Higley Unified School District

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Higley Unified School District is a school district based in Gilbert, Arizona, United States, with more than 8,500 students. It claims to be "one of the fastest growing public school districts in the State of Arizona".[1]

The district suspended one of its teachers in October 2007 after she performed an in-class cheerleading routine which was posted to YouTube. Cristina Mallon was an English teacher and cheerleading coach at one of the district's schools, Williams Field High School.[2]

Subsequently, a student and the student's father criticized Mallon's choice of the novel Jake, Reinvented by Gordon Korman for her freshman English class.[3] Mallon was later reported to have resigned.[4]

A former school bus driver for the district, Christopher Michael Donofrio, was indicted on three charges related to the sexual abuse of an unidentified 14-year-old girl, the Arizona Republic reported in early November 2007. [5]

On February 15, 2008, a school bus driver was involved in a fight with a 15-year old student of Williams Field High School. The student attacked the driver, and while the driver was defending herself, the driver's 16 year old daughter stepped in and pulled the girl away from the driver pulling out hair extensions the student was wearing. A student called 911 for help. The other students exited the bus through the emergency door. Police arrived after the fight and confiscated a video tape that the driver told them recorded the whole incident. The video from the bus camera was released by the police to the public six days later. The driver was put on immediate paid administrative leave for ten days, and then allowed to work in an administrative capacity until the suggested charges for aggravated assault were dropped by the police. The student was charged with aggravated assault and disorderly conduct, and if found guilty faces six months in a juvenile detention center. The student is suing the school district.[6]

Mr. Paperman is the best Bio teacher ever at Williams Field High School!


[edit] External links

[edit] References

  1. ^ Higley Unified School District – History of the District
  2. ^ KNXV-TV, October 6, 2007, 2:23 pm "Gilbert cheer coach suspended for dance in class?" Reported by: Lori Jane Gliha
  3. ^ East Valley Tribune, October 26, 2007 - 2:54AM "Higley 'cheerleader' teacher under fire again", by Hayley Ringle
  4. ^ The Arizona Republic, Nov. 14, 2007 11:30 AM, "YouTube cheerleading teacher asks to resign", by Lars Jacoby
  5. ^ The Arizona Republic, Nov. 8, 2007 07:00 AM, "School bus driver indicted in sexual abuse of girl, 14", by Lars Jacoby
  6. ^ CNN, Feb. 23, 2008, "Arizona Driver, Students Charged in School Bus Fight"
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