Jackson Free Press

WAPT is reporting: Jackson Public Schools has fired the principal of Chastain Middle School on Wednesday morning, citing missing money and poor performance. But Principal Michael Ellis said he was dismissed for another reason. Ellis filed a complaint that Superintendent Earl Watkins made unwanted sexual advances to in the form of phone calls and text messages.

Two text messages were shown to 16 WAPT. One read: "Lunch?" The other said: "I am in the office if you are coming downtown. You obviously like to make me wait..."

Watkins called the charges of sexual harassment outrageous.

"I am shocked and very hurt by the allegations that have been made, allegations which are patently false," Watkins said in a statement. "It remains my prayerful hope that this hurtful matter will come to a conclusion in such a way that there will not be any permanent damage to JPS or my family on account of these reckless and false statements."

Previous Comments

ID

90304

Comment

Uh, on what planet is "Lunch?" considered a sexual advance? Cheers, TH

Author

Tom Head

Date

2006-12-20T22:15:11-06:00

ID

90305

Comment

Depends on the overall context of "lunch".

Author

Jeff Lucas

Date

2006-12-20T23:12:56-06:00

ID

90306

Comment

I agree, Tom. He's calling "Lunch?" and "waiting" in an office sexual harassment? That’s ridiculous! It appears that the FIRED principal, in a desperate attempt to take the focus off himself and his own wrongdoing, is trying to drag the superintendent down into the mud as well. It is clear that Ellis’ vicious attacks on the superintendent are retaliatory, vengeful, and an attempt to destroy the man’s reputation and influence. This approach will never work. If Principal Ellis took funds from the school, he should just step down, pay it back, and face the music -- and not try to destroy others because of his misdeeds.

Author

blu_n_a_redstate

Date

2006-12-21T04:30:14-06:00

ID

90307

Comment

"You obviously like to make me wait..." could be flirtatious, but it could also just be huffy / annoyed. If there's nothing more substantial than this--and we don't know what Ellis will say about the phone calls or whether he recorded any of them--it's hard to see how Ellis could bring a credible case. On the other hand, I don't think we should just assume the allegations are lies. It's been the year of exposing men on the DL; who knows how many more will be exposed in 2008?

Author

Brian C Johnson

Date

2006-12-21T10:16:42-06:00

ID

90308

Comment

How do i know you're gay? You send another man a text message stating "Goodmorning"

Author

jd

Date

2006-12-21T10:23:29-06:00

ID

90309

Comment

Amazing things can happen from human encounters. I got called into a meeting once where both bosses were wonderful and strong females. I was accused of trying to set up dates with the pretty clients, a total falsehood. I was quite friendly toward the women just as I am today. It turned out another Donna (not our Donna) had missed taking her illegal valiums a few times and couldn't stand the quick relationships and likeability I was able to establish with nearly every women who stepped through the doors. Those same 2 bosses eventually selected me as the troubleshooter (the main man) for all the problems that occurred in the office. I took on so-called crazy viet nam veterans and the likes with incredible skills without causing a single real complaint. What the other Donna should have and probably would have turned me in for was doctoring up the list of customers or clients. Two other males and I were responsible for doing all the initials interviews on everyone. Harold and I were about the same age. The other male preceded us by probably 20 years. Harold and I figured out how to interview all the pretty young women and leave the old ones for Mr. Dunlap. After about a month Mr. Dunlap told us "I can't be this damn unlucky, y'all are tricking me." Mr. Dunlap was the first white man I truly loved as a friend. Harold and I still talk about him when we talk or see each other. He was once in a batallion in the army with lots of black males. He didn't have a problem with us at all. He even thought it was funny the trick we pulled on him.

Author

Ray Carter

Date

2006-12-21T10:31:33-06:00

ID

90310

Comment

A lunch invitation, if it follows a pattern of more explicit or unwanted repeated sexual advances, could be construed as harassment. And I don’t know of too many people who would save text messages unless they considered them special or significant. While workplace dating may not be as taboo as it once was, administrators and managers should still be wary of making advances or overtures to subordinates, especially when in positions to make payroll decisions or influence their advancement. We’ve been told that even seemingly innocuous, flattering comments on someone’s appearance or being “too nice” to a particular employee these days can get you in hot water, which is why I generally don’t invite my female co-workers and subordinates to lunch one-on-one unless they ask, and even then I’ll try to see if others are interested in joining us. That said, it’s *possible* that this may very well be an attempt by Principal Ellis and his lawyer to out and smear Dr. Watkins in the media as a smokescreen to cover his own misdeeds, just as it’s *possible* that Dr. Watkins used what he suspected about Ellis’ activities as a veiled threat to keep his advances under wraps. According to his EEOC complaint, the harassment goes back to the spring of this year and consisted of more than just the 2 text messages shown to the media. The complaint was received by the EEOC in mid-November, with a subsequent investigation finding no merit to the claims. And keep in mind that Ellis’ wife has as much to lose by his making these charges public as she is still a JPS employee, suggesting that they must believe they have a legitimate complaint. The difficulty in proving the harassment in this case (assuming there was harassment) is there appears to be little evidence beyond “he-said/he-said”. I’m just irritated to see what should have been an internal personnel matter being played out in the media.

