The Antioch Unified School District in California has fired Superintendent Stephanie Anello, months after a friend of the administrator’s allegedly played a cruel joke on a subordinate by putting his desk on a roof. The incident, which involved Kenneth Turnage II, the director of facilities and a friend of Anello’s family, caused outrage when it was revealed in April. Trustees of the school district made the decision to terminate Anello’s employment immediately in a closed-door meeting, with a unanimous vote of 5-0.
Anello’s removal was met with applause at the meeting. Turnage, who made controversial statements about Covid-19 in the past, remains on administrative leave. Anello was paid over $307,000 in 2022, while Turnage received a little less than $79,000. The incident involving the desk on the roof drew national attention, highlighting issues within the school district’s leadership. Anello and Turnage have not yet provided comments on the matter.
The school board’s decision to fire Anello marks a significant change in leadership for the district, which is located northeast of San Francisco. The incident involving the desk on the roof led to public outcry and scrutiny of the district’s management. Anello’s compensation package, including overtime and fringe benefits, was over $324,000, while Turnage’s total compensation was a little more than $103,000. The situation underscores the importance of accountability and professionalism in educational leadership.
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