Parents Seek Principal’s Ouster for ‘English Only’ Request

Parents at Pacoima’s Telfair Elementary School, with a 98% Latino student body, are calling for the principal’s resignation, accusing her of racism after she asked parents to speak only English to their children.

The request by Principal Stannis Steinbeck came at a May 3 parent and faculty meeting, district officials said. A few days later, some parents began a petition drive to have Steinbeck removed. So far, 160 names have been gathered.

“She wants the parents to be a model for their kids and help out by speaking more English,” said Alma Sanchez, director of school support for Los Angeles Unified School District’s Subdistrict B.

Steinbeck declined requests for comment.

Sanchez said Steinbeck sent letters of apology to parents Friday and also plans to meet individually with parents to clear the air.

“No one has the right to take your language away,” said Armando Sandoval, speaking on behalf of parents.

“Spanish is the only language most of these parents know,” he said.

Of Telfair’s 1,278 students, English is not the first language for 934.

The school is one of 15 in Subdistrict B being closely monitored because of low academic performance.

Since Steinbeck was appointed principal a year and a half ago, test scores have risen, federal and state grants have been received and the campus has undergone some modernization, Sanchez said.

“This is a completely isolated incident,” Sanchez said of Steinbeck’s comments at the meeting.

Sandoval, whose 8-year-old son attends the school, said there has been tension on campus since Steinbeck arrived because of a perceived lack of sensitivity toward the Latino community. “We need someone who gets involved with the community.... we need someone who’s bilingual. We don’t care about race. We need a moral leader for the kids,” he said.

Parents also are contacting local politicians, including City Council President Alex Padilla, a Telfair alumnus, who has scheduled a meeting with parents and faculty.

School board member David Tokofsky, whose district includes Telfair, said Steinbeck wants to improve students’ English skills but may have been too abrasive.