Sharron Smalls, Jane Addams High School Principal, Under Fire For Facebook Picture

A high school principal is facing harsh criticism after a revealing picture found on her Facebook page surfaced.

The photo showed Sharron Smalls, of New York's Jane Addams High School, next to a topless man as he pours a dark liquid substance over her. Students passed a copy of the photo around school last week.

Smalls is already under fire for allegations of credit padding. A New York City Department of Education probe is looking into whether she gave students credits for classes they didn't take.

"They put me in cosmetology because we don't have chemistry," 16-year-old senior Clarissa Williams told The New York Times.

The scandal has outraged students, many of whom may not graduate due to lack of credits.

Jane Addams High School received a an F grade from the city and is in danger of being shut down.

Comments

[Ember Rayne Hulett]

09:02 PM on 12/12/2011

https://www.nycenet.edu/offices/d_chanc_oper/budget/dbor/galaxy/galaxybudgetsummaryto/display2.asp?DDBSSS_INPUT=X650

This woman makes 140K a year. Hell hire me. At least I'll be honest.

[Missy Ruth]

01:21 AM on 12/10/2011

For crying out loud, don't fire her for a Facebook picture. And would YOU want her job?

I think it would at least have been fair to mention that this isn't some walk-in-the-park job. Wikipedia, "Jane Addams is located in the South Bronx and the vast majority of the population lives in low-income housing developments. 20 of them in a population of 35,000. Many social problems associated with poverty, from crime to drug addiction, have plagued the area for some time.

Violent crime continues to be a serious problem in the community with significantly higher drop-out rates and incidents of violence in its schools. Other problems in local schools include low test scores and high truancy rates. Drug addiction is also a serious problem in the community. Due to the lucrative drug trade in the area, many addicts reside in the community. Peer pressure among children who come from broken homes contributes to the high rate of usage.

Many households in the area are headed by a single mother, which contributes to the high poverty rate. Single parent homes often have a harder time providing at the same level as two-parent homes. Some families living there have been in poverty for generations. The incarceration rate in the area is also very high. It is home to a significant number of inmates currently held in New York state prison and jail facilities.

[observer nine]

12:25 PM on 12/30/2011

Such sympathy for a lying, cheating, perpetrator of fraud! Selling free parking spaces to teachers? (only excuse is that "my predecessor did it so I just continued" to line my pockets at their expense. This is the behavior of a thief. Have you read Smalls message on the school webpage? Having done so myself I had to laugh (sometimes laughter is the only antidote). Sounds like Missy Ruth has experienced critical thinking as taught by Principal Smalls. (This is a concept Smalls holds dear, according to her statements on the school website.)

[majesticjkr]

08:34 AM on 12/09/2011

everyone has a life and can live it the way they want, in this case it seems that the teacher may have acted unresponsable for the job she has, horses for courses, maybe she should look for another line of work, her current job is not working out for herself and the students,

[Sultry]

05:27 PM on 12/07/2011

Freedom to do what you want in your off time went out the door a few years ago. It started with companies being able to fire people who smoke at home. Citing they cost the company to much money in health care. Bullchit! Your employer is all up in your business, some even want your email accounts and social networks and they check into them. We the people have been alseep at the wheel. You better wake up and fast

[Honeejr]

04:28 PM on 12/07/2011

This was a poorly written article. It jumped all over the place.

[PoggeB]

01:53 PM on 12/07/2011

You know everyone has a right to have a life and have fun, but what was she thinking? Nothing on Facebook is private and it gets more public every day.In a profession that relies on maintaining order and the respect of students this photo was completely inappropriate. Either she isn't very bright, doesn't care or is way too naive to be educating teenagers.

[mdipary2004]

12:48 PM on 12/07/2011

If the school system can suspend 7 and 9 year old boys for sexual harassment then this woman should be FIRED.

