For questions, to submit digital entries or to coordinate pickup of entries, please contact: Kacey Bess. He said he agreed to take some of the photos down. Lewis asked that Beal call her back when his investigation was finished. As Lewis recalls, Beal said, Ive talked to Coach Cunningham, and he says its not true. (817) 305-4700. The 18-year-old was arrested on charges of trespassing on school grounds and having a weapon in a place where its prohibited. Dallas, Texas 75201. Dec 29, 2022 The 2022-23 UIL high school soccer season officially starts today and the Star Telegram released its first soccer area rankings this week. She hurried downstairs and called the pharmacy at the nearby Walgreens. Lewis was stunned. Devin Bryant, a senior at Covenant Christian Academy in Colleyville, says he was expelled for being gay and "evil." Principal Tommy Jeffrey doubles down on his decision, calls LGBTQ lifestyle non . Colleyville Heritage High School is the 235th largest public high school in Texas and the 1,266th largest nationally. 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. "They did not feel there was a problem that we needed to look into," Rogers said. All four got out of the car. On February 4, the Morning News dropped that bombshell and used quotes and information from their interviews with Lewis and Bryan. A Black North Texas principal has agreed to resign after being put on paid administrative leave in August amid accusations he was teaching and promoting critical race theory. They even went to football games, sat in the stands, and made a list of the players who looked like they might be using steroids, based on the common signs: acne, muscular definition, rage. Had it come to that? Hed been playing sports in Colleyville since tee ball at age 4, and through select baseball and Pee Wee football, all the way through this, his junior year, shed attended every game. 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. Bryan may be able to help, but dont contact him at school. She worried he would be labeled a snitch if it became a public ordeal. The district had no additional comments Monday night because it is an ongoing personnel matter, a spokeswoman said in a prepared statement. McClure said school officials held meetings and questioned students, but nobody admitted to using the muscle-building substances. Meanwhile, a petition in support of Whitfield has garnered hundreds of signatures, and he said hes humbled for all the support hes received. Only 22,000 people live in Colleyville. 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. Its even tough to find a yardman in town. Butbefore he could pop open the champagne his boss called and asked him to check his email. Whitfield's status with Colleyville Heritage High School is expected to be decided at a Monday school board meeting. Sort of. The 18-year-old, who is not a student, and two juvenile students were located inside the school, police said. James Whitfield, the first Black principal at mostly white Colleyville Heritage High School, chose to resign but remain on paid administrative leave until 2023 in a settlement with the school district. Clark said Whitfield was encouraging the disruption and destruction of our district because Whitfield, the high school's first Black principal, wrote a letter to the community during the summer of 2020 detailing how hurt he was over the deaths of three Black Americans: George Floyd in Minnesota, Breonna Taylor in Kentucky and Ahmaud Arbery in Georgia. Her discovery. Dude, I think thats your mom.. Students at Colleyville Heritage High took the theme and ran with it in a Donald Trump-esqe direction before a game against Trinity High in Euless. Lets go, then, he said. The driver, the stockiest of the bunch, rapped on Bryans window. Critical race theory is a way of thinking about Americas history through the lens of racism. "If they do proceed with firing him, I hope the administration knows that these people aren't going anywhere," fellow student Sunehra Chowdhury said of the students who walked out of class. ON FEBRUARY 12, A SATURDAY, LEWIS WALKED into a salon to have her hair done. As a new campus principal, we wanted to provide a smooth transition for Dr. Whitfield to Heritage Middle School, which is why we advised him of the concern and made a request for the photos to be taken down from Facebook.". There were also names. A wave of nausea swept through her. When Lori Lewis learned that many players on her sons Colleyville Heritage football team were using steroids, she blew the whistle. Eric Celeste is the editor at Spirit, the inflight magazine of Southwest Airlines. That evening, she obsessed about its implication. No one from the school called her. Everyone would forget about it soon enough. 