Usually when trouble or miscues are discussed regarding Carden School at Juvenile Hall or TE Mathews (TEM) School for youth on probation the students are the topic. However, this year, it’s the teachers.
Carden teacher Heather Frey, 41 resigned in April when it was discovered that on February 23 she married a former juvenile hall inmate Joseph Etchevarria after he was transferred to Yuba County Jail. Etchevarria took a plea deal for voluntary manslaughter and was moved to the jail after turning 18. There had been a tip that Frey and Etchevarria were romantically involved when he was a minor at the hall.
Then, TEM instructor Sylvester White was placed on administrative leave October 30 after making an disparaging sexual slur to a male student. A week later, long time TEM Principal Chris Meyers was removed from his position after returning from a conference. Vice Principal Steve Rebozzi had interviewed staff members in Meyers’ absence leading to Meyers’ reassignment to teach at Carden School and Rebozzi taking his place at TEM.
Last week, TEM teacher Nicolo Orozco emailed a copy of a letter to more than 200 Yuba County Office of Education (YCOE) employees that he wrote to YCOE Superintendent Francisco Reveles.
The letter indicated first year employee Orozco had also been dismissed and Orozco was asking Reveles if he was fired in retaliation for reporting an unsafe environment for employees and child abuse at TEM. Orozco had reported both the Sylvester White incident and also inappropriate touching of students by teacher Jim Whiteaker.
Orozco indicated that Whiteaker slapped students on the butt and put his hands on their shoulders and neck area. Whiteaker was hired by YCOE after resigning from Yuba City Unified School District in July 2018 due to multiple reports of inappropriate sexual contact over a twenty year career.
Also, TEM teacher Tammie Fagan has been relieved of her duties after a series of inappropriate texts were discovered among employees critical of YCOE staff and an inappropriate outburst by Fagan at the school.
Taxpayers may wonder how much learning could be occurring among the neediest kids in the county when the adults in charge can’t behave well.
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