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With word that a Queens principal isn't returning to their school, some parents say good riddance to a man they say is a tyrant. But a year after being yanked from the helm of a top-ranked school, the city school veteran tells education reporter Michael Meenan that he still wants his old job back.“As far as running the school with an iron hand, I’m a strong disciplinarian. I believe that learning cannot take place unless you have order in the building,” says former I.S. 141 principal Anthony Aldorasi.
For six years, until February 2007, that's how Aldorasi ruled Intermediate School 141 in District 30. But no more. He's been collecting his $136,000 paycheck doing desk work over at Queens Plaza, while facing charges by some teachers and parents like Joan Morante that he's got an iron fist.
"My son was physically harassed by him. He singled him out at an assembly. He put my son in a separate chair way in the back, came up behind him and grabbed him by the shoulders, sat him roughly in the chair and spoke very harsh to him,” says Morante.
Aldorasi sees it quite differently.
"There was a child in the auditorium slumped over in his seat and I placed my hands on his shoulders and straightened out his posture,” says Aldorasi.
But a state arbitrator recently ruled that was corporal punishment. Along with one charge of intimidating a teacher it got Aldorasi a 10-day suspension and 1 $6,000 fine. Two other corporal punishment charges were dropped.
"After 26 years of sterling experience and a wonderful record, the best that I can tell you is that unfortunately allegations could be made by anybody,” says Aldorasi.
Aldorasi is entitled to reinstatement somewhere in district 30, but the schools chancellor says it’s not going to be I.S. 141.
That’s bad news for some parents who liked his style.
"You need some discipline in this world or lese the future’s gonna be a bunch of spoiled brats,” said parent Dennis Petropoulos.
Other parents who didn't want to speak on camera strongly opposed Aldorasi’s return. And Joan Morante says his replacement, Miranda Pavlou, is doing fine.
"There's been a big difference and very good ways with Ms. Pavlou as the principal," says Morante.
But Aldorasi says he deserves credit.
"We made it a very wholesome learning environment for all of our children," he says.
School officials say there'll be no final decision made on Aldorasi's placement until he serves his 10-day suspension. That starts this week.
– Michael Meenan