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. So I wouldnt feel comfortable mowing your lawn.. (CHHS officials declined to speak with D Magazine.) Thinks he will. He wrote that he cant ask others to speak up if he wont, and that being a school administrator does not take away my rights and ability to be human and defend myself.. Lewis was convinced the tiny bottle held heroin, unaware that most illicit drugs are not sold with pharmaceutical labels. The titles in the list range from children's books and anti-bullying tips to novels that discuss racism and sexuality. Not one day has gone by that I havent had to deal with this or talk about it to someone. The school is a part of the Grapevine-Colleyville Independent School District and serves freshmen through senior students in Colleyville and the surrounding areas of Tarrant County. Ranking weighted 4.0 GPA* (includes only Core, LOTE, and AP courses in GPA calculation), 2. In a town like Colleyville, you cant tell anyone a secret you want kept. We remain committed to providing a learning environment at Colleyville Heritage that fosters and encourages student academic and extracurricular achievement," Grapevine-Colleyville ISD said in a news release. Colleyville Heritage High School Principal James Whitfield opened up in a lengthy Facebook post on July 31 about the incident from 2019 shortly after he had been promoted to the top post at the middle school. This was so she could direct Lewis to the appropriate vice principal. I showed it to my wife, who immediately begins to well up with tears," he said. It had absolutely nothing to do with race. By about 6 p.m., all students had been dismissed and all buses had left the campus, according to the school district. 2021 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. Then, one evening the Courier reporter called Lewis and asked if he could pass along her phone number to two reporters with the Dallas Morning News who were working on a series of stories examining steroid use in high schools all across North Texas. And during the second special session, lawmakers successfully passed Senate Bill 3, a more restrictive version of the House bill that will replace HB 3979 on Dec. 2. Whitfield's wife Kerrie said she took the photo to mean a black man with a tattoo on his arm was inappropriate. "We're talking about a very short period, weeks," district spokeswoman Robin McClure said. Bryan, afraid that someone inside had called the police, did the same. Im gonna kick your ass.. By signing up you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy, Stand with us in our mission to discover and uncover the story of North Texas, 18-year-old man, student face charges after gun found in car at Colleyville Heritage High School, What we know after 3 children killed, 2 wounded at Ellis County home, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones defers comment on revival of sexual harassment lawsuit. The school district told KXAS in a statement: When a social media concern is brought to the attention of the district, we have a responsibility to review it. I am not the CRT (Critical Race Theory) Boogeyman. I dont think that was crazy.. 817-305-4717. Do you value our journalism? The school district has called the photos questionable for an educator, especially a principal or administrator, and they said it has nothing to do with race. Dave Denning, a former Grapevine High School principal, will serve as interim leader of the campus, Ryan said. 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. It was all there. [3] Sports means everything to folks here, Bryan says. Other people in the audience shouted in support and cheered when Clark made his remarks. They were extremely polite but thorough. And the Grapevine-Colleyville ISD has adopted an aggressive drug-testing policy, due largely to the hot media glare Lewis helped focus on the school and its tepid (in her view) initial response to her charges. It had absolutely nothing to do with race., The photo that aired in initial media reports was not the only photo that was received by the District, Kristin Snively, executive director of communications for the district, wrote in an email to The Dallas Morning News. It wont change anything. "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. 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. James Whitfield, principal of. Whatever. Not Lewis. He sounded drunk. Lewis is suing because Cunningham told the Morning News she was a liar and a crazy mom. Ironically, it was the place where hed purchased his steroids. Colleyville Heritage High School (CHHS) is a public secondary school in Colleyville, Texas in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. You may need to show identification if this was not done at walk-thru. 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. Are ticket costs pricing Houston Astros fans out of Opening Day? But James Whitfield said he took it to mean the issue was he was in an interracial relationship. