Lewis was convinced the tiny bottle held heroin, unaware that most illicit drugs are not sold with pharmaceutical labels. He knows its just because she loves him, but, damn, so many other kids get away with telling white lies, staying out late. I am the first African American to assume the role of Principal at my current school in its 25-year history, and I am keenly aware of how much fear this strikes in the hearts of a small minority who would much rather things go back to the way they used to be, he wrote. Lewis repeated that shed told him everything she knew. Bryan never had to wonder whether his mom was engaged, as Dr. Phil likes to say. The driver said he was friends with one of the players who used steroids. Who is available? It was early afternoon on Wednesday, September 22, and the Colleyville mother, after putting away the jeans, noticed a black leather bag. The Tarrant County Narcotics Unit, now working the steroids investigation, told Lewis that her first call should have been to them months ago. He had a Grapevine High School sticker on his car, so he didnt go to Heritage. Ranking weighted 4.0 GPA* (includes only Core, LOTE, and AP courses in GPA calculation), 2. A mother raising a teenage boy who decided to use steroids like too many kids do, or a football coach who didnt know? Colleyville Heritage High School 5401 Heritage Avenue Colleyville, TX 76034 P 817-305-4700 F 817-358-4765 Like Our Page on Facebook Follow us on Twitter One of the students was detained on a charge of having a weapon in a place where its prohibited, police said. One day in the lunchroom, Bryan walked up to a group of students gathered around a table. It was too quiet, she says. She expected to hear from him in a week or so. Theres SO much, but I am beyond humbled by the kindness, support, love, & encouragement being shown to me and my family, he said in a tweet. "We don't know what report they're talking about," she said. Thats what everybody should be doing. Instead of issuing their support of me, they came after me, he said. COLLEYVILLE, Texas The embattled principal of Colleyville Heritage High School is expected to learn his employment fate this coming Monday. Cunningham has apologized and said it was wrong to say the things he did, but I think anybody would have reacted the same way. He hopes he starts, he says. Normally, the school dismisses at 4 p.m., a district spokesman said, but around 5:15 p.m. the district tweeted that it was doing a controlled dismissal of all students.. McClure said school officials held meetings and questioned students, but nobody admitted to using the muscle-building substances. For nearly 10 years, she wrote restaurant reviews for the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, and her work has appeared in 360 West, Eater Dallas, Edible DFW, A+C magazine, D CEO, GlobeSt.com and Houstonia magazine. This story has been shared 117,245 times. According to state test scores, 55% of students are at least proficient in math and 77% in reading. "What he's done is said listen, we teach lots of different types of kids. I wonder who it was.. They needed more information. No one from above ever mentioned anything else about it, but the damage was inflicted on us in profound ways, he wrote. An anonymous parent called the high school and said football players were using steroids, which are illegal to use or possess in Texas without a prescription, and that the school's football coach condoned it. It was all there. Colleyville Heritage High School's new principal, Dr. James Whitfield, is now speaking out saying he wishes he could've taken more of a stand in 2019 after his photo first stirred up. It centers on the idea that racism is systemic in the nations institutions and that they function to maintain the dominance of white people in society. She was sad that shed been proven right. Bryan may be able to help, but dont contact him at school. She worried he would be labeled a snitch if it became a public ordeal. Colleyville Heritage High School is the 235th largest public high school in Texas and the 1,266th largest nationally. She checked the time. Hes not happy that Im still talking to the media. All four got out of the car. On the bus, she read, careful not to catch anyones eye. Ive only chosen to speak out against baseless allegations after [the district] allowed a man to speak my name at the July 26 board meeting, he said. Jones and Jacobson, sick that theyd inadvertently revealed Bryans identity, suggested that the papers lawyers could convince the school district to pay for Bryans tuition. Kids had easy access to steroids, athletes were using them, and high school administrators were in denial. The students created a fake wall with the. The students named an adult with no ties to the school as the source of the substances. Mom, they already know. Over time, Bryan began to trust them and open up. They werent too happy with me, she says. CHHS PTSA Reflections Chair. Its even tough to find a yardman in town. Hes been up at his schools weight room with other athletes, cleaning the mats, spray-painting the weights, putting the gym junk away. They asked Bryan to relive every detail. My mom catches me at everything, Bryan says. Judges rejected so many of the girls that they did not have enough cheerleaders for a junior varsity squad this year. The school district announced Monday, August 30, Colleyville Heritage High Principal Dr. James Whitfield was placed on paid administrative leave. Submission Deadline: 11/4/22. They are: 1. Thats it? This one held something. Had that photo been the only image, there would have been no request to remove it., In the superintendents letter Monday, Ryan told parents that the entire District leadership team and I are fully committed to the success and well-being of Colleyville Heritage students as we move forward together.. The district told WFAA again Friday that the decision has nothing to do with critical race theory or allegations by a small group of parents. Colleyville players admit to briefly using steroids, Mayor: HISD has two optionsclose school or be taken over, Rare photos show 2 ocelots crossing South Texas road, Eric Gordon trade looking better and better for Houston Rockets, Willie Nelson pays lovely tribute to another country legend, Hiker takes 'once-in-a-lifetime' photo at Brazos Bend State Park, This Texas Hill Country town is the new, cooler Fredericksburg. I just want to know, Why? The photos were from an anniversary trip. Feb. 5, 2005. Grapevine-Colleyville sources have said that the district does not teach CRT, a doctrine that pushes the notion that racism underpins Americas history, laws and institutions, according to the Dallas Morning News. ON FEBRUARY 12, A SATURDAY, LEWIS WALKED into a salon to have her hair done. Its why she doesnt let me talk to, or even see, her husband and younger daughter. 