Author

Jeff Lucas

Date

2006-12-21T11:10:43-06:00

ID

90311

Comment

Excellent, Ejeff.

Author

Ray Carter

Date

2006-12-21T11:29:23-06:00

ID

90312

Comment

Ejeff wrote, "...this may very well be an attempt by Principal Ellis and his lawyer to out and smear Dr. Watkins in the media as a smokescreen to cover his own misdeeds, just as it’s *possible* that Dr. Watkins used what he suspected about Ellis’ activities as a veiled threat to keep his advances under wraps." I think Dr. Watkins is too smart to gamble his career on what you mentioned in the latter portion of your statement. As I said in an earlier post, It appears that the FIRED principal, in a desperate attempt to take the focus off himself and his own wrongdoing, is trying to drag the superintendent down into the mud as well. It is clear that Ellis’ vicious attacks on the superintendent are retaliatory, vengeful, and an attempt to destroy the man’s reputation and influence--why? because he got caught.

Author

blu_n_a_redstate

Date

2006-12-21T13:44:22-06:00

ID

90313

Comment

Blu there are plenty of smart, bright individuals who've made bad judgements in their personal lives and had their sexual activities brought to light, jeopardizing their positions and legacies. Think Mark Foley, Gary Hart, Newt Gingrich, Jim McGreevey, and of course, B.J. Clinton. I'm not saying Watkins is guilty of the charges, but if Ellis has evidence to prove that his firing and his wife being passed over for promotions was as much about the alleged advances by Watkins as it was about his own alleged crimes, then its worth investigating even if it's brought out as a "scorched earth" manner. If Watkins is abusing his authority, then his actions should be reviewed and a determination made as to whether there is merit to the accusation. Based on the information released to the public to date, it looks doubtful that Ellis' allegations can be proven, but I'm waiting for the case to unfold.

Author

Jeff Lucas

Date

2006-12-21T14:14:13-06:00

ID

90314

Comment

I'm with ejeff on this one and the long and short of this is the DRAGNET. There are a few things that make one wonder (1) If Ellis were such a poor principal and is guilty of fraud and abuse of funds, where is the evidence? (2) Would there have been some type of probation or warning actions taken prior to yesterday's firing?(3) If the case for sexual harassment was filed in mid November: isn't this before the fact? Ellis was just escorted from Chastain Middle School on yesterday. I'm hopeful that one of you will wake me up and tell me that I was dreaming or for sure, having a terrible nightmare! The country has a screwed up president that took us into war with a country that had nothing to do with nine eleven, the State has a screwed up Governor who doesn't think that women have the intelligence to work in his administration, and for sure not AAmerican women, the City has a screwed up Mayor who has committed criminal acts and is awaiting trial for god knows what, and now the person who stands at the head of Jackson's children: another screw-up??????????

Author

justjess

Date

2006-12-21T14:48:38-06:00

ID

90315

Comment

yeah, don't make the mistake in thinking a smart, career oriented person is not going to occasionally get snagged in a sexual harassment issue of his or her own making. It happens.That being said, I agree with Ejeff that we don't know enough about it yet.

Author

Izzy

Date

2006-12-21T14:54:00-06:00

ID

90316

Comment

Well said, Ejeff. But think about this. Has anyone out there ever felt WRONGED for being passed over for a promotion and as a result frustration and hatred built up inside of you toward that person (who has the power and authority to make it happen) but refused you or your loved one that opportunity? Forget whether or not you were qualified or the fact that maybe someone more qualified than you was fairly placed into the position. Has anyone out there ever contemplated a scheme/plot/scorched earth attack against that person who you feel WRONGED you, and who you now consider a bitter enemy? I think we are all guilty of this, but not all of us ACT upon these emotions, and then again, some of us do.

