She said it to calm her son. I think its sweet. He pulled forward into a parking space and waited on his friends, hoping everyone else would ignore him. Eric Celeste is the editor at Spirit, the inflight magazine of Southwest Airlines. Weve always been close, but since this, its been tough. Then on July 26 of this year, a former school board candidate named Stetson Clark stepped up to the microphone during a public comment period to accuse Whitfield of being an advocate for critical race theory: the idea that racism runs deep and continues to shape American society today. Dan Patrick has called it a ridiculous leftist narrative. Gov. I have done nothing wrong by anyone, Whitfield said. Lewis made it clear that they could not take her son out of class to talk to him. It was from the Grapevine-Colleyville school district. The scandal at CHHS, as well as the well-publicized suicide of a student-athlete in Plano, Texas resulted in the implementation of random drug testing by the University Interscholastic League in 2007. Overall Score 89.05 /100. Wednesday and Thursday shows are cancelled due to inclement weather. She called a reporter at the weekly Colleyville Courier and told him her story. Because even though Lewis did the right thing, and even though she took every measure to protect her sons identity when she made that call and then later took her story to the media, it is Bryan who ultimately paid the price for his moms principled stand. Bryan never had to wonder whether his mom was engaged, as Dr. Phil likes to say. Colleyville Heritage High School. I am not the CRT (Critical Race Theory) Boogeyman. "I chalk it up to educators are held to a different standard, unfortunately. And it has nearly ruined their lives. The CHHS teacher who cornered her in the parking lot after the second public hearing and told her many teachers supported her but were afraid to speak out. Thats what everybody should be doing. Cooper vs. Colleyville Heritage - Texas High School Girls Basketball mr buva 0 No views 52 seconds ago #highschoolbasketball Stream Here https://gametoday.hs-sport.live/highs. Hes just got to get a little faster, a little bigger, a little stronger. He knewfrom friends, from weight-room whispers, from his own two eyesthat many of the starters were accomplishing just that task with injected aid. Read more about this topic: Colleyville Heritage High School, Athletics, And therefore, as when there is a controversy in an account, the parties must by their own accord, set up for right Reason, the Reason of some Arbitrator, or Judge, to whose sentence, they will both stand, or their controversy must either come to blows, or be undecided, for want of a right Reason constituted by Nature; so is it also in all debates of what kind soever.Thomas Hobbes (15791688), Bret Boone - Professional Career - Legacy -. The school district announced Monday, August 30, Colleyville Heritage High Principal Dr. James Whitfield was placed on paid administrative leave. The curriculum, an academic framework that says racism is a systemic problem perpetuated by government policies and institutions, is not taught in Grapevine-Colleyville ISD, multiple sources in the district have said. Told that, McClure said she was certain the information had been passed on to the Colleyville department. That was months ago. EVEN THOUGH LEWIS HAD PULLED BRYAN out of school, he was still getting hassled. at 7pm. 750 North St.Paul St. He received a disciplinary letter from the district a few weeks later and was placed on administrative leave soon after that. Anna Caplan covers McKinney, Southlake, Grapevine and Colleyville. . She hurried downstairs and called the pharmacy at the nearby Walgreens. The man, Stetson Clark, narrowly lost a school board race in May to the incumbent, Becky St. John. Critical race theory, or CRT, is an academic discipline usually taught at the university level. Butbefore he could pop open the champagne his boss called and asked him to check his email. I love them, they love me," Whitfield said in an interview with WFAA's Jason Whitely on the same day the students walked out of school to support him. Grapevine-Colleyville sources have said that the district does not teach CRT, a doctrine that pushes the notion that racism underpins Americas history, laws and institutions, according to the Dallas Morning News. Aria writes about breaking news. The 18-year-old was arrested on charges of trespassing on school grounds and having a weapon in a place where its prohibited. But the students at CHHS had obviously read the story. He just wants to enjoy his senior year, and I want to do everything I can to help him., But, she says, she believes she has a mission. She knew he didnt mean that literally more than half the Colleyville football team was on steroids. Im gonna beat your ass.. Mother and son had always been close, though. Like most teens, he acts blas, even when talking about how much he cant wait for college so I can get away from this town, all the crap thats gone on., Not that hes obsessing about it, either, he says. It didnt take long for more questions to come. A new study says yes. This year Colleyville Heritage High School found only 19 girls out of a school of 2,400 students good enough for their cheerleading squad. Whitfield's status with Colleyville Heritage High School is expected to be decided at a Monday school board meeting. Per Pupil Expenditures: $9,925. An anonymous parent called the high school and said football players were using steroids, which are illegal to use or possess in Texas without a prescription, and that the school's football coach condoned it. Theyd made a mistake, she says. COLLEYVILLE HERITAGE. But I didnt want any of this for Bryan, Lewis says. The Grapevine-Colleyville ISD school board voted unanimously on a proposal Monday not to renew the contract of suspended Heritage High School principal James Whitfield. Minutes later, her son, Bryan Dyer (Lewis remarried in 1993), walked out of the school with a friend and headed toward his truck. Perhaps that would spur someone to investigate the problem more aggressively. 