PPS board votes to terminate contract of Bryan Chu
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Bryan Chu, following the decision by the Portland Public Schools’ Board of Education to terminate his contract for insubordination and neglect of duty, Sept. 19, 2023.
Kristyna Wentz-Graff / OPB
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Chairman Gary Hollands of the Portland Public Schools’ Board of Education, right, listens to comments from supporters of former teacher Bryan Chu, during a meeting at the Portland Public Schools district offices, Sept. 19, 2023. Chu was placed on administrative leave in April of 2022, and at Tuesday’s meeting the board voted to terminate his contract for insubordination and neglect of duty.
Kristyna Wentz-Graff / OPB
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Bryan Chu, left, listens to his attorney Noah Barish, right, as they address the Portland Public Schools’ Board of Education at the Portland Public Schools district offices, Sept. 19, 2023. Chu was placed on administrative leave in April of 2022, and on Tuesday, the board voted to terminate his contract for insubordination and neglect of duty.
Kristyna Wentz-Graff / OPB
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Maria Cordero of Portland angrily addresses members of the Portland Public Schools’ Board of Education, before they voted to terminate teacher Bryan Chu, Sept. 19, 2023. “Do you know how many hours we have spent coming here so that you can hear us, and you don't want to pivot a little bit? You expect us to listen to this and think it's OK? Over and over again?" Cordero has been involved with protests led by Harriet Tubman Middle School students since Chu was placed on administrative leave in April of 2022.
Kristyna Wentz-Graff / OPB
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Bryan Chu, left, flashes his shirt to the crowd as he makes his way to the microphone where his attorney addressed the Portland Public Schools’ Board of Education at the Portland Public Schools district offices, Sept. 19, 2023. Chu was placed on administrative leave in April of 2022, and on Tuesday, the board voted to terminate his contract for insubordination and neglect of duty.
Kristyna Wentz-Graff / OPB
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"There's a reason why students are here of their own accord, on their own time, when this nation is facing a crisis, and they can't get students in the classroom, but they're showing up here. That to me is an indication that this is bigger than just this one decision,” says Aukeem Ballard, as he speaks before the Portland Public Schools’ Board of Education, in support of Bryan Chu, during a meeting at the Portland Public Schools district offices, Sept. 19, 2023. Ballard said his experience student teaching for Chu still stands out as the best professional development he's ever had in his career in public education.
Kristyna Wentz-Graff / OPB
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Portland Public Schools’ Board of Education member Julia Brim-Edwards, center, speaks during a board meeting at the Portland Public Schools district offices, Sept. 19, 2023. The board voted to terminate the contract of teacher Bryan Chu for insubordination and neglect of duty.
Kristyna Wentz-Graff / OPB
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A young supporter of Bryan Chu holds a sign up at the Portland Public Schools district offices, Sept. 19, 2023. On Tuesday, the Portland Public Schools’ Board of Education voted to terminate his contract for insubordination and neglect of duty.
Kristyna Wentz-Graff / OPB
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Lauryn Lockman, left, a former student of Bryan Chu, addresses the Portland Public Schools’ Board of Education, and speaks in support of Chu at Tuesday night’s meeting at the Portland Public Schools district offices, Sept. 19, 2023. Chu was placed on administrative leave in April of 2022, and at Tuesday’s meeting, the board voted to terminate his contract for insubordination and neglect of duty.
Kristyna Wentz-Graff / OPB
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Bryan Chu, right, addresses the Portland Public Schools’ Board of Education during a meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 19, 2023. The board voted to terminate his contract for insubordination and neglect of duty.
Kristyna Wentz-Graff / OPB
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Bryan Chu worked in the Portland Public School district for about 15 years, most recently teaching social studies at Harriet Tubman Middle School. He was placed on administrative leave in April of 2022, and on Tuesday night, Sept. 19, 2023, the PPS Board of Education voted to terminate his contract for insubordination and neglect of duty.
Kristyna Wentz-Graff / OPB
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Supporters of Bryan Chu stand behind him as he is interviewed by the media at the Portland Public Schools district offices, Sept. 19, 2023. On Tuesday, the Portland Public Schools’ Board of Education voted to terminate his contract for insubordination and neglect of duty.
Kristyna Wentz-Graff / OPB