I am a Science Teacher at Lehman High School. I have 6 years of service at LHS. I am one of many teachers that were disturbed by your recent issue. First, the removal of Coach Acker as head Basketball Coach shocked many of us. No reason is apparent. Coach Acker was a member of the founding faculty of LHS. He is admired by the faculty as a hard working coach and PE teacher.

Even more upsetting was your interview with our principal, Ms Michelle Chae. Particularly upsetting was her response to your question about her being an elementary teacher and what adjustments she has had to make to be a high school principal.

She referred to what she called an old saying that elementary teachers become teachers because they love students and secondary teachers become teachers because they love their content. She said her mission at LHS was to show secondary teachers they could care about their students and still hold them to high academic standards.

This is so hurtful to the LHS faculty who read this article. The LHS faculty is profoundly caring toward students. Teachers help students out way beyond their “call of duty” or their commitment made in their teacher contract. I did not become a secondary teacher because I love my content, though I do. I became a secondary teacher because I love working with teenagers.

If my love of my content was my passion, I would have stayed in college and earned a PhD so I could dedicate my life to studying history and science. I did not earn my Masters in History or in Science. I earned it in Education because I love working with teenagers, and I love teaching!

I want to reassure the Hays community that, regardless of our principal’s opinion to the contrary, the faculty of LHS is one of the most caring, hardest working high school faculty I have ever experienced. The challenges LHS faces are daunting and difficult. I want the LHS faculty to hear that I deeply believe in them. I know the gifts they give day in and day out to our students do make enormous, positive differences in the lives of many, many teenagers!!! Thank you!

While I feel I need to pursue a new position in Austin in August, I will keep you always in my heart and yearn for the best for the awesome faculty and the incredible students of LHS!!!

Sherre Boothman

Science Teacher