Author

blu_n_a_redstate

Date

2006-12-21T15:04:01-06:00

ID

90317

Comment

I don't want to be funny or make light of the matter but it seems these sex organs just don't mean us very much good. They led the most watched man in America (Bill Clinton) down the wrong road. They've tricked and misled preachers, doctors, lawyers, priests, nuns and many others in the wrong direction. I thought for years the reason a nun was called a nun was because she didn't want none and wasn't giving up none. I want even mention those freaky deaky priests. I was amazed to learn differently. No wonder some people wore chastity belts and had sex organs removed. Somebody should start a movement to remove them unless you need them for children. If I'm lucky enough to reach 85 years of age I just might take a notion to have mines removed.

Author

Ray Carter

Date

2006-12-21T15:08:15-06:00

ID

90318

Comment

The CL has these documents. After reading them, it appears the Ellises (after being warned of poor job performance and fearing loss of the husband's job) hatched this scheme as retaliation to defame and destroy Superintendent Watkins. Complaint filed with EEOC: http://clarionledger.com/assets/pdf/D0547081220.PDF PDF: Jackson Public Schools’ response to complaint: http://clarionledger.com/assets/pdf/D0547161220.PDF PDF: Dr. Earl Watkins’ response to allegations: http://clarionledger.com/assets/pdf/D0547211220.PDF Chastain Middle School principal's letter of termination: http://clarionledger.com/assets/pdf/D0546581220.PDF

Author

blu_n_a_redstate

Date

2006-12-21T16:30:36-06:00

ID

90319

Comment

I wish Dr. Watkins the best!

Author

Ray Carter

Date

2006-12-21T16:44:29-06:00

ID

90320

Comment

I don't know what the truth is, blu, but I don't think that is clear at all from those documents. This sounds like a very sad whodunit, and it's not clear to me whodunit from those documents. I've known too many situations of women being sexually harassed and then being turned into the scapegoat to assume that these allegations are not true. But I do presume Mr. Watkins' innocence until an investigation sorts this all out.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2006-12-21T16:44:44-06:00

ID

90321

Comment

The whole mess is a sad sack of events. Outing someone who may or may not be gay, and who did not request it, is a vicious and shameful way to attack someone. It strikes at the gut, and you can never live it down---especially here in this RED state.

Author

blu_n_a_redstate

Date

2006-12-21T16:57:21-06:00

ID

90322

Comment

I'm basically in agreement with Donna, but with the added idea that there's no cloud hanging over Earl Watkins as far as I'm concerned until there is some evidence to support these claims. We walk a fine line in cases like this. Do we say the accuser's lying? Hell, no--I remember all too well how the Anita Hill thing went, how the Duke rape thing went, and so forth. Do we say the accuser's telling the truth? Hell, no--because there needs to be a presumption of innocence. So what do we do? We pretend we never heard about it and let the authorities do their job. Unless, of course, we see evidence that the complaints are being unduly ignored. Cheers, TH

Author

Tom Head

Date

2006-12-21T16:58:41-06:00

ID

90323

Comment

what is really dumb is that if this is a bogus charge, Ellis won't be hired by anyone in the teaching profession around here or probably another state.

Author

Kingfish

Date

2006-12-21T17:00:38-06:00

ID

90324

Comment

Well, it's not the "gay" part that is the issue here; it's whether the superintendent sexually harassed an employee. I don't care whether he's gay or not. I have no idea what the truth is here; thus, the presumption for Dr. Watkins. But my point was that these documents don't prove anything one way or the other. Harassers are usually smart enough to keep the worst comments one-on-one where you can't record them or such, so just because the text messages aren't more salacious doesn't prove anything. It is interesting that the couple started complaining a while back. I wonder if they told other people or such. More is ahead on this one. It is very, very sad regardless.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2006-12-21T17:04:08-06:00

ID

90325

Comment

Tom wrote, "So what do we do? We pretend we never heard about it..." Tom, once someone makes an allegation that you are gay, it haunts you for the rest of your life. There will ALWAYS be whispers. ALWAYS.

Author

blu_n_a_redstate

Date

2006-12-21T17:06:34-06:00

ID

90326

Comment

If what Mr. Ellis is accusing Dr. Watkins of is false, he could be the victim of the countersuit that's supposedly being filed by Dr. Watkins. Mr. Ellis should've kept his mouth shut and not told anyone until he had gathered enough "evidence" to justify the accusations beyond a reasonable doubt. Unless there's something we don't know about, Mr. Ellis basically shot himself in the foot by prematurely opening his mouth. He's also set himself up for a criminal investigation by the county and state as well. What a tangled web we weave......

