Mott Hall Bridges Academy has effectively barred its founding principal, Dr. Nadia Lopez, from returning to the school. Now, she’s speaking out about the matter as the Department of Education investigates her over “unauthorized” visits.
Upon leaving the school I was approached near the busy main entrance, by the Superintendent and her deputy, who told me that my “presence creates tension” and was no longer allowed to come back to the school. I was initially shocked and in total disbelief. pic.twitter.com/DOFtwfmcUM
— Dr. Nadia Lopez (@TheLopezEffect) May 1, 2022
Lopez learned of her ban back on Apr. 13 while visiting the Brooklyn-based academy, which opened under her leadership back in 2010.
Lopez, who resigned last year due to autoimmune kidney disease, was specifically visiting the school to help connect a former student and cancer survivor named Laquana Lane with her past math teacher. The encounter was being filmed for a documentary and Lopez allegedly followed school protocol when entering the school.
I was banned from @MottHallBridges, a school I founded, after a recent visit with a graduate and cancer survivor who wanted to see her former Math teacher.https://t.co/pDOX9jJ2Ty
— Dr. Nadia Lopez (@TheLopezEffect) May 1, 2022
However, while wrapping up the meeting, Lopez was confronted by Superintendent Miatheresa Pate, who told her she wasn’t welcome at the academy anymore.
“I was shocked,” Lane said. “I felt bad for Ms. Lopez, knowing she wasn’t allowed to come back to the school she built. It was pretty sad.”
“I can’t even express how hurtful this is,” Lopez added, noting that she was told that her “presence creates tension” during the ordeal.
My passion for education was inspired by great educators. When I became a teacher, then later a principal I wanted to have the same impact on children, who deserved to know they mattered and there was no limits as to where they could go in life with an education. pic.twitter.com/aErUWBmwnj
— Dr. Nadia Lopez (@TheLopezEffect) May 1, 2022
As more information about the situation began coming to light, it was revealed that tensions between Lopez and school administration began brewing earlier this year.
After meeting with acting principal Laura Onwuka back in March, Lopez proceeded to critique the administration in a staff-wide email.
“It’s very clear that the current climate and culture does not represent the expectations I set for our scholars or the staff of our beloved school” she wrote. “Those currently appointed to the role of [Mott Hall Bridges Academy] leadership by the DOE, have no idea what it means to be a part of something that was created to defy mediocrity and the status quo.”
No one would have called for an investigation of an “unauthorized” visit on David Banks if he went to visit any of his Eagle Academy schools, prior to him becoming Chancellor of the NYCDOE.
I have never posed a threat and continued to offer encouragement to the staff. pic.twitter.com/SYU3LHGphQ
— Dr. Nadia Lopez (@TheLopezEffect) May 1, 2022
Now, this drama has boiled over and led the school to launch a complaint against Lopez, prompting an investigation by the Department of Education. Lopez is accused of taking photos of students during “unauthorized” visits to the school.
In response, Lopez says that taking photos of her students was “something I always did to celebrate the children of Brownsville in a world that had low expectations of them.”
This is why I was there on the 13th and the video that was taken. I was with a graduate who survived from having cancer and to visit her 6th grade math teacher.
How does this create tension? pic.twitter.com/EHJRsdWEaj
— Dr. Nadia Lopez (@TheLopezEffect) May 2, 2022
“This is extremely sad and disappointing because I poured my life into this work,” she added on Instagram. “Please share this story with your friends and family, via text, on your feeds, or in your stories and demand answers from the DOE because if they can do it to me, they will do it to anyone else who really cares and has been called to do this work.”
While this matter has prompted many headlines on Lopez, it’s not her first time in the spotlight. Just last year, she was shouted out by Humans of New York after one of her students called Lopez the person who’s influenced him the most.
Imagine, at that time I was feeling defeated and didn’t believe that my work was having any impact or even mattered. https://t.co/qQX3TADo7f
— Dr. Nadia Lopez (@TheLopezEffect) April 17, 2021
What do you think about the situation?
