Cambridge Lakes teacher, union leader resigns

A fourth-grade teacher who led efforts to unionize employees at the Cambridge Lakes Charter School no longer works at the school.

Charter school officials confirmed Wednesday that Tom Wermers, who taught math and science at the charter school, had resigned.

School officials denied there was any connection between Wermers' union activities and his resignation.

"The two are not related," said Bill Doran, a charter school board member and principal of Westfield Community School. "We do not look to release anyone based on them wanting to express their views. We look to individuals' performances."

But parents said they suspect Wermers' union activity and resignation are directly related.

"I'm sure it was under duress, which is a shame," said Diane Petersen, director of region 25 for UniServ, the union that represents employees in Community District 300. Petersen is also a charter-school parent.

Tanya Windbiel, whose son was one of Wermers' students, said she didn't think Wermers left on his own.

"I don't buy that," Windbiel said. "I don't think anybody's willingly doing it."

Wermers did not return repeated calls seeking comment.

Parents and teachers have also questioned the October resignation of former Principal Joshua Emmett.

While charter-school officials said Emmett resigned for personal reasons, their statements -- including remarks the charter school's director made last month -- suggested otherwise.

"We're not going to hurt somebody in the process of addressing a decision that didn't work," said Larry Fuhrer, executive director of the Northern Kane Educational Corp., the group that runs the charter school.

Fuhrer said parents will be notified that Wermers is no longer their kids' teacher. Wermers will be replaced by a teacher who already works at the charter school.

According to parents, Wermers was an outstanding teacher well-liked by parents and fourth-graders at the Pingree Grove school.

"He enjoyed what he was doing, and he was very good at it," said Melissa Pappas, whose daughter was in Wermers' class.

Stacy Reece, whose daughter was in Wermers' class, said he will be missed.

"He was very good to my daughter," Reece said. "She will miss him terribly."

Parents say they're already considering pulling their kids out of the charter school and enrolling them at another school next year.

"My kids won't be there next year," Windbiel said.

Pappas said she's not ready to pull her kids out yet, but if their learning is affected, she'll have to reconsider.

"I was hoping my son in kindergarten would be able to have (Wermers)," Pappas said. "Now, it doesn't look like it's going to happen."