Lexington Catholic leaders caring, responsive

I am appalled by Adrian Wallace of the NAACP’s demand to remove the administrative team at Lexington Catholic.

Lexington Catholic is dealing with two juveniles who acted poorly. He is disclosing only one side of the story. While both students acted irresponsibly, the young man threatened was not without blame. Only part of the story was ever disclosed.

I retired in May of 2015 after teaching at Lexington Catholic for 37 years. I taught religious studies for 25 of those years. Wallace has been paying attention for a month and does not really know what goes on in the school. During that time I taught black, white, Asians, Hispanic, Scandinavians, European and Indians (both American and from India).

My students have been Catholic, Protestants, Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, Shinto, Buddhist and atheists.

As a school, we have always been welcoming to all students of every race, color and creed. In all that time, I have never seen the administration be anything but loving and caring for all students.

Lexington Catholic is a faith-based school and we respect all as children of God and teach the gospel message to “Love one another.”

I find it laughable to accuse principal Sally Stevens of maintaining a culture that promotes bigotry.

He son-in-law is African-American, as is her grandson. Her love for all the students is very evident. She is a tremendous role model in faith and action. She has a difficult job and must make tough decisions but always makes these decisions with love and compassion.

It may appear to some out-of- town attorney that she did nothing to remedy the situation, but you can be assured that she investigates thoroughly any allegations and acts on them while protecting the student’s confidentiality. Education is not unlike the legal or medical professions in that confidentiality is essential to all concerned.

School president Steve Angelucci has been a breath of fresh air to the school. He has started many new programs that have made Lexington Catholic a better school. He is loved by the students and always lifts them up and finds good things to say to encourage them to model the faith. He is often seen in the early morning visiting the students at their lockers before school starts. He is a very hands-on president. He is very driven to make Lexington Catholic the best it can be.

I have worked under every president and principal who have ever been at the current site of Lexington Catholic. The school has never had a better administrative team. Stevens is both state and nationally recognized as an outstanding educator and Angelucci has a successful history of administration on the college level.

As a team, they work well with mutual respect of each other. Their love for the school is evident in all that they do. While substitute teaching last week, I saw the diversity team at work in the school. I am asking past and present parents and students to rally behind the administration and not let Wallace bully others into asking for their resignation. It would be a great loss for Lexington Catholic.

This story was originally published May 20, 2016 at 7:47 PM with the headline "Lexington Catholic leaders caring, responsive."