Monday, February 11, 2013
Prebble does not give a reason for her departure.
Bishop O'Connell High School President Katy Prebble announced Monday that she will resign in June at the end of the current school year. Prebble has served as the school's president since July 2010. Her resignation letter does not indicate a reason for leaving, and a school spokeswoman did not immediately respond to queries beyond what was in a news release late Monday. "I have been inspired by O'Connell's spirit and traditions and am a better person for being guided by the (Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary) Sisters," Prebble stated. "Many of you may know that years ago Mother Teresa visited O'Connell and spoke to our students. Her message of love and compassion continues to fill the heart of our community. I will faithfully serve …
Thursday, May 10, 2012
Harrison: Complaining about discrimination internally 'rocked the boat' at private Catholic high school.
A Bishop O'Connell history teacher who was fired in April said he has filed two complaints against the school — one of which alleges racial, ethnic and gender discrimination against students. John Harrison, whose termination last month led students to protest and has angered more than 3,000 alumni, told Patch that he filed complaints May 1 with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and the U.S. Department of Education's Office of Civil Rights (OCR). "I filed those two complaints, and we'll see what the government does," Harrison said. "I do not believe that the actions of O'Connell are correct … and will not be upheld. Because you just don't just act this way." Michael J. Donohue, a spokesman for the Arlington Diocese, …
Sunday, April 29, 2012
Grad 'proud' of how school community has rallied to support teacher who was fired.
- OPINION
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Sunday, April 29, 2012
The following op-ed was submitted to Clarendon Patch last week. Links and photo added by Patch. After the controversial decision this month to fire a highly respected member of the Bishop Denis J. O’Connell High School faculty, the administration has received numerous complaints and is being criticized by thousands from the O’Connell community. A protest on April 19 received local media attention, but officials have remained relatively silent on the reason behind the decision. The school, on Little Falls Road in Arlington, is a private Catholic school of roughly 1,200 students. The firing of history teacher John Harrison follows a string of recent controversial decisions to let go of other greatly appreciated faculty members. The pattern …
Thursday, April 19, 2012
Harrison was 'like a father to all of us,' student organizer says.
About 250 students gathered Thursday along Little Falls Road across from Bishop Denis J. O'Connell High School to protest the firing of a teacher who has had a deep and lasting impact on those he taught — and even those he didn't. John Harrison, an attorney and adjunct professor at Georgetown University, until this week taught world history and practical law at Bishop O'Connell. He also was the moderator for the SADD (Students Against Destructive Decisions) club, a mentor, and had a reputation among students as someone they could talk to when they were distressed. "He literally is the face of our high school," said Julie Olafsson, a 17-year-old junior from McLean who organized today's demonstration. "He's like a father to all of us. It …
Nick Appel
5:05 am on Sunday, May 13, 2012
Actually, he is a great guy, coming from someone who knows him and had him as a teacher. I suggest you shut your mouth on topics you don't know the first thing about, Jenkins. more ›