972-983-4822 cell. Love will! "Because of his extreme views I ask that a full review of Mr. Whitfield's tenure in our district be examined and that his contract be terminated effective immediately," said Clark, who lost a recent campaign to join the Grapevine-Colleyville ISD school board. According to state test scores, 55% of students are at least proficient in math and 77% in reading. (CHHS officials declined to speak with D Magazine.) In June, Lewis scheduled to have her lawn mowed by a Mid Cities fireman who runs a small lawn-care company. People know each other. She expected to hear from him in a week or so. Other people in the audience shouted in support and cheered when Clark made his remarks. But the reporters needed something else. For weeks, kids buzzed about who they thought might be the anonymous athlete caught using steroids. Summarizing his defense, he finally blurted, Mom, the majority of the football team is taking them.. The students created a fake wall with the. The photos were from an anniversary trip. He knows its just because she loves him, but, damn, so many other kids get away with telling white lies, staying out late. Theyre mad at my mom because shes messing with that.. (Everyone already knew, she says.) "As this is an ongoing personnel matter, we will not comment further. Oh, yeah, some of them are still doing it, Bryan says. Bryan understands, she says. Cunningham has apologized and said it was wrong to say the things he did, but I think anybody would have reacted the same way. Dr. James Whitfield, the former principal at Colleyville Heritage High School, filed a $250,000 defamation lawsuit against Grapevine-Colleyville Independent School District and board member Tammy . Dude, I think thats your mom.. The tough drug-testing program that Grapevine-Colleyville has adopted. Kids need us! the principal added. Where were you when you first injected them? She laughs about it more than she complains. The CHHS kids who posted to the Morning News steroids bulletin boards, saying everyone knew this was a problem, that it is still a problem. In a Sept. 1 written statement the district said: "The District has received numerous questions regarding the decision to place Dr. James Whitfield on paid administrative leave. Sort of. The only other known instance in which a group of high school athletes admitted to steroid use was in Buckeye, Ariz., in fall 2003, according to the Associated Press. But as Lewis read it, she found something horrible. He wrote on Facebook that he could not ask others to speak up if he wont and just because I am a school administrator that does not take away my rights and ability to be human and defend myself.. They were changed to Patrick and Michelle. The driver came after him. Colleyville Heritage High School principal James Whitfield has been placed on paid administrative leave, according to Grapevine-Colleyville . Nor was the decision made in response to allegations Dr. Whitfield was teaching Critical Race Theory, or because of the photos on his social media account that were brought to the attention of the District in 2019. "I wish I had the conviction to say, 'No, I'm not going to take it down; that's a picture of me and my wife kissing on the beach; there's no reason for me to take this photo down.'". Its a stupid lawsuit. LIVE: Colleyville Heritage vs. Grapevine | 2023 High School Soccer - YouTube Premieres in 4 hours February 21 at 4:00 PM Rice Memorial vs. Colchester | 2023 High School Boys Basketball. Stressed over the accusations, Whitfield said he couldn't shake the photo incident of 2019 from his head and the district's conclusion the photo was inappropriate. We hid the photo, no one from above ever mentioned anything else about it, but the damage was inflicted on us in profound ways. But he said trouble began as far back as 2019 when someone complained to administrators he was setting a "bad example" by posting pictures of himself kissing his wife on Facebook. Check to be sure that email from abi@luhsd.net will come through. Admitted it months earlier, not long after the journalists had interviewed Coach Cunningham. Nine CHHS players have admitted to using steroids. The tick-tock drama of Bryans story, that compelling personal narrative, the hour-by-hour recounting of his traverse from good kid to drug user, would elevate the series. The student came forward only after his mother discovered a bag full of syringes and vials of liquids in his bedroom closet. All four got out of the car. Dr. James Whitfield has been on administrative leave since late August. He talked quickly, stumbling over his words, trying to explain his reasoning. The district had no additional comments Monday night because it is an ongoing personnel matter, a spokeswoman said in a prepared statement. Colleyville Heritage High School 5401 Heritage Avenue Colleyville, TX 76034 P 817-305-4700 F 817-358-4765 He knew where he was: at a party one block over. Contact info. