UC Removal of Principal Hagstrom from Walt Disney School
473 Comments
L
Luz Vargas-Mendez
6 years ago
My daughter was refused at first from the gifted program by Hagstrom and her administration despite my daughter being recommended by her teacher and scoring 99 percentile on NWEA. Hagstrom told me some children just test well. Not an indicator of her being capable of being in gifted. I threatened to want to see the scores of all others in that program, which just happened to be majority white. My daughter graduated last year. She was accepted in gifted with my fighting only to get her in. But she remained scoring above 97 percentile in reading and math all her years. Passed her Algebra test and a perfect score on selective enrollment test. She had straight As except 1 B in Alegebra for all her years at Disney. She learned Mandarin and traveled to China. She is at Lane in the Alpha program now. She is a gifted student and Dr. Hagstrom sat there and tried to tell me she just tested well because she thought I was a poor uneducated Latina. But this Latina became an educator and I will forever remember the face of discrimination, injustice and racism this woman presented to me when wanting to close the doors on my daughter just because she wasn't white or from a family of prestige. I am sure she closed them on many other deserving children. I am happy that things will now change at Disney. Hopefully more equity and opportunities for this to be a school where all children feel welcomed.
A
Anonymous
6 years ago
About time cps acted on removal of this bully!
P
Paula Root
6 years ago
She once suspended my child who was in kindergarten. I later found out this wasn't allowed.
C
Charmeaka Harris
6 years ago
This was LONG OVER DUE! She along side other unruly staff were the worst part of our Disney Experience...Thank you for starting this petition...BYE BYE Dr “Cruella De Vil” Hagstrom
B
Blanca Rodriguez
6 years ago
We don’t need someone like that in school. We need someone caring, a heart and kindness. Not someone who doesn’t know how to treat a person or to talk
A
Anonymous
6 years ago
My brothers teacher bullied him! grabbed him by the arm. I asked for her to be dismissed as a teacher and Ms. Hangstrom said she couldnt do anything. She just moved him to another class! GOODBYE bully!!!
A
ASHLEY PENA
6 years ago
I was a student at Disney from Kindergarten up until 5th grade. I was continuously bullied, as well as my brother. The principle did nothing and suggested we just leave. When my dad became frustrated he spoke to the parents and that landed him a seat with the principle who yelled at him! Told him he couldn't speak to my bullies. My grades decreased. I would have bullies call my house yelling/cursing. My parents got so tired they transferred us. We ended up at a CPS school which resulted in lack of education, teachers who did not care. My teachers at Disney were amazing! Wish we would of had a better principle. I hope she gets fired!
P
Paula Garcia
6 years ago
My two children attended Disney. I transferred them out for the same reasons noted in the complaint. I refused to keep my children there as long as Ms Hangstrom was principal. When she became principal, things just went bad.
A
Anonymous
6 years ago
As a former staff member, I have never worked with someone in this profession more unprofessional than Kathy Hagstrom. I've heard through the grapevine that she cleaned out her office on Friday and submitted her resignation, and if this is true, I couldn't be more thrilled. Disney was my first teaching job, and I was really excited to join what seemed to be a progressive school with a highly skilled staff and tons of cool technology. Instead, it was an absolute nightmare. She would go out of her way to demean and embarrass me in front of the other staff, she'd chew me out in front of my students, and provided nothing in the way of support or encouragement--only intimidation and bullying. She ran that place through fear. When, after the year was up and I found out my contract was not being renewed, I was, frankly relieved, but she'd shaken my confidence in my abilities as an educator so much that I'm no longer in the profession. I don't feel bad for dancing on her grave because I gave everything I had to that job and she refused to appreciate it and instead killed my love for the profession. The only better news would be to hear that Abbie Meyers is gone as well, but either way, this is a good day for Disney. I know that the faculty there must be thrilled.
A
Anonymous
6 years ago
I can definitely say that Dr. Hagstrom has been very demeaning to students, parents and staff. I would have graduated in class of 2014, transferred out in 2012, and came in at 2008 and she was a very cold and intimidating figure who seemed to not care about students who weren’t in the gifted program and looked down on people who didn’t dress in couture and drive a Mercedes like her. Disney is polluted with people who don’t care about African-American children, of course there are some who do and my best teacher in my lifetime was my 6th grade teacher, and this is because Dr. Hagstrom looks to hire people who think and look like her. Ultimately she’s been principal for nearly 50 years if not longer and the school is in need of new leadership as Dr. Hagstrom acts as if she is invincible and as one of the highest paid CPS professionals she won’t be leaving voluntarily.
A
Anonymous
6 years ago
This is the first school one of my kids has attended that does not actively work towards staff-parents collaboration. The principal seem to actually go out of her way to antagonize parents. I don't even bother going to events at this school anymore due to parents not being allowed into the building despite foul weather until the exact time or after time of event. I am actively looking to move my kid out of this school.
M
Mary Rivera
6 years ago
Good Bye
H
Heather McLaren
6 years ago
As an Uptown resident, I know this neighborhood deserves better.
J
Jennifer Mills
6 years ago
The principal sounds horrendous. At least she’s losing her job.
M
Marcos ayala
6 years ago
No human should go through what she is putting ppl through
M
MargAret Ballantyne
6 years ago
15 years ago! Had to fight for everything! Disregarded or manipulated against students receiving special education services! She is a bully!
A
Anonymous
6 years ago
She must leave because of the constant abuse she gives to students, parents, and staff.
A
Anonymous Anonymous
6 years ago
Thank you for organizing this petition.
