On Wednesday, October 1st, the Arizona Republic wrote that “Arizona schools are struggling to find qualified educators…:”This same day the Fountain Hills School Board fired veteran teacher Pam Aister.

A few years ago I substituted for her in her third grade class. Her students were well-behaved, her lessons easy to follow, and I could tell that she was a good and solid teacher. How devastating that Pam only had two years left before retirement? How cruel is that? Or maybe just convenient??

We have a fluid situation where we are taking the word of a distraught mother and her eight-year-old son. Lee stated that “Aister was heavy-handed and unprofessional.” Perhaps it is Ms. Lee and the Board who are unprofessional. The vast majority of the findings of fact were pulled from students’ testimony…and we all know kids always tell the truth, don’t we? Also Ms. Lee said “…Aister’s testimony was deemed unreliable.” What???? Why would a teacher’s testimony be unreliable? Lee also said “…that Aister intimidated students, causing them unnecessary anxiety and fear.”

So did Pam Aister get the dignity and respect she deserved after giving many years to the FH school system? You know my answer!!! Shame on you, Fountain Hills School Board.