Reinstate C. Belser-Patton as Restorative Justice Facilitator

Cecilia Belser-Patton has been more than another staff member fulfilling her role with Guadalupe Education Systems. She has been a mentor, a leader, and an advocate for students, staff and our community. We have known her professionally and personally in each of these roles and seen how she impacts those around her in a way that promotes growth and strength in our community. We have named cultural competency as one of the most influential and important tasks of our district, and Mrs. Belser-Patton’s expertise and insight has moved our community forward by leagues on this initiative, far more than any other district-held professional development or staff member.

We say this with confidence because she has championed the ground-level tasks needed to transform our system to be culturally competent.  She has taken our learning experiences and found concrete ways to implement them in our community and schools. Cecilia Belser-Patton’s role in our community has not been limited to her position’s outlined requirements. She has always been the woman to go the extra mile, take on the extra task, and listen to any voice willing to speak. Her involvement in the Greater Kansas City Community enriches and unites Guadalupe Educational Center with resources and contacts that make us stronger. By removing Cecilia from our schools we are not merely forfeiting a Restorative Justice Facilitator, but also removing a member of our community who leads our staff forward to be conscious of our students, encourages students to advocate for themselves, and strengthens our community.

This petition would be ineffective if it did not name the reason that  Guadalupe Education Systems has chosen to remove Mrs. Belser-Patton, especially considering that it was shocking and distasteful to every staff member signing below. We understand that Cecilia is being removed based on her background check and criminal history, a history that has been cleared by DESE and one that has not limited her ability in serving our staff, students and families. At our schools, we have the policy of assuming the best.  In this spirit, we will assume that if Cecilia was not African American, or if she had the connections to obtain access to a board meeting earlier in this process, this dilemma would have still arisen.  We will also assume that the shocking lack of transparency regarding the removal of a valued community member was a misguided attempt to honor Cecilia's privacy. In reality, the secrecy and silence around Cecilia's absence has not only broken trust between staff, students, and families, but has also led to estrangement among colleagues, students, and administration.

We tell our students that they can repair any mistake they make, and that one mistake does not define them.  Why are we not holding our staff to that same principal, especially when Cecilia has been given state-mandated approval to work here and has shown that she is more than capable?

The following staff members formally petition for this purpose:

 Cecilia Belser-Patton be reinstated and renewed to continue her position and role in the Guadalupe Education System.