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. James Whitfield, 43, principal at Colleyville Heritage High School, has been placed on leave by the Grapevine-Colleyville ISD after being accused of teaching critical race theory at his. Proponents also believe race is culturally invented, not biological. Not quoted are the audible giggles of news anchor Gloria Campos: The mother who helped uncover the steroid use at Colleyville Heritage High School, Lori Lewis, is suing football coach Chris Cunningham. Updated at 1:12 p.m. Wednesday with details throughout. Instead, a car slowly inched into the space next to him. Whitfield reached an agreement with Grapevine-Colleyville ISD after being accused of teaching critical race theory at his high school and placed on administrative leave. And while her son was fighting his battles, Lewis was fighting hers. The district told WFAA again Friday that the decision has nothing to do with critical race theory or allegations by a small group of parents. I just want to know, Why? No one from the school called her. Lets go, then, he said. So I wouldnt feel comfortable mowing your lawn.. Only a worried mom and a kid who felt he owed it to her to fess up, do the right thing, be a man. But James Whitfield said he took it to mean the issue was he was in an interracial relationship. Colleyville Heritage High School Unclaimed. Let your love shine so brightly & your positive voice be so loud that it drowns out the noise. The high school has been categorized as one of the top 100 high schools in the United States of America by the Newsweek magazine's Challenge Index. But if were really concerned about reputations here, whose reputation has been damaged more? When he decided not to play (and when he noticed acne on his back during the family vacation in Florida), he stopped. (Cunningham says that at the time of the remarks, he didnt know Lewis identity, and he has since apologized.) Beal said she was not cooperating. Why did you stop?Jones and Jacobson, top-notch investigative reporters, had been working on a series of stories about steroid abuse in area high schools. But the moms wouldnt tell the other moms about it, because they want their kid to have an edge. In early August, Grapevine-Colleyville ISD placed Whitfield on administrative leave. It was at this moment that I knew the attack that we currently endure, was coming, the principal wrote on Facebook. Colleyville Heritage High School went on lockdown Tuesday afternoon, March 1. He wants to play wide receiver. I wonder who it was.. Ironically, it was the place where hed purchased his steroids. His friend stopped him. Whitfield added that he has no regrets over what has transpired over the last couple of months, hes happy that he stood up for what he believed in and he hopes thats what people can learn from his situation. Wed have to move if our names came out, she said.. Copyright 2023 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. Not Bryans. In a July 31 post on his personal Facebook page, Whitfield responded: "I am not the CRT (Critical Race Theory) Boogeyman. His resignation wont be official until Aug. 15, 2023. From the moment I called the school, I didnt want him involved. Colleyville Heritage High School (TX) Varsity Basketball Colleyville Heritage Panthers Varsity Boys Basketball Colleyville, TX 22-23 V. Basketball Home Schedule Roster Standings Rankings Photos Videos News More / Colleyville Heritage High School Basketball Colleyville Heritage Basketball OVERALL 22-10 0.69 Win % DISTRICT 9-5 4th in District Colleyville Heritage High School is the 235th largest public high school in Texas and the 1,266th largest nationally. The district told WFAA again Friday that the decision has nothing to. As Lewis recalls, Beal said, Ive talked to Coach Cunningham, and he says its not true. As she waited, she overheard customers gabbing. They werent too happy with me, she says. He came at him againObviously, Bryan says, this kid did not know how to fightand this time Bryans punch knocked him to the ground. Im going to fight him.. Bryan had to lie, even to friends who sidled up to him in private and asked if he was the one. Hey, you little pussy, he said. Football players were calling him Patrick. Conversations stopped when he arrived. The Colleyville kids rarely venture far from home. His resignation won't be official. Lt. Gov. When Lori Lewis learned that many players on her sons Colleyville Heritage football team were using steroids, she blew the whistle. Brings new meaning to the phrase Sunday Funday. There were several long pauses, she says. No one from above ever mentioned anything else about it, but the damage was inflicted on us in profound ways, he wrote. But no names were used. The Tarrant County Narcotics Unit, now working the steroids investigation, told Lewis that her first call should have been to them months ago. None of the individuals had weapons on them, but a handgun was found in one of the students cars, police said. Opposition to critical race theory has become a rallying cry for Texas Republican leaders, who claim its indoctrinating students and teaching white students that they are racist. Read more about CRT here. Public school 1,974 Students Grades 9-12. James Whitfield chose to resign from his position as principal of Colleyville Heritage High School and the school board unanimously accepted on Monday. Some of the photos the district received contained poses that are questionable for an educator, especially a principal or administrator. On February 4, the Morning News dropped that bombshell and used quotes and information from their interviews with Lewis and Bryan. GreatSchools Rating 5 reviews Awards Public school 1,974 Students Grades 9-12. So when Bryan pulled into the drive-thru and ordered, he wasnt surprised to see people he knew. By midweek, Bryan couldnt take the whispers and the barely contained seething of the football players. by Brian Lopez The University Interscholastic League, which sets rules for competition in Texas high school sports, has no policy on steroids. She was sad that shed been proven right. Lewis pulled him out of CHHS and would soon enroll him in a nearby private school. Lewis is suing because Cunningham told the Morning News she was a liar and a crazy mom. I just wish everyone else would.. He loves his new school. In his post Saturday, Whitfield explained that the photos were taken a decade ago during their 10-year anniversary in Mexico. Some parents learned about the photo incident when they read Whitfields account on Facebook. He hopes he starts, he says.