Ousted school principal wishes no one ‘ill will’
By JOHN F. MULLER Special to the Daily Press
LINCOLN BLVD. — Less than six months since its top administrator used a school board meeting to lash out at district officials, Olympic High School has a new principal in place.
Janie Gates took the reins last week, replacing Suzanne Toyryla, who chose to leave the district rather than accept a reassignment to Malibu High and a pay cut. District Superintendent John Deasy refused to comment on the circumstances surrounding Toyryla’s departure. She had served as principal at the high school for the past seven years.
A Santa Monica resident of 13 years, Gates has 28 years of administrative experience at the Los Angeles County Office of Education. She worked as a teacher in special education before serving as an administrator in the division of juvenile court and then the county’s alternative education division. Most recently, Gates worked to promote “No Child Left Behind” programs throughout southern California. She has also participated in the local PTSA alongside her husband.
Gates and Deasy agree the new principal’s experience working with students with special needs would help her succeed at Olympic. Gates said she was drawn to the school as an educator devoted to alternative programs. Her immediate decision to apply for the position came out of a desire to shorten a commute that often sent her across the state. She was selected by a group of faculty, administrators, parents and students.
A continuation school, Olympic traditionally strives to give its students the special attention its administrators believe they need. With just over 50 graduates this year, Olympic High’s student body never exceeded 145 students on campus for its seven teachers.
Olympic students, who range in age from 15 to 20 years old, have typically had rough lives — about 30 percent of the students are on probation, more than 20 percent are special education students, and half of the students work to support families.
Gates stressed that alternative education requires smaller class sizes, tailored assignments and one-on-one instruction — characteristics Olympic has been trying to build on.
“There are a lot of great things that are currently in place,” said Gates. “(I’ll be) working with the staff to offer more and more options for students. We’ll see if there are areas to grow and build more and more support Specifically, Gates said she wants to build a stronger network of parents to ensure that students are getting the support they need and parents remain informed. She scheduled a parents meeting for September and plans to hold similar meetings every subsequent six weeks.
While faculty members complain that the district pays Olympic little attention — teacher Anthony Fuller pointed out that only one school board member had visited the school before January’s meeting — Gates expects little trouble getting the school’s voice heard.
“I’m going to work with Dr. Deasy to make sure that whatever Olympic needs it will be given that support from the school district,” she said. “The school district has been very responsive since I’ve been here.”
Toyryla and Olympic faculty members said they still do not understand why the former principal was reassigned.
“The superintendent wanted to get rid of me,” she said. “None of us knows why he wanted to get rid of me.”
Toyryla said she had not been given the same consideration other employees had and could not accept a counseling job after working as a teacher, counselor, assistant principal and principal over the years.
“I truly wish great success for Olympic High School,” Toyryla said. “It was wonderful working with wonderful students. That’s how I’m leaving it. I wish no one ill will.”
Toyryla confronted the school board with a group of faculty, students and parents in January to respond to Deasy, who she said came into her office and alerted her that the school would be shut down. Deasy has refused to discuss Toyryla’s comments.
Fuller and Jack Casey, who has taught at Olympic for 25 years, said that the faculty and students remain united in their support for Toyryla. The faculty presented the former principal with jewelry from Tiffany’s as a parting gift, and the students organized a good-bye party complete with a homemade cake and speeches.
“You’re supposed to increase the effectiveness of the school with the students and the community,” Casey said. “She did that to an outstanding degree. Then, to be let go, who knows what went on behind closed doors.”
Gates did not express any concerns about coming into a community that had such strong support for her predecessor and a limited understanding of her departure. She has hit the ground running, holding two faculty meetings in her five days on the job, and commended Toyryla for helping to smooth the transition.
“I’ve been very welcomed,” she said. “The staff has been very open. They’ve communicated very easily with me. It’s been a very easy entrance, actually.
“It’s a wonderful staff, very close knit.”
Casey was strong in his support for the new principal, despite his consternation over Toyryla’s departure.
“Our new principal has come in with what I consider to be a very positive charge from the district,” he said. “Her charge is to build on what is here and to take it to the next level.
“That’s what we’ve been asking for for years.”
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on July 10, 2004. Read the original PDF.