The Steinmetz teachers are raising money to help pay legal costs for a defamation lawsuit filed by the school delegate and Local School Council teacher rep against another non-union staff member who is closely aligned to an allegedly abusive principal.
Why is it that you never cover the mass firing of Black educators?
CAUSE has been on the front lines since 2009. We've been featured in the Sun-Times, Tribune, Fox News, WGN, CBS, and ABC — yet not a word from you. We covered 125 schools across the South Side and even helped Karen Lewis get elected. But those who supported CORE from the beginning have been pushed out and replaced — often by those who worked against us, or who aren't even educators.
We’re not asking for coverage. We’re in federal court right now fighting for Black veteran tenured educators who were discarded — not just by CPS, but by CTU itself. We don't need a union to speak for us. We need to train our people to speak for themselves and to stand firm against any organization — union or otherwise — that upholds systemic racism.
CAUSE isn't going anywhere. We’re changing the outcome, with or without the spotlight.
Why is it that you never cover the mass firing of Black educators?
CAUSE has been on the front lines since 2009. We've been featured in the Sun-Times, Tribune, Fox News, WGN, CBS, and ABC — yet not a word from you. We covered 125 schools across the South Side and even helped Karen Lewis get elected. But those who supported CORE from the beginning have been pushed out and replaced — often by those who worked against us, or who aren't even educators.
We’re not asking for coverage. We’re in federal court right now fighting for Black veteran tenured educators who were discarded — not just by CPS, but by CTU itself. We don't need a union to speak for us. We need to train our people to speak for themselves and to stand firm against any organization — union or otherwise — that upholds systemic racism.
CAUSE isn't going anywhere. We’re changing the outcome, with or without the spotlight.
Why is it that you never cover the mass firing of Black educators?
CAUSE has been on the front lines since 2009. We've been featured in the Sun-Times, Tribune, Fox News, WGN, CBS, and ABC — yet not a word from you. We covered 125 schools across the South Side and even helped Karen Lewis get elected. But those who supported CORE from the beginning have been pushed out and replaced — often by those who worked against us, or who aren't even educators.
We’re not asking for coverage. We’re in federal court right now fighting for Black veteran tenured educators who were discarded — not just by CPS, but by CTU itself. We don't need a union to speak for us. We need to train our people to speak for themselves and to stand firm against any organization — union or otherwise — that upholds systemic racism.
CAUSE isn't going anywhere. We’re changing the outcome, with or without the spotlight.
Why is it that you never cover the mass firing of Black educators?
CAUSE has been on the front lines since 2009. We've been featured in the Sun-Times, Tribune, Fox News, WGN, CBS, and ABC — yet not a word from you. We covered 125 schools across the South Side and even helped Karen Lewis get elected. But those who supported CORE from the beginning have been pushed out and replaced — often by those who worked against us, or who aren't even educators.
We’re not asking for coverage. We’re in federal court right now fighting for Black veteran tenured educators who were discarded — not just by CPS, but by CTU itself. We don't need a union to speak for us. We need to train our people to speak for themselves and to stand firm against any organization — union or otherwise — that upholds systemic racism.
CAUSE isn't going anywhere. We’re changing the outcome, with or without the spotlight.
Why is it that you never cover the mass firing of Black educators?
CAUSE has been on the front lines since 2009. We've been featured in the Sun-Times, Tribune, Fox News, WGN, CBS, and ABC — yet not a word from you. We covered 125 schools across the South Side and even helped Karen Lewis get elected. But those who supported CORE from the beginning have been pushed out and replaced — often by those who worked against us, or who aren't even educators.
We’re not asking for coverage. We’re in federal court right now fighting for Black veteran tenured educators who were discarded — not just by CPS, but by CTU itself. We don't need a union to speak for us. We need to train our people to speak for themselves and to stand firm against any organization — union or otherwise — that upholds systemic racism.
CAUSE isn't going anywhere. We’re changing the outcome, with or without the spotlight.
Why is it that you never cover the mass firing of Black educators?
CAUSE has been on the front lines since 2009. We've been featured in the Sun-Times, Tribune, Fox News, WGN, CBS, and ABC — yet not a word from you. We covered 125 schools across the South Side and even helped Karen Lewis get elected. But those who supported CORE from the beginning have been pushed out and replaced — often by those who worked against us, or who aren't even educators.
We’re not asking for coverage. We’re in federal court right now fighting for Black veteran tenured educators who were discarded — not just by CPS, but by CTU itself. We don't need a union to speak for us. We need to train our people to speak for themselves and to stand firm against any organization — union or otherwise — that upholds systemic racism.
CAUSE isn't going anywhere. We’re changing the outcome, with or without the spotlight.
Why is it that you never cover the mass firing of Black educators?
