LAS VEGAS, Nev. (FOX5) – Several parents of students at Neal STEAM Academy in the north valley came to Clark County School District’s board meeting Thursday evening, citing concerns over the principal’s behavior.
They and several teachers have told FOX5 the principal, Terri McLaughlin, has created a hostile work environment at the school while lowering morale for both teachers and students.
“A lot of the teachers have said she’s using intimidation techniques,” Marlene Arellano, parent of two students at the academy, told FOX5. “She’s making the teachers work out of contract hours.”
Another parent, Jaclyn Ziegert, described a story she heard from her third grader about the principal.
“The student body had organized a winter dance. Mrs. McLaughlin had come in, taken that away, and then put in her own idea. So everything that student body had worked for—she completely took away their hard work,” Ziegert recalled. “I heard from my son’s third-grade teacher how bad it had affected them, and how they really didn’t want to do much for the school after that.”
Arellano said she’d heard from other parents and teachers that McLaughlin was brought in to raise test scores, and that she’s heard scores have gone up since McLaughlin took over as principal in Fall 2023. However, she and other parents told FOX5 that despite that, they don’t want their kids learning in a place where dozens of teachers have expressed they don’t feel welcome.
FOX5 has reached out to Neal STEAM Academy for comment from the principal, but has not heard back.
“McLaughlin has to leave Neal or we’re all transferring our children out,” Arellano said.
“My children will be homeschooled until they’re placed into another school,” Ziegert echoed.
Copyright 2024 KVVU. All rights reserved.
