SOUTHPORT — Parents are protesting the recent termination of a Classical Charter Schools of Southport teacher over what they view as a mistake.
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Kimberlee Bareika, a 29-year-old kindergarten teacher at the charter school, was named Teacher of the Year in 2023. As of last week, she is jobless after a classroom camera showed her reading out a student’s answer to an assignment, a move deemed inappropriate by administration.
Now parents have started a petition to reinstate Bareika. The petition states Bareika’s “dedication has made a significant impact on our children’s education and emotional well-being.”
Bill Stidham, headmaster at CCS Southport, informed parents that Bareika — who started in her current role in 2021— would not be returning to her class for the due to “unfortunate circumstances.” A teacher assistant has taken over the class load as the school year comes to a close.
Port City Daily requested Bareika’s employee information subject to public record law; CCS Southport supplied only some information, notably not the date and disciplinary reason for Bareika’s dismissal, along with a copy of the written notice. This information is a matter of public record per North Carolina General Statute 160A-168.
Bareika declined an interview with PCD regarding the termination.
“I appreciate you looking into this,” she said. “I am waiting for advice from legal counsel before speaking to the media.”
However, a parent of one of Bareika’s students has spoken about what happened, after having talked to the teacher.
Brooke Lasko said Barieka was going over student answers to a writing prompt, positing what could happen when a kid misbehaves. This was happening during a “transition period” of the day between instructional time.
Lasko said most of the students’ answers were funny, indicative of the absurdity and silliness of children; Lasko gave “you’d get caught in a storm cloud” and “an eighth-grader could punch you” as examples. However, one of the 6-year-olds answered: “They could take you away and kill your mom.” Bareika read this response aloud, Lasko said, but redirected the conversation and didn’t affirm the child’s answer.
“They say the darndest things,” Lasko told PCD in a phone call Wednesday. “’At no time has this teacher ever made us feel like our children were not safe with her.”
Lasko claims there was no threat to the students, backed up by the showing of parental support of kids directly affected by Bareika’s actions.
Still, someone was watching the cameras, which the school maintains in every classroom.
According to CCS Southport’s policy handbook, the cameras are used by instructional personnel and administrators on a real-time basis to coach teachers and monitor the health, safety and security of the building.
The cameras record both audio and video and store the recordings for a limited number of days before being recorded over. Headmasters, assistant headmasters, deans, coaches, and a limited number of administrative personnel are the only authorized staff that have access to the cameras.
They can be used for the following means:
- Observing students at any time
- Observing teaching personnel while delivering instruction
- At the Headmaster’s discretion, a parent/guardian may be allowed to observe the actions and behaviors of their own child during instructional times with the Headmaster or their designee present
Lasko claims the school violated the policy by monitoring Bareika, even though she wasn’t delivering instruction. Lasko also kept her daughter, who she said has cried over the loss of a beloved teacher, home from school on Tuesday out of protest.
She’s among many parents making a statement against Bareika’s firing; many have chosen to decorate their cars they use to pick up their children with phrases such as “do the right thing,” “we support Ms. Bareika” and “team Bareika.”
Alisha Jacobs, who says her daughter would not have moved to the 1st grade without Bareika, started the petition May 27. It has 171 signatures as of Thursday afternoon and calls on CCS Southport to reinstate the teacher.
Bareika also has an outpouring of support on the CCS Southport Facebook page. Parents say they were not offended by Bareika’s actions and are heartbroken by the administration’s rash action.
So far, Lasko said the protests are being dodged by administration and the Classical Charter Schools Board of Trustees. She reported her and other parents have made calls and emails but have received no answers — or in the event they do get a response, it doesn’t offer much clarity or opportunity for parent input.
Lasko shared with PCD a response from Classical Charter Schools board of trustee member Melissa Gott, also an attorney with The Law Group, PLLC in Wilmington:
“Please know that our student’s emotional and physical safety is a top priority,” Gott wrote. “Unfortunately, an incident occurred last week which was reviewed by numerous staff members. The teacher was terminated. I know this is frustrating, but our goal at our schools is to maintain a safe environment for our children.”
Another parent, Marla Andreoli-Weber, told PCD the parents were prevented from bringing their homemade signs into a rewards ceremony on Wednesday. Andreoli-Weber added the parents invited Bareika to Thursday’s kindergarten graduation ceremony and were given confirmation she would attend.
Tips or comments? Email journalist Brenna Flanagan at brenna@localdailymedia.com.
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