University Preparatory Charter School for Young Men in Rochester, NY, has a tradition of letting the school's valedictorian give the commencement speech at graduation. Year after year, the charter school's most honored student stands up at the podium to read words they hope will inspire and encourage their fellow students.
That tradition, however, ended this year, when the principal, Joseph Munno, denied Jaisaan Lovett — their first ever black valedictorian — that honor. Jaisaan said when he didn't receive the speaking invitation like other valedictorians in the past, he went to see
Mr. Munno to ask him directly.
Munno didn't even give Lovett the courtesy of reading the speech. He just said no. After hearing about the incident, the city's mayor, Lovely Warren stepped in and allowed him to give his speech on the city's YouTube channel.
Lovett, says that he and Munno had clashed before but there is no excuse for his behavior towards this young man.
Lovett was supposed to be celebrating one of the most important days of his life, but instead, he had to deal with a principal's pettiness and hate. What Principal Joseph Munno did to ruin young Jaisaan's graduation is shameful. His actions show that Mr. Lovett, not Munno, was actually the adult in the room, while Munno behaved like a child. Whether Munno denied Jaisaan a chance to speak due to a personal grudge, because he was having a bad day or worse, one thing is clear, he should no longer be allowed to lead the school.
Sign the petition and ask the UPrep Board of Trustees to end their relationship with Principal Munno.