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Thanks for contacting us. Wednesday and Thursday shows are cancelled due to inclement weather. Its a smart school, too, well above state and national averages in students ACT and SAT scores. Not one single day.. That they will no longer give into that culture of forcing to assimilate and being ashamed of their identity," said student Sunehra Cowdhury. When Ted Beal answered his phone that morning, September 23, the nightmare began for the CHHS administration. I knew it as soon as I finished the story. The story was long, one of several the Morning News would run that week concerning steroid use. When the kids get to middle school, a lot of them go to sports camps in the summer to improve. I know he is. He loves his new school. All rights reserved, Highlighter: North Texas Students Help NASA Scientists, Educational Trailers Stolen After Presentations at Dallas Schools, Novak Djokovic Denied' US Entry Ahead Of Indian Wells, Joe Biden Asked To Intervene, Counseling Services Offered After Three Children Killed, Two Hurt In Ellis County, Check Your Change! Hes on his third cycle.. Good Lord, Lewis thought. It was at this moment that I knew the attack that we currently endure, was coming, the principal wrote on Facebook. Catherine writes about breaking news, crime and the Dallas Zoo. The driver said he was friends with one of the players who used steroids. Here is a look at the Top 3 girls teams in Class 5A. Skater punks, Bryan would call them. How did you feel? Lewis said she didnt want the schools help. They could not tell anyone her identityor else, as she put it, I will sue you. Given the extreme care administrators used with her identity in e-mail correspondence during the next few months (obtained by D Magazine), they took her threat seriously. I know that there's just so many people under these attacks and that's my greatest fear because this profession means so much to me, he said. Ive only chosen to speak out against baseless allegations after [the district] allowed a man to speak my name at the July 26 board meeting, he said. She knew the pettiness would get worse once she filed the lawsuit. While at UT, Catherine served as managing editor of The Daily Texan, UT's student paper, and interned at the Texas Tribune and Houston Chronicle. The Grapevine . He said the district wouldn't tell him why. The high school has about 2,000 students in ninth through 12th grades. She said the issue comes up informally "every time a professional athlete makes headlines" for steroid use. Lewis begged him to calm down. Whitfield is now speaking out about the incident and responding to what he claims are bigoted and racist attacks, including accusations that he is a proponent of critical race theory. But no names were used. 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. Who is available? It didnt take long for more questions to come. The Colleyville Heritage Steroid Scandal After finding steroids in her son's athletic bag in September of 2004, a Colleyville Heritage mom approached school administrators after. Shows are now Feb. 3 (Fri.), 4 (Sat. In hindsight, of course I should have just called them. It's something he and the district have denied. Hes not even playing football this year. It had absolutely nothing to do with race. The move comes a week after the principal and a crowd of supporters attended a school board meeting to address claims from a group of parents who say he is teaching critical race theory. / CBS Texas, UPDATE: Grapevine-Colleyville ISD Releases New Statement On Decision To Put Principal James Whitfield On Paid Administrative Leave. Check to be sure that email from abi@luhsd.net will come through. Scholars developed it during the 1970s and 1980s in response to what they viewed as a lack of racial progress following the civil rights legislation of the 1960s. A new study says yes. But I didnt want any of this for Bryan, Lewis says. CNN A high school principal in North Texas who was placed on leave after being publicly accused of promoting critical race theory has agreed to leave his role. Last Monday, August 23, students gathered at a school board meeting to express their support for Whitfield. Attendance Clerk. These Valuable Pennies Are Worth Thousands. The decision. The driver came after him. 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. Woman arrested in killing of 3 children at Italy, Texas, home in Ellis County, 41 North Texas congregations granted approval to leave the United Methodist Church, American Airlines, flight attendants file for mediation during contract negotiations, New Uptown office tower lands second major lease, Years after North Texas bid for Amazons second headquarters, retail giant halts plan, Mesquite to become the site of new 2,500-home community, North Texas builders see influx of activity in new year, but challenges persist, Mark Wahlberg pours tequila for fans at Dallas restaurant during thunderstorm, Chambelanes cambian de look: bailarines se adaptan a una nueva moda y ritmo en DFW, The Cowboys are closer than you think to a total makeover at running back, Stars notebook: Jamie Benn presented silver stick in honor of 1,000th career game, 12 Dallas-Fort Worth restaurants that have closed in 2023. In response to written questions from Jones and Jacobson, the district acknowledged that nine CHHS football players, eight seniors and one junior, had admitted to using steroids. 