750 North St.Paul St. As a new campus principal, we wanted to provide a smooth transition for Dr. Whitfield to Heritage Middle School, which is why we advised him of the concern and made a request for the photos to be taken down from Facebook, it added. The Colleyville kids rarely venture far from home. In the ensuing days, Whitfield found himself at the center of the debate over how race is taught in Texas schools. By midweek, Bryan couldnt take the whispers and the barely contained seething of the football players. The school district told KXAS in a statement: When a social media concern is brought to the attention of the district, we have a responsibility to review it. Lewis told Beal that her son had used steroids, that he obtained them from other kids on the team, that they got them from someone at the nearby Whataburger. Not quoted are the audible giggles of news anchor Gloria Campos: The mother who helped uncover the steroid use at Colleyville Heritage High School, Lori Lewis, is suing football coach Chris Cunningham. She demanded to know why he was taking steroids. Gregg Jones and Gary Jacobson sat at Lewis kitchen table, in her upper-middle-class, redbrick home, on a quiet street in Colleyville, and grilled the mother and son for hours, during several interview sessions. Thinks he will. James Whitfield, who was named Colleyville Heritage High School's first African-American principal in 2020, posted that during the July 26 board meeting, he was publicly named and accused of . Whether the district acted over concerns from parents over racial issues or the way the couple was posed, Roppollo said there was no reason to censor the principal. He was just letting her know that he wasnt alone. I thought, Wow, that didnt work. The CHHS teacher who cornered her in the parking lot after the second public hearing and told her many teachers supported her but were afraid to speak out. His friend stopped him. # 1,954 in National Rankings. 5401 Heritage Avenue, Colleyville, TX 76034. Alphabet L - Z. lesli.ware@gcisd.net. The scandal at CHHS, as well as the well-publicized suicide of a student-athlete in Plano, Texas resulted in the implementation of random drug testing by the University Interscholastic League in 2007. But on the other hand, if you can get a million-five from everyone who says youre a liar and youre crazy, then Im gonna get me a lawyer, and Im gonna be a rich man., EVERYONE IS MAD AT LORI LEWIS these days, either for suing the high school football coach or for not keeping her mouth shut in the first place. "Because of his extreme views I ask that a full review of Mr. Whitfield's tenure in our district be examined and that his contract be terminated effective immediately," said Clark, who lost a recent campaign to join the Grapevine-Colleyville ISD school board. The school became the focus of national attention during a 2005 steroid scandal involving multiple student-athletes. I think its sweet. Colleyville Heritage High School Principal James Whitfield opened up in a lengthy Facebook post on July 31 about the incident from 2019 shortly after he had been promoted to the top post at. The decision. The driver, the stockiest of the bunch, rapped on Bryans window. "The only mention we make is a warning on health effects on our Web site," she said. Lewis didnt want to confront Bryan in front of his friends. Im going to fight him.. Bryan is used to getting in trouble with his mom. Not Bryans. I think its silly, I cant see why a husband and wife cant have a picture of them in a sweet moment, she said. Also in the post, the principal referred to an incident in which a school administrator asked Whitfield to remove a photo of him and his wife, who is white, from his Facebook page. Its been a roller coaster for him, she says. He wrote that he cant ask others to speak up if he wont, and that being a school administrator does not take away my rights and ability to be human and defend myself.. The Colleyville Heritage Steroid Scandal After finding steroids in her son's athletic bag in September of 2004, a Colleyville Heritage mom approached school administrators after. Wed have to move if our names came out, she said.. Here is a look at the Top 3 girls teams in Class 5A. Lewis pulled him out of CHHS and would soon enroll him in a nearby private school. Its he and his beautiful wife, they have a beautiful family, Sunni Roppollo, who has children at Colleyville Heritage High, told KXAS, adding that there was no reason to censor him.I chalk it up to educators are held to a different standard, unfortunately. "Our lawyers are looking at it," she said. Texas Teacher of the Year keeps focus on students to drown out political noise, 'Its about a happy classroom': Garland ISD focusing on social emotional learning. Chuck Schumer aims for weekend vote on bipartisan $1T infr Canadian teacher with size-Z prosthetic breasts placed on paid leave, I'm a professional cleaner ditch these 4 household products immediately, Buster Murdaugh got 'very drunk' with dad 2 months after mom, brother murdered: source, Tom Sandoval speaks out on Raquel Leviss affair: I deserve your anger, Shoeless Ariana Madix