The Mr. Martin Scandal

Yesterday I started to speak a little bit about the Claudel Martin scandal. Mr. Martin has been teaching and coaching at Thomas Jefferson High school for more than two decades. He is very well respected by the members on both the boys and girls track teams. He also receives frequent visits from former alumni. This is only some of the impact Mr. Martin has on his students. The impact he had on me personally was his belief in me. Although I was not the greatest runner, he saw something in me. Mr. Martin saw my determination and integrity in wanting to improve my running skills. This is why I have so much respect for him. He is not only a great coach but also a wonderful roll model as well.

Now for the SCANDAL! It started when the principal of my school, Ms. Lottie Almonte hired a new outdoor track coach after christmas break in 2009. Ms. Almonte never mentioned to Mr. Martin or the track team that he was being replaced for the outdoor season. The boys were furious as were the girls. I myself was in a state of shock. We all knew that Ms. Almonte didn't really like Mr. Martin, but we never thought she would have gone this far. She claimed that Marti (Mr. Martin) changed one of the athletes grades so she would be eligible to run and that he had juice delivered to his home that he would distribute after practices. I can tell you first hand that these allegations against Marti are false ones. No he did not have the athletes grade changed, he merely spoke to her gym teacher. Because the young lady plays a sport she automatically passes gym. As for the juice, the track team didn't have a budget. We weren't good enough for one. So Mr. Martin took money out of his pocket to make sure after practice his athletes had something to drink. Is there a crime in caring for your athletes?

These allegations led to Mr. Martins name removed from the outdoor roster and the boys had a new coach, whom they would never train with because of their loyalty and respect for Marti. I couldn't take it anymore until one day I sat down and wrote a letter to the chancellor Joel Klien. I explained to Mr. Klien everything that has been going on at Thomas Jefferson Campus and the injustice the track athletes were up against. I also started a petition on the topic and delivered it personally to his office with three other members. With that meeting after meeting came about but still our voices weren't being heard until I pointed out how corrupt the system is. The officials only take care of the ones that are for them even if they are wrong and anyone else who against them get dragged through the fire. Is that justice to you? Now a year later and Ms. Almonte and her men left the school but Mari still is battling for his job. The children are not being heard. Every time we call the superintendents office or some other authority we are ignored. But that is what they call justice....

-Thank You