The Durham School of the Arts principal has departed suddenly from her post, capping a turbulent month at the school.
In a message sent to DSA families on March 19, Principal Jackie Tobias cited “personal matters” as the reason for her abrupt, mid-year exit. Tobias will take a leave of absence until the end of the school year then retire after 37 years in public education, her email message states. Tobias was named as DSA principal in 2021.
“Some of you may be aware that I was out of the office last week attending to a personal matter which continues to persist,” Tobias said in her message. “Effective immediately, I will be taking a leave of absence to attend to these personal matters.”
A spokesperson for Durham Public Schools said in an email message to The 9th Street Journal that Tobias is leaving DSA to care for her mother.
Tobias’ exit came just three weeks after the death of DSA eighth grader Gabriela “Gaby” Aparicio Ortega, who took her own life on Feb. 25. According to a Facebook post by Alexandra Valladares, a former member of the Durham school board and an advocate for the Latin American community in Durham, the 13-year old experienced bullying prior to her death.
“Her last words?,” Valladares wrote. “A letter to her parents, naming those who bullied her at school.”
Valladares’ post also criticized the school’s handling of the death.
“Following Gaby’s passing, the school has not provided any meaningful support to the family…,” Valladares said in the March 9 post. “We can’t help but feel that if the recent victims in DPS weren’t Hispanic, like our beloved Gaby, the administrators’ and teachers’ responses would be more empathetic and humane.”
On a GoFundMe page created to support Gaby’s family, her mother, Claudia Ortega, describes the girl as “an extraordinary soul, always observant and thoughtful, paying close attention to the little things that made life special.”
Rachel Siegel, a licensed clinical social worker and bilingual outpatient therapist at El Futuro, an organization that provides mental health services for local Latino families, said bullying is prevalent among Latino children in Durham.
“In my work at El Futuro, I do work with a lot of youth, and I would say a significant number do report being targeted and experiencing bullying,” said Siegel. “Especially speaking Spanish, having an accent. You know, even sometimes cultural differences as well.”
Further, Siegel said it can be challenging for Latino parents to navigate the school system in order to help their child.
“There’s no orientation course into the public education system in the U.S,” Siegel said.
DSA parent Melissa Rooney, whose three children have all attended Durham public schools, said bullying is not only a problem at DSA, but also elsewhere in the district.
“It is, in my opinion, I will say, swept under the carpet,” Rooney said.
DPS officials reject that claim, saying that incidents of bullying are addressed by the school system.
“While we cannot share details about any individual situation, we can provide assurances that DPS administration, teachers, and staff are obligated to address any concerns regarding bullying to prevent or stop the misbehavior,” spokesperson Crystal Roberts said over email Tuesday. “DPS has well-established investigative protocols to address reports of bullying.”
In response to Gaby Ortega’s death, a group of DSA students participated in a March 14 walkout to honor her and to advocate against bullying.
Five days after the walkout, Tobias, the DSA principal, issued a message over the school intercom criticizing students for participating in the walkout, according to social media accounts and interviews with parents.
She announced her departure from the school later the same day.
Two DPS students have died in recent weeks. The family of the second student, who died in a car crash and did not attend DSA, asked the district to keep their name and information private, said DPS spokesperson Crystal Roberts.
DPS Superintendent Anthony Lewis said both student deaths are taking their toll on the school system.
“We at Durham Public Schools have experienced tremendous loss, it’s been a heavy past couple of weeks, tremendous loss with the deaths of two of our scholars these past two weeks,” Lewis said at a March 13 school board meeting.
“We are deeply saddened and extend our sincerest condolences to the family, friends, and all those affected by the loss of these two young souls. I did make contact with both families and I know that they are already sorely missed, and our hearts go out to all who are grieving in our community.”