8:06 PM on Aug 30, 2021 CDT Updated at 1:21 PM on Sep 1, 2021 CDT. James Whitfield chose to resign from his position as principal of Colleyville Heritage High School and the school board unanimously accepted on Monday. His resignation won't be official. An 18-year-old man and a juvenile student are facing criminal charges after a handgun was found inside a students car at Colleyville Heritage High School on Tuesday. Mom, they already know. Colleyville Heritage High School's new principal, Dr. James Whitfield, is now speaking out saying he wishes he could've taken more of a stand in 2019 after his photo first stirred up. First, she noticed the syringes. Sitting at her computer in her Mid Cities work cubicle, Lewis felt disheartened as she read the story. The student came forward only after his mother discovered a bag full of syringes and vials of liquids in his bedroom closet. Whitfield's status with Colleyville Heritage High School is expected to be decided at a Monday school board meeting. I am not the CRT (Critical Race Theory) Boogeyman. Can you hide it?' State Rep. Matt Krause of Fort Worth, who is running for state attorney general, recently launched an inquiry into the types of books students can access in Texas schools, which included an 850-book list. Instead of issuing their support of me, they came after me, he said. This story has been shared 117,245 times. In December, however, nine students involved in football and other unspecified sports came forward and said they used steroids last spring. It was the sort of breakthrough that could take a pointy-headed newspaper treatise and make it touch people, win awards, effect change. COLLEYVILLE, Texas The embattled principal of Colleyville Heritage High School is expected to learn his employment fate this coming Monday. 5401 Heritage Ave. Colleyville, TX 76034-5919. But she acknowledges that if shed known then how her city would turn against her, how her son would become ostracized by other kids, how her motives would be mocked on radio and television, how her actions would be second-guessed by police, it would have given her pause. I wish I had the conviction to say, No, Im not going to take it down thats a picture of me and my wife kissing on the beach. 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. CHHS has several sub-administrators who are given students to oversee based on last name. According to state test scores, 55% of students are at least proficient in math and 77% in reading. A mother raising a teenage boy who decided to use steroids like too many kids do, or a football coach who didnt know? A petition in support of Whitfield has hundreds of signatures, and he said he's humbled for the support he's received and regrets he held this in for so long. If you know that is on your trusted email list, contact your child's school office (Grade Level Learning Community, Building, or SLC) to have your email added to the system. In the ensuing days, Whitfield found himself at the center of the debate over how race is taught in Texas schools. I'm ready to turn that next page, Whitfield told The Texas Tribune on Wednesday. Im used to it.. In February 2005, The Dallas Morning News published an in-depth report entitled "The Secret Edge", a look at the topic of steroids in high school sports. Ive moved on. Dan Patrick has called it a ridiculous leftist narrative. Gov. Read more about this topic: Colleyville Heritage High School, Athletics Other articles related to "steroid controversy, steroid, steroids": 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. Cunningham wants to know, Why now? All students and staff are safe, the school . 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. She makes mention of that one time someone said or did something to her daughter relating to the steroids backlash, but when I ask about it, she says she wont talk about it. We have established procedures for that which we are following.". It was the right thing to do. I think it's silly, I can't see why a husband and wife can't have a picture of them in a sweet moment.". Colleyville Heritage High School Principal James Whitfield has faced sharp criticism from some parents who are accusing him of teaching critical race theory. 2023 NYP Holdings, Inc. All Rights Reserved, Woman in viral pizza rant now facing ethnic harassment charges, Murdaugh Judge Clifton Newman: From segregated schools to the best we want in our jurists, NYC DOE probing anti-white texts linked to black superintendent, Black children attack, force white kids to say Black Lives Matter at Ohio school: video. Its a stupid lawsuit. Perhaps it goes without saying but producing quality journalism isn't cheap. Colleyville Heritage High School 5401 Heritage Avenue Colleyville, TX 76034 P 817-305-4700 F 817-358-4765 , Lori Lewis says the comments by Coach Cunningham slandered her and her reputation has been damaged.