CAUSE has been on the front lines since 2009. We've been featured in the Sun-Times, Tribune, Fox News, WGN, CBS, and ABC — yet not a word from you. We covered 125 schools across the South Side and even helped Karen Lewis get elected. But those who supported CORE from the beginning have been pushed out and replaced — often by those who worked against us, or who aren't even educators.
We’re not asking for coverage. We’re in federal court right now fighting for Black veteran tenured educators who were discarded — not just by CPS, but by CTU itself. We don't need a union to speak for us. We need to train our people to speak for themselves and to stand firm against any organization — union or otherwise — that upholds systemic racism.
CAUSE isn't going anywhere. We’re changing the outcome, with or without the spotlight.
Why is it that you never cover the mass firing of Black educators?
CAUSE has been on the front lines since 2009. We've been featured in the Sun-Times, Tribune, Fox News, WGN, CBS, and ABC — yet not a word from you. We covered 125 schools across the South Side and even helped Karen Lewis get elected. But those who supported CORE from the beginning have been pushed out and replaced — often by those who worked against us, or who aren't even educators.
We’re not asking for coverage. We’re in federal court right now fighting for Black veteran tenured educators who were discarded — not just by CPS, but by CTU itself. We don't need a union to speak for us. We need to train our people to speak for themselves and to stand firm against any organization — union or otherwise — that upholds systemic racism.
CAUSE isn't going anywhere. We’re changing the outcome, with or without the spotlight.
Why is it that you never cover the mass firing of Black educators?
CAUSE has been on the front lines since 2009. We've been featured in the Sun-Times, Tribune, Fox News, WGN, CBS, and ABC — yet not a word from you. We covered 125 schools across the South Side and even helped Karen Lewis get elected. But those who supported CORE from the beginning have been pushed out and replaced — often by those who worked against us, or who aren't even educators.
We’re not asking for coverage. We’re in federal court right now fighting for Black veteran tenured educators who were discarded — not just by CPS, but by CTU itself. We don't need a union to speak for us. We need to train our people to speak for themselves and to stand firm against any organization — union or otherwise — that upholds systemic racism.
CAUSE isn't going anywhere. We’re changing the outcome, with or without the spotlight.
Why is it that you never cover the mass firing of Black educators?
CAUSE has been on the front lines since 2009. We've been featured in the Sun-Times, Tribune, Fox News, WGN, CBS, and ABC — yet not a word from you. We covered 125 schools across the South Side and even helped Karen Lewis get elected. But those who supported CORE from the beginning have been pushed out and replaced — often by those who worked against us, or who aren't even educators.
We’re not asking for coverage. We’re in federal court right now fighting for Black veteran tenured educators who were discarded — not just by CPS, but by CTU itself. We don't need a union to speak for us. We need to train our people to speak for themselves and to stand firm against any organization — union or otherwise — that upholds systemic racism.
CAUSE isn't going anywhere. We’re changing the outcome, with or without the spotlight.
Hi Jim, these are my prepared remarks to the Steinmetz LSC. I spoke last night at public participation. I said all this but didn't use the names of the three staff members.
Sharon Schmidt, teacher
Prepared Remarks to the LSC
Wednesday, March 12, 2025
As you may know, I organized a Go Fund Me page to help with legal costs, as well-regarded teacher reps Mr. Caputi and Ms. Szulkowski have sued MSG Davis for defamation.
Way back in November 2022, a petition, signed by 50 staff members was presented to this council. It demanded that MSG Davis’ false accusations stop. But he didn’t stop. He continued telling lies about my colleagues through his fake flyers, fake email accounts, and false statements. These lies have damaged them and our whole school so much.
It’s bad enough that he is spreading lies to adults, he’s also harming students. Last month, a student was in my room leafing through a yearbook. She saw a picture and said, “That’s the teacher who uses the n word.” I asked her who said that. She said, “Sargeant.”
This is an outrage. Like the dozens of faculty members who signed the petition, I know my friends never use racist language and are not racist. To lie and say that is utterly damaging.
Look, it’s Ramadan and Lent, and at this time some of us focus on fasting, giving, and prayer; also love — the basis of everything. All of us in this room can be loving people: we love our families, we care about our students. Lefty is leading community circles to help us connect more with each other. That’s loving.
But please don’t confuse loyalty with love. In this, Dr. Vilchez’s first experience as a principal, she’s closely aligned herself with MSG Davis. She’s loyal to him, but so unloving as she uses his lies to go after our teachers.
Where are the consequences? The principal is accountable to you.
I ask you to put aside ideas of loyalty and consider that using lies and elevating those who lie is unloving and bad leadership.
Why is it that you never cover the mass firing of Black educators?
