Fired Redmond HS principal speaks out
Brian Lemos was the principal of Lynch Elementary when it closed a major achievement gap. He was promoted to principal at Redmond High. Last July he was given a raise and in August a recommendation to be on a state teacher’s board.
In October, he was fired.
“Shay, under political pressure in my opinion, from some teachers that were complaining about how I was really trying to push the staff and so forth, he buckled,” said Lemos.
Shay Mikalson was the superintendent in Redmond at the time. Lemos says his battle started last August, when he was given a plan: Go on leave, quit as principal and take a different job with the district.
“They never asked nothing or even brought up concerns to me until prior to me refusing to go along with what they wanted me to do. I was shocked,” said Lemos.
After refusing to go on leave, he says Mikalson asked him questions about taking a prescription medication while at work.
“I’m just sitting there going, ‘Shay, you’re really just trying to get anything you can at this point. I can’t believe we are going down this road,'” said Lemos.
Lemos does have a history of substance abuse. In 2000, while working in Tillamook, he admitted to an alcohol problem. He says he’s been open about it, working hard to overcome that early obstacle in his career.
“I enjoyed working at Redmond High, and the reason I enjoyed it is because I really enjoyed the kids and the families,” he said.
The school district has refused to comment on why Lemos was let go. Their lawyer told us Thursday that they settled a lawsuit with Lemos, the district’s insurance company paying him $65,000.
And last week, the Oregon Teacher Standards and Practices Commission ruled on Lemos’s case, saying no further action was needed — in essence, saying he had done nothing significantly wrong.
The lawyer for the Redmond School District says there is still a pending matter regarding legal fees Brian Lemos is trying to collect. He says Lemos has asked to be paid an additional $43,000 to cover those fees.