awkwardly tries to avoid cheating Tom Sandoval, Prince Harry was scared to lose Meghan Markle after fight that led to therapy, Memphis Grizzlies star Ja Morant allegedly flashes gun at a strip club, Chris Rock Places All The Blame On The Will Smith Slap On Jada Pinkett Smith And Red Table Talk: Everybody Called Him A Bitch!, Ariana Madix, Tom Sandoval have awkward moment amid cheating scandal. His decision. Do you value our journalism? He was asked to remove photos from Facebook taken on a beach vacation with is wife, that some felt were inappropriate. But you figure theres a problem at the school, you call the school. Let your love shine so brightly & your positive voice be so loud that it drowns out the noise. In May 2018, Dr. Ryan was named the 2018 Region XI Superintendent of the Year. Youget home! she told him. On the front page blared her sons story: Colleyville player says pressure to improve prompted steroid use.. This PTA does not endorse n See more 636 people like this The agreement seemingly puts an end to Whitfields arduous battle with the school district that date backs to July 26, when he was first accused of teaching critical race theory during a Grapevine-Colleyville Independent School District school board meeting by Stetson Clark, a former candidate for the district's school board. [3] ), & 6 (Mon.) She opened it wide and turned it to the light. At a board meeting a few weeks before last weeks, the parent group accused Whitfield by name which is against school board meeting rules. Some in the district have accused him of implementing critical race theory in the classroom. It was at this moment that I knew the attack that we currently endure, was coming., In a statement to KXAS-TV (NBC5), the district said the photos it received contained poses that are questionable for an educator, especially a principal or administrator. No one has provided any evidence that Cunningham knew about the steroid use on his football team, and theres no evidence that Lori Lewis is a crazy mom. No big deal, Bryan thought. Whitfield added that he has no regrets over what has transpired over the last couple of months, hes happy that he stood up for what he believed in and he hopes thats what people can learn from his situation. 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. Whitfield's status with Colleyville Heritage High School is expected to be decided at a Monday school board meeting. How did you get the syringes? "I think it's sweet. COLLEYVILLE - Nine Colleyville Heritage High School students involved in football and other athletics have admitted to using steroids, district officials said Friday. He marched into his mothers room and paced in front of her. Catherine Marfin, Breaking News Reporter. "They did not feel there was a problem that we needed to look into," Rogers said. Not one day has gone by that I havent had to deal with this or talk about it to someone. It was supposed to be a celebration for Whitfield, who had just been named principal of Colleyville Heritage Middle School two years ago, and his family. They werent snitches. A few days later, he dialed the players cell phone to arrange delivery, reaching him in an SAT preparation class.. But Colleyville police Detective Hillary Wreay said her department has received no information from the school on the alleged sale or distribution of steroids and has no investigation in progress. Get out of the car, Dyer, he said. He told KXAS that he received an email at the time from a school administrator containing an image of himself and his wife, Kerrie, kissing on their anniversary trip. The high school has about 2,000 students in ninth through 12th grades. I am the first African American to assume the role of principal at my current school in its 25-year history, and I am keenly aware of how much fear this strikes in the hearts of a small minority who would much rather things go back to the way they used to be.". It didnt take long for more questions to come. In June, Lewis scheduled to have her lawn mowed by a Mid Cities fireman who runs a small lawn-care company. The Grapevine-Colleyville district has taken no action against the students and is reviewing school policies to determine whether disciplinary action will be taken, she said. Other people in the audience shouted in support and cheered when Clark made his remarks. We need to make sure we're providing a healthy environment for all of them. All that stuff I could handle, and I do handle, she says. James Whitfield - Colleyville Heritage High Principal (CBS 11), Grapevine-Colleyville ISD Releases New Statement On Decision To Put Principal James Whitfield On Paid Administrative Leave. Whitfield's wife Kerrie said she took the photo to mean a black man with a tattoo on his arm was inappropriate. They even went to football games, sat in the stands, and made a list of the players who looked like they might be using steroids, based on the common signs: acne, muscular definition, rage. No one could see her talking to school officials. Read more about this topic: Colleyville Heritage High School, Athletics, And therefore, as when there is a controversy in an account, the parties must by their own accord, set up for right Reason, the Reason of some Arbitrator, or Judge, to whose sentence, they will both stand, or their controversy must either come to blows, or be undecided, for want of a right Reason constituted by Nature; so is it also in all debates of what kind soever.Thomas Hobbes (15791688), Bret Boone - Professional Career - Legacy -. Mother and son had always been close, though. Colleyville Heritage High School 5401 Heritage Avenue Colleyville, TX 76034 P: (817) 305-4700 F: (817) 358-4765 E: chhs.info@gcisd.net Quick Facts Year Opened: 1996 Grades: 9th - 12th Enrollment: 1,984 Mascot: Panthers Principal: Julia Stephen Other Important Information/Procedures Hours First Bell: 8:40 a.m. School Ends: 4:00 p.m. Anybody really believe that? She is a graduate of the University of Texas at Austin and Dallas College.