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Harlem Principal Who Jumped In Front Of Subway Train Had Been Accused Of Tampering With Standardized Tests

Emma Whitford

Published Jul 27, 2015

Modified Jul 27, 2015

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Emma Whitford

Published Jul 27, 2015

Modified Jul 27, 2015

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The principal of an early-elementary school in Harlem who jumped to her death on the subway tracks this spring has been officially accused of tampering with her students' Common Core exams—an allegation that a whistleblower reportedly made to the Department of Education the day that she committed suicide.

Jeanene Worrell-Breeden, 49, jumped in front of a B train at 135th Street on the morning of April 17th, one day after her 3rd grade students finished their three-day Common Core English exams—the very first administered by her school. She died eight days later in Harlem Hospital, and the Medical Examiner ruled her death a suicide.

"Principal Worrell-Breeden was the subject of allegations of testing improprieties," DOE spokeswoman Devora Kaye said in a statement. "An investigation substantiated these allegations, and we closed the investigation following her tragic passing." According to the Post, Kaye would not discuss how Worrell-Breeden tampered with the scores. The DOE also did not confirm whether the principal had been informed of the allegations brought against her.

Worrell-Breeden was the first principal of Teachers College Community School—founded in 2011, the school partners with Columbia University's Teachers College, which provides the school with researchers and student interns. The school serves only pre-kindergarten through the third-grade.

According to an obituary published this spring in Chalk Beat, Worrell-Breeden, who had taught in the New York City public school system for two decades, was popular among parents and coworkers. "She was a woman like no other. She had her beliefs and stood firmly by them," said one parent. "We trusted her with the education and safety of our children, and she never let us down."

"The tragic irony here is that by all accounts this school is a runaway success," Harlem Councilmember Mark Levine told the NY Times over the weekend. "I've visited a number of times and am in regular communication with the parents. They seem to be thriving."

The Times reports that Worrell-Breeden had taken exam preparation seriously in recent years, incorporating practice tests into the curriculum for 2nd graders, and offering after-school prep classes. On test days, she led students in a daily morning pep rally to "ease anxiety."

According to the Post, parents of the 47 third graders at Teachers College Community School learned in June that their kids' English exams had been invalidated. Math scores, for tests administered between April 22nd and 24th, will be released later this summer.

Diane Tinsley, a parent, told the tabloid that Superintendent Gale Reeves has assured them that all of the students will advance to the fourth grade. She paraphrased Reeves: "The children didn't do anything wrong, and the teachers didn't do anything wrong."

Councilmember Levin issued a statement this morning, in the wake of the DOE's announcement. "The untimely passing of Principal Worrell-Breeden in May has torn at the heart of the Teacher College Community School and the broader neighborhood," he said. "New details emerging about the circumstances of her death will only compound this pain."

And, "I want to caution against jumping to conclusions about links between her death and any aspect of DOE policy until more is known about the circumstances leading up to her final days."

If someone you know exhibits warning signs of suicide: do not leave the person alone; remove any firearms, alcohol, drugs or sharp objects that could be used in a suicide attempt; and call the U.S. National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-TALK (8255) or take the person to an emergency room or seek help from a medical or mental health professional.

Tagged

common core

jeanene worrell-breeden

suicide

teachers college community school

Emma Whitford

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