WASHINGTON — Jeffrey Canady was at the top of his career and a champion in the classroom for 18 years. He was nearly D.C. teacher and National teacher of the year.
Canady hasn't been able to hold a steady job for the last decade. He’s been fighting his wrongful termination by Michelle Rhee, former D.C. Public Schools Chancellor, based on what's been widely acknowledged by the Washington Teacher's Union and now a judge, as an unfair teacher assessment.
In July 2018, an arbitrator ruled that Canady deserves his money and job back. But Canady is still waiting.
“The Chancellor [Lewis Ferebee] and the Mayor [Muriel Bowser] can change this any time they choose,” he said.
Michelle Rhee left the city in 2010, but her legacy still stings to many. She killed careers and closed schools in the name of education reform. But many educators now say that reform didn't work. Many believe they only need to point to the recent DCPS high school graduation scandal as proof.
Canady said if the public need more evidence, one only needs to look at D.C.'s crime rate.
“You [Rhee] affected a whole generation of teachers and students,” Canady said. “They're the kids running around creating violence in our city because of the wrong-headed ideas Michelle Rhee placed in D.C's public schools and in the classrooms.”
WUSA9 reached out to DCPS, and a spokesperson said they're working to comply with the ruling and are "actively working to determine the appropriate amount of backpay due to Mr. Canady."
“At what point is the District of Columbia going to say we're going to start taking responsibility and doing things for our teachers and our students?," Canady said.