CAUSE has been on the front lines since 2009. We've been featured in the Sun-Times, Tribune, Fox News, WGN, CBS, and ABC — yet not a word from you. We covered 125 schools across the South Side and even helped Karen Lewis get elected. But those who supported CORE from the beginning have been pushed out and replaced — often by those who worked against us, or who aren't even educators.
We’re not asking for coverage. We’re in federal court right now fighting for Black veteran tenured educators who were discarded — not just by CPS, but by CTU itself. We don't need a union to speak for us. We need to train our people to speak for themselves and to stand firm against any organization — union or otherwise — that upholds systemic racism.
CAUSE isn't going anywhere. We’re changing the outcome, with or without the spotlight.
Why is it that you never cover the mass firing of Black educators?
CAUSE has been on the front lines since 2009. We've been featured in the Sun-Times, Tribune, Fox News, WGN, CBS, and ABC — yet not a word from you. We covered 125 schools across the South Side and even helped Karen Lewis get elected. But those who supported CORE from the beginning have been pushed out and replaced — often by those who worked against us, or who aren't even educators.
We’re not asking for coverage. We’re in federal court right now fighting for Black veteran tenured educators who were discarded — not just by CPS, but by CTU itself. We don't need a union to speak for us. We need to train our people to speak for themselves and to stand firm against any organization — union or otherwise — that upholds systemic racism.
CAUSE isn't going anywhere. We’re changing the outcome, with or without the spotlight.
Why is it that you never cover the mass firing of Black educators?
CAUSE has been on the front lines since 2009. We've been featured in the Sun-Times, Tribune, Fox News, WGN, CBS, and ABC — yet not a word from you. We covered 125 schools across the South Side and even helped Karen Lewis get elected. But those who supported CORE from the beginning have been pushed out and replaced — often by those who worked against us, or who aren't even educators.
We’re not asking for coverage. We’re in federal court right now fighting for Black veteran tenured educators who were discarded — not just by CPS, but by CTU itself. We don't need a union to speak for us. We need to train our people to speak for themselves and to stand firm against any organization — union or otherwise — that upholds systemic racism.
CAUSE isn't going anywhere. We’re changing the outcome, with or without the spotlight.
Why is it that you never cover the mass firing of Black educators?
CAUSE has been on the front lines since 2009. We've been featured in the Sun-Times, Tribune, Fox News, WGN, CBS, and ABC — yet not a word from you. We covered 125 schools across the South Side and even helped Karen Lewis get elected. But those who supported CORE from the beginning have been pushed out and replaced — often by those who worked against us, or who aren't even educators.
We’re not asking for coverage. We’re in federal court right now fighting for Black veteran tenured educators who were discarded — not just by CPS, but by CTU itself. We don't need a union to speak for us. We need to train our people to speak for themselves and to stand firm against any organization — union or otherwise — that upholds systemic racism.
CAUSE isn't going anywhere. We’re changing the outcome, with or without the spotlight.
Why is it that you never cover the mass firing of Black educators?
CAUSE has been on the front lines since 2009. We've been featured in the Sun-Times, Tribune, Fox News, WGN, CBS, and ABC — yet not a word from you. We covered 125 schools across the South Side and even helped Karen Lewis get elected. But those who supported CORE from the beginning have been pushed out and replaced — often by those who worked against us, or who aren't even educators.
We’re not asking for coverage. We’re in federal court right now fighting for Black veteran tenured educators who were discarded — not just by CPS, but by CTU itself. We don't need a union to speak for us. We need to train our people to speak for themselves and to stand firm against any organization — union or otherwise — that upholds systemic racism.
CAUSE isn't going anywhere. We’re changing the outcome, with or without the spotlight.
Why is it that you never cover the mass firing of Black educators?
CAUSE has been on the front lines since 2009. We've been featured in the Sun-Times, Tribune, Fox News, WGN, CBS, and ABC — yet not a word from you. We covered 125 schools across the South Side and even helped Karen Lewis get elected. But those who supported CORE from the beginning have been pushed out and replaced — often by those who worked against us, or who aren't even educators.
We’re not asking for coverage. We’re in federal court right now fighting for Black veteran tenured educators who were discarded — not just by CPS, but by CTU itself. We don't need a union to speak for us. We need to train our people to speak for themselves and to stand firm against any organization — union or otherwise — that upholds systemic racism.
CAUSE isn't going anywhere. We’re changing the outcome, with or without the spotlight.
Why is it that you never cover the mass firing of Black educators?
CAUSE has been on the front lines since 2009. We've been featured in the Sun-Times, Tribune, Fox News, WGN, CBS, and ABC — yet not a word from you. We covered 125 schools across the South Side and even helped Karen Lewis get elected. But those who supported CORE from the beginning have been pushed out and replaced — often by those who worked against us, or who aren't even educators.