Author

Joerob

Date

2006-12-22T12:39:36-06:00

ID

90327

Comment

WJTV is reporting that the State Auditor Phil Bryant learned about the charges against Ellis through the media, that he was not contacted by the Superintendent at all about the alleged criminal activity.

Author

for_the_people

Date

2006-12-22T18:15:02-06:00

ID

90328

Comment

They also had a parent on the network talking about the situation is so grim with all that has gone on at the school this year that she is considering pulling her child from the school. I think the students are the ones who are really suffering here. This is yet another scandal they are having to hear about through the media.

Author

for_the_people

Date

2006-12-22T18:16:35-06:00

ID

90329

Comment

My first thought was about how all of this is playing out in front of the children. Chastain has been through a lot of negative exposure in the last couple of months; first my homegirl is murdered in her own driveway, possibly by a jealous mistress employed as a teacher at Chastain, and the dead woman's fiancee, also a teacher at that school is playing games with the RPD and the media. And now this mess with Principal Ellis. What a way to go into the Christmas holiday.

Author

Jeff Lucas

Date

2006-12-22T18:43:31-06:00

ID

90330

Comment

ejeff1970, your right. It's a compelling series of events... and we are fooling ourselves if we think the students aren't affected. It is events like this that make such a lasting impression on their lives---- and not for the better.

Author

for_the_people

Date

2006-12-22T19:01:34-06:00

ID

90331

Comment

Joerob, you stated that Mr. Ellis should have kept his mouth shut until the investigation was completed, from what I have read he followed proper procedure in that he went to a supervisor and complained and then when the alleged sexual harrassment continued he went to the EEOC and filed a complaint. I am not sure on this but I think once you file a complaint it becomes public record, so it might not have been Mr. Ellis who opened his mouth to begin with, but did so to defend himself. I also agree with Donna and I cannot tell who is at fault from the posted documents. Just remember you are being informed of the two sided of the argument and somewhere in the middle lies the truth.

Author

malt

Date

2006-12-22T19:39:02-06:00

ID

90332

Comment

blu writes: ..."Tom, once someone makes an allegation that you are gay, it haunts you for the rest of your life. There will ALWAYS be whispers. ALWAYS. Well, it doesn't "haunt" me; during my diploma mill investigating days, I heard very intricate rumors floated that I am gay, that I am in fact a gay prostitute (no joke), and so forth. Since then I have held several positions related to gay advocacy, I have worn gay pride T-shirts in public, and I danced like a crazy person at OUToberfest. I routinely hear people refer to me as a gay man, but I figure if anyone isn't inclined to believe I'm straight when I tell them, why should I care? There is exactly one person whose opinion of my sexual orientation counts, and that's the woman I want to sleep with. I mean, if Watkins isn't gay and this whole experience gives him an appreciation for what lesbians and gay men have to deal with, and he becomes an advocate, then in the long run it could turn out to be one of the best things that has ever happened to him. But I realize it's different in most occupations (I don't hang out with homophobes, and I'm a writer, so my career would not be discernibly unaffected if I were gay), which is why we really need to get the Employment Non-Discrimination Act passed under the new Congress. That said: The truth is very seldom in the middle. Odds are very good that either Ellis or Watkins is pretty much telling the whole truth, and the other guy's pretty much lying. There's nothing wrong with Ellis going public with these accusations if they're true, and everything wrong with Ellis putting forth these accusations at all, publicly or otherwise, if they're false. Cheers, TH

Author

Tom Head

Date

2006-12-22T20:52:46-06:00

ID

90333

Comment

It's a shame they're dragging my old school through this; three teachers out because of a murder and now someone gets revenge with gay rumors. Stupid world.

Author

Ironghost

Date

2006-12-22T22:06:57-06:00

ID

90334

Comment

In the case of Oncale v Sundowner Offshore Services, Inc. the Supreme Court ruled that sexual harassment is a form of discrimination protected by Title VII of the Civil Rights Act. The sexual orientation of either party should not be an issue when the employer investigates a complaint of sexual harassment, the court ruled. In fact, the parties do not even need to be sexually interested in each other for sexual harassment to occur. For instance, a heterosexual female supervisor can create a sexually harassing situation with either another heterosexual or homosexual female employee. Sexual desire between the people need not be present to constitute sexual harassment(discrimination). The key ingredients in sexual harassment are some form of sexual content and some form of discrimination occurring in the workplace. Anne

Author

anne mayeaux

Date

2006-12-23T23:42:43-06:00