Principal Greear set his pen down as Mrs. D. entered his office. Her lips were tight and a faint scowl puckered her brow, but she didn’t look like a total nut job. After looking over the way she’d graded the assignment which brought her to his attention, he’d asked to see her grade books, and then any other assignments Ben Hamacker could provide. The bias was clear. Mrs. D. had willfully and significantly depressed Hamacker’s grades.
“Please, take a seat.” He gestured toward the chair set up on the other side of his desk. “Do you know why I asked you to speak with me today?”
She shook her head slowly, but her narrowed eyes belied the gesture.
“After reviewing the situation at length I have come to the conclusion Hamacker actually does have a legitimate complaint.”
“You do?!” Her jaw dropped in astonishment.
“You don’t?” he countered.
“No! I don’t. He has willfully disregarded my authority and instructions at every point.”
“I am told by some of your students this isn’t the case.”
“Who said that? Gene Thomas? I wouldn’t believe anything HE has to say. Neither one of them is any better than my step son.”
“Hmmm.” Greear steepeled his fingers in front of his mouth, trying to remember what he’d heard about Mrs. D. and her step son. As he recalled, there’s been some trouble there. If only he could remember what it had been.
“I was HOPING you would demand an apology from Hamacker. That would be the appropriate response to this situation.” Her lips pruned around the words, which were spoken with the crisp intonation of a speech instructor.
“Actually, it is you who should be apologizing, and not merely to Hamacker. Thomas has also suffered in your class.” Something clicked into place. “Ah… his father is a friend of your ex-husband, is he not?”
“What does that have to do with anything?”
Greear didn’t answer immediately. There was something more here, but he couldn’t put his finger on it. No matter. He was sure it would come to him in time.
“Mrs. Dieter, by all rights I should dismiss you on the spot. However, the school board frowns on precipitous change. So instead I am suspending you without pay for two weeks. If you can resolve your differences with both boys in that time, you will be re-instated. Here’s the name of the psychiatrist who will do your evaluations.”
Mrs. D. looked like she’d swallowed straight quinine. Slowly, resentfully, she said, “I’ll have my lesson plans ready for my substitute by…”
“No need. I’m calling on a guest lecturer to do a special unit with the students for the next two weeks. If you pass your psych evaluations, you can resume where you left off.”
She stood slowly, head as high as a queen. With a curt nod, she exited the office.
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