Amherst educator reinstated in misgendering controversy speaks out
Schooling
“I maintained my innocence all through this whole course of, and I imagine this resolution is a begin within the strategy of my full vindication,” Delinda Dykes mentioned.
A just lately reinstated Amherst Regional Center College steering counselor says her “full vindication” is underway after she was accused of misgendering college students in a scandal that rocked the Western Massachusetts group.
“Many have continued to make false and dangerous allegations about me,” Delinda Dykes mentioned Wednesday in an announcement, launched via an lawyer. “Let me be clear, I’m harmless.”
Dykes was initially ousted in 2023 after The Graphic, the Amherst Regional Excessive College newspaper, revealed an exposé alleging she and one other steering counselor routinely referred to transgender college students by the unsuitable names and pronouns whereas additionally failing to help college students experiencing gender-based bullying or intimidation.
The article even claimed Dykes invoked “the LGBTQ homosexual demon that wishes to confuse our youngsters” throughout a personal prayer session one morning earlier than faculty — an allegation Dykes disputed as false.
Dykes appealed her firing and was ordered reinstated after arbitrator Eileen A. Cenci agreed the district failed to satisfy its burden of proof and had denied Dykes due course of. Amherst-Pelham Regional Public Faculties Superintendent Dr. E. Xiomara Herman introduced the choice in a July 16 press launch.
Dykes launched a replica of Cenci’s resolution Wednesday, saying she hoped to “present some much-needed context on this state of affairs” given the group’s “robust response” to her reinstatement. In line with native media retailers, information of Dykes’s return sparked protests and sharply worded feedback from dad and mom and college students.
“I used to be more than happy with this resolution, which discovered not solely that I didn’t obtain due course of in my termination, however extra importantly that the ‘proof’ of the costs in opposition to me was inadequate and that it’s in the most effective curiosity of the scholars for me to return to my job,” Dykes mentioned. “I maintained my innocence all through this whole course of, and I imagine this resolution is a begin within the strategy of my full vindication.”
In her arbitration findings, Cenci acknowledged a number of stories indicating Dykes repeatedly misgendered college students. Not less than two different steering counselors alleged Dykes would acknowledge her error when corrected, promise enchancment, and fail to ship, Cenci wrote.
Nonetheless, she discovered the district didn’t show Dykes’s actions amounted to coverage violations or conduct unbecoming a instructor. Additional, Cenci decided the “intent to dismiss” discover Dykes obtained didn’t specify names, dates, or areas concerned within the alleged incidents.
“There may be substantial proof that Ms. Dykes cared concerning the LBGTQ+ college students assigned to her, and labored to enhance their faculty expertise, regardless of some misgendering and missteps in communication,” Cenci wrote.
Whereas the district prompt Dykes’s conduct was intentional, “since she misgendered college students so incessantly,” Dykes contended she didn’t imply to hurt or disrespect college students, in accordance with Cenci’s report. Dykes additionally argued her firing got here because of the “political firestorm” that erupted within the wake of The Graphic article, per the report.
Weighing in on the arbitration consequence earlier this month, Herman acknowledged Cenci’s report “made clear” sure procedural deficiencies contributed to Dykes’s reinstatement, together with the dearth of documented progressive self-discipline and restricted evidentiary information.
“We can not change the previous, however we are able to and should be taught from it,” she mentioned on the time. “We are going to use this second to construct stronger programs, reset expectations, tighten guardrails, and create clearer pathways ahead. This is a chance to enhance how we lead, how we doc, and the way we guarantee accountability.”
Within the meantime, Dykes mentioned she’s wanting ahead to returning to the center faculty come fall.
“I deeply share everybody’s concern concerning the security and well-being of all college students, together with those that determine as LGBTQIA+ and I’ll by no means waver in my dedication to assist all college students,” she mentioned.
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