A
Anonymous
6 years ago
In the past I worked for a couple of different principals who abused their power. I feel for the staff, parents and teachers. I had to leave schools to escape the abuse. When is CPS going to hold principals accountable? This abuse is inexcusable. Shame on you CPS!
A
Adrian Plummer
6 years ago
There are truly not enough words to describe this woman my kids were traumatized attending Disney under her tenure.not only should she be removed but the higher ups that turned a blind eye to her behavior!!!
My daughter was refused at first from the gifted program by Hagstrom and her administration despite my daughter being recommended by her teacher and scoring 99 percentile on NWEA. Hagstrom told me some children just test well. Not an indicator of her being capable of being in gifted. I threatened to want to see the scores of all others in that program, which just happened to be majority white. My daughter graduated last year. She was accepted in gifted with my fighting only to get her in. But she remained scoring above 97 percentile in reading and math all her years. Passed her Algebra test and a perfect score on selective enrollment test. She had straight As except 1 B in Alegebra for all her years at Disney. She learned Mandarin and traveled to China. She is at Lane in the Alpha program now. She is a gifted student and Dr. Hagstrom sat there and tried to tell me she just tested well because she thought I was a poor uneducated Latina. But this Latina became an educator and I will forever remember the face of discrimination, injustice and racism this woman presented to me when wanting to close the doors on my daughter just because she wasn't white or from a family of prestige. I am sure she closed them on many other deserving children. I am happy that things will now change at Disney. Hopefully more equity and opportunities for this to be a school where all children feel welcomed.
About time cps acted on removal of this bully!
She once suspended my child who was in kindergarten. I later found out this wasn't allowed.
This was LONG OVER DUE! She along side other unruly staff were the worst part of our Disney Experience...Thank you for starting this petition...BYE BYE Dr “Cruella De Vil” Hagstrom
We don’t need someone like that in school. We need someone caring, a heart and kindness. Not someone who doesn’t know how to treat a person or to talk
My brothers teacher bullied him! grabbed him by the arm. I asked for her to be dismissed as a teacher and Ms. Hangstrom said she couldnt do anything. She just moved him to another class! GOODBYE bully!!!
I was a student at Disney from Kindergarten up until 5th grade. I was continuously bullied, as well as my brother. The principle did nothing and suggested we just leave. When my dad became frustrated he spoke to the parents and that landed him a seat with the principle who yelled at him! Told him he couldn't speak to my bullies. My grades decreased. I would have bullies call my house yelling/cursing. My parents got so tired they transferred us. We ended up at a CPS school which resulted in lack of education, teachers who did not care. My teachers at Disney were amazing! Wish we would of had a better principle. I hope she gets fired!
My two children attended Disney. I transferred them out for the same reasons noted in the complaint. I refused to keep my children there as long as Ms Hangstrom was principal. When she became principal, things just went bad.
As a former staff member, I have never worked with someone in this profession more unprofessional than Kathy Hagstrom. I've heard through the grapevine that she cleaned out her office on Friday and submitted her resignation, and if this is true, I couldn't be more thrilled. Disney was my first teaching job, and I was really excited to join what seemed to be a progressive school with a highly skilled staff and tons of cool technology. Instead, it was an absolute nightmare. She would go out of her way to demean and embarrass me in front of the other staff, she'd chew me out in front of my students, and provided nothing in the way of support or encouragement--only intimidation and bullying. She ran that place through fear. When, after the year was up and I found out my contract was not being renewed, I was, frankly relieved, but she'd shaken my confidence in my abilities as an educator so much that I'm no longer in the profession. I don't feel bad for dancing on her grave because I gave everything I had to that job and she refused to appreciate it and instead killed my love for the profession. The only better news would be to hear that Abbie Meyers is gone as well, but either way, this is a good day for Disney. I know that the faculty there must be thrilled.
I can definitely say that Dr. Hagstrom has been very demeaning to students, parents and staff. I would have graduated in class of 2014, transferred out in 2012, and came in at 2008 and she was a very cold and intimidating figure who seemed to not care about students who weren’t in the gifted program and looked down on people who didn’t dress in couture and drive a Mercedes like her. Disney is polluted with people who don’t care about African-American children, of course there are some who do and my best teacher in my lifetime was my 6th grade teacher, and this is because Dr. Hagstrom looks to hire people who think and look like her. Ultimately she’s been principal for nearly 50 years if not longer and the school is in need of new leadership as Dr. Hagstrom acts as if she is invincible and as one of the highest paid CPS professionals she won’t be leaving voluntarily.
This is the first school one of my kids has attended that does not actively work towards staff-parents collaboration. The principal seem to actually go out of her way to antagonize parents. I don't even bother going to events at this school anymore due to parents not being allowed into the building despite foul weather until the exact time or after time of event. I am actively looking to move my kid out of this school.
Good Bye
As an Uptown resident, I know this neighborhood deserves better.
The principal sounds horrendous. At least she’s losing her job.
No human should go through what she is putting ppl through
15 years ago! Had to fight for everything! Disregarded or manipulated against students receiving special education services! She is a bully!
She must leave because of the constant abuse she gives to students, parents, and staff.
Thank you for organizing this petition.
In the past I worked for a couple of different principals who abused their power. I feel for the staff, parents and teachers. I had to leave schools to escape the abuse. When is CPS going to hold principals accountable? This abuse is inexcusable. Shame on you CPS!
There are truly not enough words to describe this woman my kids were traumatized attending Disney under her tenure.not only should she be removed but the higher ups that turned a blind eye to her behavior!!!