[Judge Tom]

12:37 PM on 12/07/2011

There should be consequences for Principal Smalls. This is similar to the Facebook photo several years ago of student Stacy Snyder who was denied her teaching certificate because of a MySpace photo of herself holding a red plastic cup with the caption "Drunken Pirate." Stacy took her case to court and lost. Ms. Smalls must lead by example, on or off-duty. There is nothing that today's youth won't discover if their mentors, educators and role models make it public, regardless of "privacy" settings. -Judge Tom
www.askthejudge.info

[Jacob007]

10:42 AM on 12/07/2011

When did the U.S become such a hardline country. She over 18 years old she can do anything she want to do that is legal. Where is Gloria Allred.

[SteveDenver]

11:08 AM on 12/07/2011

Most schools have a morals or character clause in employment contracts. School boards which have been overrun by Religious Right occupants are making a big deal out of anything short of touchy-feely bible studies.

[Shelia Washington]

10:41 AM on 12/07/2011

Are they upset because she is not sleeping at the school so they can improve or is this about a Principal who does have a life after school is over. Facebook is her personal page and if her security settings was probably done she needs to look at her friends and she will find the person who put this out there. As an Educator, we have a standard we must follow some of mine are never friend students, never friend some family members, and set your security where NO one at your school or school district and view your information. WE DO HAVE LIVES AND I REFUSE TO LET PARENTS, BOARD MEMBERS, TEACHERS, PRINCIPALS AND OTHERS TELL ME HOW TO RUN MY PERSONAL LIFE. I WILL DO NOTHING TO DISRESPECT MY OWN BELIEFS NOR MY PROFESSION.

[Carmen Marino]

03:12 PM on 12/07/2011

Maybe if she spent time at her FAILING SCHOOL, doing whatever is necessary to help her students pass (ASIDE FROM MAKING UP GRADES), this wouldn't be as big a situation. She sure looks like she's having fun. She makes over 100k a year and she is an INCOMPETENT EDUCATOR. FIRE HER!!!! Not for her facebook picture, but BECAUSE SHE DOES HER JOB POORLY!!! If she did her job competently, she would NOT have a school that is failing and in danger of being closed. But no worries, she is a union member, they'll just send her to another school where she can continue to do a fine job of educating our children.

[Honeejr]

04:25 PM on 12/07/2011

The school didn't go down just because of her. That is why we hire principals. They are the ones who make sure the teachers (which they manage) do their jobs correctly and by the book. So if you want to throw fault throw it that way. A school is only as good as their leader.

[Sultry]

05:15 PM on 12/07/2011

Spoken like a woman that understands she is a professional that works with children, has some morals, a sense of dignity, and the good sense and taste to know you don't put a photo of yourself dancing with a man pouring something on you on the internet. Keep the Freak Momma stuff behind closed doors. That is if you want to have a job.

[storytellerjmc]

10:36 AM on 12/07/2011

The real issue is not the facebook picture. The school is failing its responsibility to educate the students; the administrator in charge is no doubt incompetent, and should have been fired yesterday.
This situation happens too often in urban schools; and results in 'graduates' who are fit for no more than entry level jobs. All the while, school board members reach for headlines, pose for newspaper photos, and boast of the 'improvements' they have made. Hint: if you can find the data; cost per pupil will be higher than the norm; and ratio of administrators to teaching staff weill also be high - very high. Urban schools are top heavy with 'shirts', and spend money recklessly.

[anishinabe65]

10:27 AM on 12/07/2011

Yup seen this one coming. My college professors all warn us about the social network. While there is great networking opportunities it can also lead to career suicide if not handled appropriately. And yes I agree with maculae.....protect your accounts! Or at the very least leave your personal life out of it!

[Eric Shin]

10:21 AM on 12/07/2011

That dancer looks like Obama

[josafa10]

10:48 AM on 12/07/2011

LOL...!

[replay]

12:24 PM on 12/07/2011

LOL!!! You know you wrong for that one. Whewwwwwwwww!!!!!!

[maculae]

10:19 AM on 12/07/2011

People, if you work in the field of education or work with impressionable people under the age of 18, PROTECT your Facebook account. Not rocket science even with fb's privacy policy.

[sculpy]

10:03 AM on 12/07/2011

The fact that any school in the United States does not offer Chemistry is the true outrage!

[PoggeB]

01:54 PM on 12/07/2011

Absolutely!