Opinion ID: 627142
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Facts Predating the 2005-2006 School Year

Text: Dass was born in Hyderabad, India. The Board first hired Dass as a teacher in 1991. In 2002, Dass was hired at Casals. At the time the Board hired Dass to teach at Casals, Dass had a Type 03 teaching certificate from the State of Illinois, which allowed her to teach any grade between kindergarten and eighth grade. Dass taught second grade during the 2002-2003 school year, and third grade during the 2003-2004 and 2004-2005 school years. Aleen Donaldson was the principal at Casals during this time. While Donaldson rated Dass's overall performance on her annual teacher evaluations during these years as excellent, Donaldson never recommended Dass for tenure. Donaldson testified at her deposition that Dass was never really a strong disciplinarian. Donaldson testified Dass was not strict or consistent in her discipline. Donaldson thought it was possible to be a strong teacher, but not a strong disciplinarian. Donaldson retired after the 2004-2005 school year. However, before Donaldson retired, she non-renewed Dass for the 2005-2006 school year. Dass lost her teaching position but reapplied to teach at Casals for the 2005-2006 school year. Dass was rehired and assigned to teach the fifth grade. Casals had an interim principal for several weeks at the beginning of the 2005-2006 school year until Jeske became principal in September 2005.