Cave Creek parents voice concerns about work environment at Cactus Shadows

A parent of Cave Creek Unified students spoke during an Oct. 14 governing board meeting on behalf of Cactus Shadows High School employees who allege they are experiencing a “hostile” work environment.

The comments echo those from a district employee who raised similar concerns at a previous meeting. District officials, however, say they have looked into concerns and have not found issues that parents and former teachers described in consecutive meetings.

Saige Sola, a mother of four CCUSD students, claimed to have several statements from Cactus Shadows staff members who requested she speak on their behalf.

The employee statements described a work environment that included multiple instances of school leadership yelling at staff.

One statement from an anonymous employee said they wanted to speak at the Oct. 14 board meeting but were “extremely fearful of retaliation” from Cactus Shadows administrators. The employee also explained how working with administrative leaders at the school has made it difficult to focus on the job.

“‘I am highly considering leaving after this school year,’” Sola quoted the anonymous employee. “‘When it starts affecting our students and families, I can no longer stay silent.’”

Sola read another employee’s letter that described an exchange between the anonymous employee and CSHS Principal Sarah Barela. The alleged exchange involved Barela publicly “yelling” at the staff member in front of “multiple employees and students,” according to the letter.

“‘One of our team members from last year did not return primarily due to poor leadership of the administration team,’” Sola read. “‘I know of at least six other former CSHS employees that left over the years due to similar administrator behaviors.’”

In addition to the letters, Sola referenced Alexa Hamilton, who taught in various positions at CCUSD since 2020 and spoke during the Sept. 9 board meeting.

Hamilton had spoken during the public call to comment and described the “disrespect” and “nit-picking” staff at CSHS face, specifically attributing those attitudes to baseball coach Gaetano Gianni’s coaching contract not being renewed.

“These nit-picky little administrative scoldings are exactly the problem at Cactus Shadows.” Hamilton said. “The reason so many teachers are leaving, long-term teachers, is because they feel so disrespected and so unvalued from the higher-ups.”

During the Oct. 14 board meeting, Sola concluded her statement by calling on the board to correct the “ongoing patterns of misconduct.”

“We will no longer ignore these behaviors or the continued high staff turnover,” Sola said. “Resolution should be equal to the egregious behaviors from these administrators.”

Following Sola’s public comment, Susheta Shah, co-president of CSHS parent teacher organization, echoed similar concerns during her public comment.

Shah spoke about her concerns and experiences with the administration. According to Shah, on Sept. 29, she and assistant superintendent of educational services, Dr. Patty Jensen, discussed the high school’s work environment during a meeting.

Jensen told Shah an investigation had been conducted by assistant superintendent of human resources, Dr. Frank Hendricson, and he failed to find any evidence for the “hostile” environment, according to Shah.

However, Shah said, she discovered later that not all staff had been interviewed.

“So the investigation was incomplete and inaccurate,” Shah said. “This means there was some, and I hate to say this, falsification on this investigation by the district office.”

The board did not comment during the meeting, as is common for members not to discuss items not on the agenda. The open call is generally for community members to address the board.

When asked for a comment by Independent Newsmedia, Jensen said, “with regard to the statements regarding an alleged hostile work environment at CSHS, the parent’s statement was not accurate.”

“Please know we take concerns that are brought to our attention seriously.” Jensen continued. “Our practice is to complete our investigations and then determine if remedial or other actions are needed based upon the findings and conclusions reached.”

Hendricson said he could not discuss individual situations, but said, “employees are provided avenues to raise issues beyond their direct supervisors, and every complaint is taken seriously. Our goal is always to handle matters fairly, professionally, and in line with policy and state law.”

To watch the Oct. 14 board meeting, click here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sHmNqR5ixx0