The Cupertino Courier
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Homestead teacher isn't renewed, and pupils protest
Popular English teacher is an inspiration, marchers say
By ANNE WARD ERNST
Bo Cheli is an English teacher at Homestead High School--for now. He was told during the week of May 15 that he wouldn't be asked back in the fall. When Homestead's students found out about it, they took action.
Lindzi Wessel, a junior, was one of the main organizers of at least two protests that began at the school that had students pleading to keep Cheli on board.
They put up fliers around school with such messages as: "Let Cheli @ HHS!" and "Fight for what's right! Fight for Cheli!" and "Cheli ... mentor and friend."
As fast as the fliers were taped to the school's walls, they were taken down, replaced and taken down again.
On Friday, May 19, just a day after Lindzi and other students learned about his dismissal, she and about 200 other students marched a little over a mile from the school's campus on Homestead Road to Fremont Union High School District's offices on Fremont Avenue.
They chanted and carried signs to show their support of their favorite English teacher.
On Monday, May 22, about 75 students gathered outside the school to march again in protest. This time they did it quietly.
When they arrived at the district offices they stood just off the sidewalk as a group, some standing, a few kneeling, many with posters or wearing T-shirts with phrases used at one time in Cheli's classroom.
They stood silently facing the building, wanting to be heard.
At 4:30 p.m., district Superintendent Steve Rowley exited the building, walked past the students, got in his car and drove away.
Rowley listened to their pleas during their last protest, but he can't tell them, or anyone, why Cheli's contract is not being renewed. It's a personnel issue and he has to abide by the rules of privacy.
"We have to be rabid around confidential issues," he said.
Rowley did say the students conducted themselves with maturity and respect.
"They've articulated the virtues of who this person was. I commend them," he said.
He said in every school district at this time of the year--the end of the school year--some teachers who are provisional or probational are told that they won't be asked back. Cheli is a provisional teacher.
A Homestead graduate himself, Cheli teaches freshman English and mythology.
His students say he is the best teacher they ever had.
"You can tell he has a passion for teaching," said Jaime Keith, a junior at the school.
"It's not like normal. You have a discussion," said junior Emily Critchfield.
Junior Melinda Templeman added, "He makes [lessons] pertain to real life."
Cheli has also made an impression on other teachers.
"He's our fire. He's our passion," said Shawnee River who also teaches English. She always knows which of her students had him for freshman English.
"I call them Cheli's kids," she says. "They always say 'thank you' when I hand them assignments."
Cheli makes the students say 'thank you' when they receive an assignment, test or anything related to education because he wants the students to understand how privileged they are to be getting one, she said.
His own education includes being a graduate of Homestead.
Freshman Kayla Maniscao is in Cheli's English class now. He's more than a teacher to her, she said.
"He changed my life."
