letter toward support for Celenia Chevere. It was her hard work that created this educational oasis. Years ago I marveled at the school but would not be caught dead (literally and figuratively) on Avenue D and Houston Street. The school has revitalized both the building and the neighborhood.

Removing Celenia Chevere and replacing her with a DOE puppet would be against everything she has worked so hard to create. Saying that you are not letting Ross move into NEST to protect the the kids' stability is nonsense. Celenia is the stability you are looking for. Not Ross or your appointee.

Sure Celenia is tough. Sure she is strict. Sure the kids get a lot of homework. Sure there is a dress code. Sure there is a code of conduct. Sure there is high attrition. Yes it's academic "sink or swim." But that is what gifted education is all about. Removing her before the twelve year plan is completed would bring NEST down to the mediocrity of most other DOE gifted programs which seem to be either a) neighborhood centric or b) sibling friendly.

I question your claim of Celenia's misconduct other than standing up to the DOE. Whatever you claim she did, she did for the kids; without regard to your lashing out or her own job saftey.

If you insist on going forward with this, I suggest you think this through.

I can't wait for the following headline:

"A Principal With Principals"

Just as we need more gifted education; we need more people like Celenia Chevere!

Sincerely,
Deren Getz
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Chancellor Klein

You sir, are in my humble opinion, a political animal and not an educator. Your failure to recognise the success of NEST+M as an example of an excellent public school is because of, in my opinion, your own weaknesses and the weaknesses of your subordinates.

Be not afraid to admit your mistakes! Recognise the force of a parent body that seeks to protect and support an institution that has succeeded where so many in your beloved system have failed.

Peter Shaerf
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Hello..
i have been at NEST+m from day #1
this school has SAVED my child's life...
it has made her KNOW how smart she is ..it has made her SUCEED beyond belief..it has made her so confident & ahead of her game that it blows my mind on a daily basis...
ALL OF THIS IS BECAUSE CELENIA had a vision that WORKS....
it works so well that i put a second child in HER school so she can succeed like my first....
Without CELENIA NEST+M has to go through even more difficulty...
this is a woman who has worked her entire life making a difference in education & making education something REAL & not for POLITICS...
for a tuallly HELPING CHILDREN...
I LOVE CELENIA & will do ANYTHING & EVERYTHING to be by her side...
all my very best...
LISA LUDWIG
parent of EVA LUDWIG & HARLEE LUDWIG
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