Keep West Best: Bring Valerie Townsend back to the Parkway West High classroom.

Although its a shame that administration decided to force Valerie out of her job, it was in the best interest for the students and atmosphere of Parkway West High School. In any instance, when a teacher decides verbal and emotional abuse are permissible in a classroom, that teacher should be terminated immediately. The fact that Valerie was actively participating in sexual harassment of her own student is unacceptable. Her pursuit of academic achievement is commendable; however, the first goal of any respectable educational institution should be SAFETY IN THE CLASSROOM. I'm sure Valerie will do well in her pursuit of education, at schools where teachers who strive for academic achievement are few and far between. Her opportunity to teach at a prestigious high school such as West was sadly squandered in a moment where she abused her power and responsibility as a teacher. Parkway West wishes her the best, but sadly it is a school where such malice cannot be swept under the rug. I am excited that a low funded school somewhere will be able to add a teacher such as Valerie. I hope Valerie has learned her lesson that abuse is wrong and will not be accepted from someone who SHOULD have the best intentions to help and guide students throughout their high school experience. Best wishes.

Yes Charlie, she did favor some students. The ones that worked and were there to learn. It is a shame when a lazy, loser who has an ax to grind will lie about someone's character.

I had Mrs Townsend for a semester in English and right away she developed favoritism in the classroom. Her childish and immature actions are not something prestigious school should tolerate. Her need for drama was absolutely ridiculous. Everyday she would gossip with her favorite students about the rumors going on in the high school. This is what caused this incident and I was not surprised when i heard the news. No child in high school should be exposed to bullying. The fact that it was a teacher makes it absurd and upsetting ruining Parkway Wests reputation.

Valerie Townsend is a passionate, knowledgable, and caring professional. She has spent more than fifteen years dedicated to West High students and the West High Community. Mrs. Townsend truly cares about every student; her honesty and compassion have been extended to every student she comes in contact with. The dismissal of Mrs. Townsend would be a great disservice to West High.

I didn't even have Mrs. Townsend as a teacher, but she always went out of her way and brightened my day each time I saw her in the hallways. Many of my peers deem her their "favorite teacher," and speak volumes towards her teaching ability and the enjoyable atmosphere she provides within the classroom. I myself can attest to her contribution to Parkway West's atmosphere outside of the classroom as well. Mrs. Townsend's presence has served a valuable asset in the careers of many Parkway West students, and she should be returned immediately for her unrivaled contribution to Parkway West.

I don't see any action taken against the teacher that called a group of kids "m***** f***ers," another who called at least one African American in her class "boy" and made Muslim jokes, another who shares grades/names with the class, another who calls out their other hours and specific students to his other classes or yet another who was overheard telling another teacher that if the kids don't improve he might kill himself. These things are all out of the mouths of West teachers. Why is Mrs. Townsend being held to a higher standard than others?

We are a society to be quick with a blade. What happened to forgiveness. Haven't we all done or said something we regretted? Perhaps this student pushed her to the edge? That age group can be very trying sometimes. She is only human, but she is a great teacher, and we need more great teachers. I don't think she should be made an example of; I think she should be forgiven. I don't know what happened, but I'm pretty sure a mountain was made of a mole-hill, which is usually the case, because we're so out for blood these days. Shame on our society for wanting to ruin her career for one single incident. Think about how many times you've screwed up! Where's the compassion people????

I would have done anything to have a teacher as upstanding as Ms. Townsend. None of my previous teachers or professors have amounted to what she is capable of. She creates an enjoyable atmosphere in her classroom, which produces great results in students. I cannot imagine how much easier college could have been if she had been one preparing me for that next step. She is a valuable asset to Parkway West and should continue to bring her passionate ways of teaching to the classroom.

She is my favorite teacher at parkway west! #whoisbarrymanilow

I believe all people deserve a second chance

We fully support Valerie Townsend. Last school year she was my 2015 graduate's English 4 teacher. She is currently my freshman daughter's English 1 teacher. My (now) college freshman has simply 2 all time favorite teachers after 13 years in the West district. Valerie Townsend is one of them. My Parkway West freshman daughter absolutely adores Mrs. Townsend. She, along with the rest of the Freshman class desperately want their English teacher back! These facts, coupled with the numerous students(past and present) from her classes who sing her praises equally, speak volumes about Mrs. Townsend both professionally and personally. My family is quite distraught by this effort on the part the Chief Human Resources Officer and the elected Parkway Board of Education. I have been a highly involved volunteer parent for 14 years in the Parkway West District. I have spoken to my own Parkway West student as well as multiple Parkway West senior students currently in Mrs. Townsend's classroom where the incident took place. In short, "the punishment most certainly does not fit the crime!" How is abruptly ending the career of a proven, highly effective high school teacher in her prime justified by a momentary lapse in judgement? Who will this benefit? This is an educator who consistently goes above and beyond the call of duty. She continues this extraordinary effort even after her students graduate with their time capsule letters. How many educators in the Parkway school district reach out to their students on any level post graduation? Aside from Mrs. Townsend and one middle school teacher, I know of none. We are privileged to have her at West. Forcing such a rare and valuable teacher to resign based on a single relatively minor incident is a absolute indignation and grave injustice to her past, present, future students and the entire West community.

I never had a better teacher in high school she helped me prepare for college better than any other teacher at west.

I had Mrs. Townsend senior year and she is such a funny, understanding, relatable teacher!

Return mrs. Townsend to her classroom at west high.

Mrs. Townsend is the Spirit of West High she makes West its best

Mrs. Townsend made a mistake as everybody does. Teachers do things like this all the time. It is not fair that she is being punished like this. How cruel to put someone through something like this. Especially an outstanding teacher like her.

Mrs.Townsend is a wonderful teacher can we please have her back, so that we her students can continue to learn.

Valerie Townsend has been an inspiration to many students, inside and outside the classroom. Showing passion and commitment to the growth and success of those that she is surrounded by. Taking students to Europe, coming to extra-curricular events, helping students with philanthropic efforts, etc. Let's not allow an isolated incident destroy the talent that she will share with 100's and possibly 1,000's of future students. She needs to be re-instated without further consequence.

What an injustice! Valerie was and continues to be such a positive influence for my daughter who graduated in 2008. Her passion and compassion makes her the best teacher my kids ever had!

The hypocrisy of all this is that a few months ago, Parkway was crowing in the media about the altruism of the West community supporting a beloved custodian with family health problems. Valerie Townsend helped the students organize and direct donations on a GoFundMe page AND found an alumnus to set up a tax free medical account for Ollie free of charge. Mrs. Townsend is most likely on hundreds of kids' "trusted adult" lists and not only teaches her curriculum content to students but other intangibles that make our graduates better adults and citizens. Certainly there should be consequences for this poor choice but suspension and/or termination is a grossly out of proportion consequence. To me, this feels like yet another instance of Parkway getting rid of experienced staff to cut payroll so that the administration building can give each other higher raises, ironically for saving the district money. This also smacks of retaliation for doing her job as a union rep. The BOE needs to put away their rubber stamp and take a good look at Parkway's HR practices - targeting experienced staff, hiring cheaper labor over more qualified candidates, and adding administrative positions under the guise of 'reorganizing'. Wake up BOE and start asking questions.