Wilson Aponte Delivers Plea to Remain Principal of Barlow School; Two Others Principals Removed

PLAINFIELD, NJ — At Wednesday's Plainfield Board of Education budget meeting, three principals were on the agenda to be removed from their schools for special assignment. Two were removed , while the third successfully argued against reassignment.

In item F on the agenda, Principals Wilson Aponte of Barlow School, Lisa Armstead of Maxson School, and Gwynette Joe of Stillman School were recommended to be taken from their posts and moved to special assignments. Colloquially, this is called being put in a "rubber room". While personnel matters are not discussed publicly, a superintendent usually recommends principals be removed from their schools and placed on administrative duty due to a bad fit or poor performance.

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Before Aponte himself came to the mic, Charles and Anna Booker School principal Juanpablo Jimenez made a statement on behalf of his mentor.

"I just want to publicly thank [Wilson Aponte] tonight because the reason why I'm a principal speaking in front of you is because this man believed in me and hired me here in the district as a teacher's assistant," said Principal Jimenez. "I worked with him for almost 20 years. He mentored me, he coached me, and I just want to say thank you for everything that you've done for me—for building me, for being my mentor, my friend, and my colleague."

"There's a saying out there," continued Jimenez. "It says when you help one person in this world, you are saving humanity. Wilson Aponte, you can go home tonight because you saved somebody. I'm speaking about myself. Thank you so much, Mr. Wilson Aponte, for everything that you've done for me, for our students, and for our community."

"I'm wondering today, 'Why now?'" said an emotional Wilson Aponte. "Why now, in this situation, are you moving 3 principals? This could have been delayed. It has totally changed the climate and culture in my building, and I am pretty sure it has impacted the other two buildings as well." Aponte said his proposed removal during the school year has been particularly difficult as Barlow School prepares for the NJSLA exam. Mr Aponte said he'd faced negative stigma recently.

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"Unfortunately, there's a perception of the 'rubber room.'" said the principal. "'Mr Aponte, what did you do?' Those questions are asked by my peers." Aponte also wondered what his administrative duty would entail.

"If we are given this task, what would the task look like?" said Wilson Aponte. "What are we going to investigate or research? Are we going to look at chronic absenteeism? Are we going to look at parent engagement? Are we going to look at special ed? Are we going to look at multilingual education? Once again, what does that look like? Or are we just going to sit in a room?"

At least for now, Mr Aponte will continue to serve as the principal of Barlow Elementary School. After his plea, only Commissioners Wyatt, Webb, and Smith voted "yes" to remove Aponte, which failed to reach the necessary 5 votes. Commissioners Virgo, Malone, and Gray voted "no" and Commissioners Andrews, Hembree, and Johnson were absent from the meeting.

Lisa Armstead and Gwynette Joe were both placed on special administrative assignment, receiving "yes" votes from 5 of the 6 Board of Education members present at the meeting. Commissioner Sarah Virgo voted "no".

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