Mission Valley parents, students question officials about fired teacher

More than a week after Ryan Haraughty was fired as a science teacher from Mission Valley Middle School, 8500 Mission Road, Prairie Village, parents and students continue to ask Shawnee Mission School District officials to reconsider.

Superintendent Gene Johnson and Shawnee Mission East area board member Donna Bysfield held a special meeting Tuesday at Mission Valley to address parent questions and concerns.

Johnson began the meeting by asking that everyone look for ways to begin to “move forward.”

“That’s what I’m hearing from people,” Johnson said. “Those are the kinds of e-mails I’m getting. That is our goal.”

Yet, for three hours Tuesday night, parents questioned the district’s decision and requested Haraughty be reinstated.

“He needs to be back here. Show your humility and say you are sorry,” Gorelick said. “He needs to be back at Mission Valley.”

The Shawnee Mission School Board voted to terminate Haraughty at the Nov. 9 board of education meeting. Haraughty told several media outlets that an off-color comment he made in class led to his firing. He said when students asked him about a disproportionate drawing of the United States, he replied by saying “Florida got excited.”

A Shawnee Mission School District statement said more than one incident factored into the decision to fire Haraughty.

“The decision was based on numerous incidents over an extended period of time,” the statement said. “Mr. Haraughty has failed to communicate this in his statements to parents, students and the media. We are sorry that we can’t get more specific regarding the incidents but the school district wants to be clear that what has been communicated by Mr. Haraughty is not a true representation of his situation.”

Some people are not buying that.

“In my opinion unless he came out and said the seven words you can’t say on television there is really not an issue with what he said, especially when we are talking about adolescents who are getting ready to become adults,” Johnn Beushcer said at the meeting.

Johnson said he would be available at Mission Valley Middle School several times this week to talk to students about their concerns. The board will also send a letter of thanks to students who spoke in support of Haraughty at the board of education meeting.

“We do appreciate the fact they did,” Johnson said.

Haraughty said last week he plans to appeal the board’s decision.

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