We’re not asking for coverage. We’re in federal court right now fighting for Black veteran tenured educators who were discarded — not just by CPS, but by CTU itself. We don't need a union to speak for us. We need to train our people to speak for themselves and to stand firm against any organization — union or otherwise — that upholds systemic racism.
CAUSE isn't going anywhere. We’re changing the outcome, with or without the spotlight.
Why is it that you never cover the mass firing of Black educators?
CAUSE has been on the front lines since 2009. We've been featured in the Sun-Times, Tribune, Fox News, WGN, CBS, and ABC — yet not a word from you. We covered 125 schools across the South Side and even helped Karen Lewis get elected. But those who supported CORE from the beginning have been pushed out and replaced — often by those who worked against us, or who aren't even educators.
We’re not asking for coverage. We’re in federal court right now fighting for Black veteran tenured educators who were discarded — not just by CPS, but by CTU itself. We don't need a union to speak for us. We need to train our people to speak for themselves and to stand firm against any organization — union or otherwise — that upholds systemic racism.
CAUSE isn't going anywhere. We’re changing the outcome, with or without the spotlight.
Why is it that you never cover the mass firing of Black educators?
CAUSE has been on the front lines since 2009. We've been featured in the Sun-Times, Tribune, Fox News, WGN, CBS, and ABC — yet not a word from you. We covered 125 schools across the South Side and even helped Karen Lewis get elected. But those who supported CORE from the beginning have been pushed out and replaced — often by those who worked against us, or who aren't even educators.
We’re not asking for coverage. We’re in federal court right now fighting for Black veteran tenured educators who were discarded — not just by CPS, but by CTU itself. We don't need a union to speak for us. We need to train our people to speak for themselves and to stand firm against any organization — union or otherwise — that upholds systemic racism.
CAUSE isn't going anywhere. We’re changing the outcome, with or without the spotlight.
Why is it that you never cover the mass firing of Black educators?
CAUSE has been on the front lines since 2009. We've been featured in the Sun-Times, Tribune, Fox News, WGN, CBS, and ABC — yet not a word from you. We covered 125 schools across the South Side and even helped Karen Lewis get elected. But those who supported CORE from the beginning have been pushed out and replaced — often by those who worked against us, or who aren't even educators.
We’re not asking for coverage. We’re in federal court right now fighting for Black veteran tenured educators who were discarded — not just by CPS, but by CTU itself. We don't need a union to speak for us. We need to train our people to speak for themselves and to stand firm against any organization — union or otherwise — that upholds systemic racism.
CAUSE isn't going anywhere. We’re changing the outcome, with or without the spotlight.
the union should be handling this ... and multiple ULPs need to filed against the principal ... otherwise you will loose this fight ... drkugler
Hi Jim, these are my prepared remarks to the Steinmetz LSC. I spoke last night at public participation. I said all this but didn't use the names of the three staff members.
Sharon Schmidt, teacher
Prepared Remarks to the LSC
Wednesday, March 12, 2025
As you may know, I organized a Go Fund Me page to help with legal costs, as well-regarded teacher reps Mr. Caputi and Ms. Szulkowski have sued MSG Davis for defamation.
Way back in November 2022, a petition, signed by 50 staff members was presented to this council. It demanded that MSG Davis’ false accusations stop. But he didn’t stop. He continued telling lies about my colleagues through his fake flyers, fake email accounts, and false statements. These lies have damaged them and our whole school so much.
It’s bad enough that he is spreading lies to adults, he’s also harming students. Last month, a student was in my room leafing through a yearbook. She saw a picture and said, “That’s the teacher who uses the n word.” I asked her who said that. She said, “Sargeant.”
This is an outrage. Like the dozens of faculty members who signed the petition, I know my friends never use racist language and are not racist. To lie and say that is utterly damaging.
Look, it’s Ramadan and Lent, and at this time some of us focus on fasting, giving, and prayer; also love — the basis of everything. All of us in this room can be loving people: we love our families, we care about our students. Lefty is leading community circles to help us connect more with each other. That’s loving.
But please don’t confuse loyalty with love. In this, Dr. Vilchez’s first experience as a principal, she’s closely aligned herself with MSG Davis. She’s loyal to him, but so unloving as she uses his lies to go after our teachers.
Where are the consequences? The principal is accountable to you.
I ask you to put aside ideas of loyalty and consider that using lies and elevating those who lie is unloving and bad leadership.
Read the unsubstantiated CPS EOCO complaint Steinmetz HS principal Anna Vilchez filed v. Gina Szulkowski and Vince Caputi here:
https://x.com/Bearstradamus_1/status/1765710236717846663?t=tQTXYP2BdwIv5N7uinqwkA&s=19