STUDENT VALIDATES DARLENE GOODMAN & GOODMAN'S ASSAULT CHARGES

Subj: Greetings from New Mexico
Date: 12/18/2002 8:43:03 PM Pacific Standard Time
To: mailto:Teacherkh

Dear NAPTA:

My name is Cara Lueras. I graduated from Los Lunas High School in May of 2000. Darlene Goodman was my history teacher my junior year. Mrs. Goodman and I became very close throughout that school year. I can still recall her class and her commitment to her students. As a naive 17 year old, I was unaware of the abuse at my high school; however, throughout my four years at Los Lunas High School I was aware of unfair issues going on and I too, was exposed to Mr. Henington's vicious temper.

It was my senior prom and I had finally saved enough money for a whole month to buy my to-die-for dress. Although my date was not up to par, I had a good time otherwise. When my date and I were leaving the Convention Center, the venue where my prom took place in downtown Albuquerque, I noticed Mr. Henington and two administrators standing in front of the elevators in the parking garage. As I passed slowly, in my beat up white Ford Lumina, Mr. Henington took one look at me and charged towards my front door. He violently opened my door and grabbed my arm, forcing me out of my car. However, I could not get out of my car because I had been seat-belted in, with the arm-strap burning my neck. I was afraid. I finally released myself from the car and he began yelling at me and forcing an explanation out of me as to why I was drinking.

The administrators tried to yell over him, screaming "It's not her, It's not her!" They had mistaken me for another student, wearing my silver dress, that had been caught bringing liquor into the dance. I can only imagine what he would have done to the student he was trying to look for. He pulled me out of my car and yelled at me in front of my fellow students. I was completely humiliated in front of my date and my students and ruined my prom. The next day Mr. Henington went to my morning Keyboarding class and asked to see me. He approached me and apologized for what happened. I didn't question my principal, in fear of reprisal.

The only thing I can remember from Mrs. Goodman's class was her passion to teach. She allowed her students to see her, as not only a teacher, but as a mentor. She was interested in her students and our lives and if we were open to her, like myself, we knew we always had someone to go to. I have only kept in touch with three teachers, including Mrs. Goodman, from Los Lunas High. That's less then one great teacher for every year I attending Los Lunas High, unfortunately. And all three teachers have left the school district and one, out of the state. I am now a junior at the University of New Mexico pursuing a Bachelors of Arts in Psychology. I am one of the few students in Valencia County that continued my education. I currently work at UNM- Valencia branch as a G.E.D. tutor, helping those students who left high school in the Los Lunas community get a high school education. Not only do I help returning students, but those students who have left Los Lunas High School for reasons they do not care to say. However, statistics showing the rate of students continuing their education and receiving some form of higher education after they receive a General Education Diploma (GED), rather than a High School Diploma are skin-wrenchingly scary and very real.

What is the cause of the failures in the public school systems? For years counselors, psychologists, and the state have pointed fingers at parents, teachers, taxpayers, and the government. Perhaps we are looking in the wrong place. Perhaps we need to take a closer look at the facilitators that carry the potential of our society in their hands.

Sincerely,
Cara Lueras
You may post, print, or publish my e-mail on your website, including my name.

NAPTA commends Cara for her courage and integrity to stand for what is right. As long as people live in fear and remain silent, predators will prevail. We all must see, hear and speak EVIL or we will be doomed to live with it. No one deserves to be assaulted. We can never expect to attract and retain quality teachers if assaulting them is covered up by attorneys willing to use the law in reprehensible ways. You have heard from only two of what may be a long line of victims. Hopefully more will come forth so that no one else has to suffer this indignity.

Top

Goodman