I am Darlene Goodman, NAPTA VP.

I have been fighting the Los Lunas, New Mexico school district for over two years. Part of my story is posted on "Teachers' Stories." I have not had time to do an update for months because I have devoted my time to ridding the district of unethical and inept board members and administrators.

After the first year, I realized that the legal system will not help teachers achieve justice; neither will the judicial system, nor teachers' unions, nor state departments of education, nor politicians. I cannot tell anyone else how to fight for their rights, because each case is different; what worked for me might not work for someone else. I can only relate what worked in my district.

I undertook a letter-writing/e-mailing campaign. I wrote to politicians, judges, investigative reporters, editors, teachers, local administrators, board members, lawyers across the country, friends, and relatives. I contacted the New Mexico State Board of Education, the State Superintendent, and other state employees. When I feared for my safety because of my whistleblowing, I contacted the NM State Police and the FBI.I contacted 20/20, Dateline, Oprah, Erin Brockovich, and local members of the media.

I submitted FOI forms to the LLSD. They are available on-line, and refusing to answer one is a Federal offense. I asked for salaries of all administrators and administrative secretaries. I asked how much money had been spent on travel and training during the reign of the unethical board. I requested the amount spent on adding a personal shower for the superintendent to the new administrative building.

I submitted about forty letters. Then I made flyers listing all of the incriminating facts given to me by the district, and mailed them, posted them, and delivered them door to door before the school board election.I also made copies of incriminating documents and e-mails I have received from politicians, school administrators, lawyers, students, state employees, board members, and judges, and distributed them.

All three unethical board members up for re-election were defeated. Since the new board members took office two months ago, they have cleaned house. Of the two old board members, one just needed to be propped up by the new members, while the second one (a close, personal friend and admirer of the thug superintendent) stands alone, casting the dissenting vote on every issue.

The new board bought out the contract of the superintendent, and did not renew contracts for nine superfluous administrators. Another administrator was convinced to retire, and two more should be leaving the district soon.

In addition, board members have voted to hold their retreats locally, when in the past retreats were used as excuses for vacations at taxpayers' expense. The board has decided to elect one member to attend out-of-state training; in the past, not only did board members travel to training in San Francisco, New Orleans, or LA, but so did their families and the superintendent.In the last four years, the old board spent $101,000 on travel/training. So far, the board has saved the district about $700,000.

I am convinced that teachers must fight for themselves, and they must fight loud and long. Make noise. Go public. Crooked administrators and politicians fear publicity above all else. Ignore self-serving attorneys who advise teachers to remain silent. If at all possible, do not hire an attorney.

Last month, the NM governor signed a bill giving school superintendents sole responsibility for hiring and firing all personnel. People with the personalities attracted to administrative positions cannot handle that much power. They simply cannot restrain themselves abusing their power. While school boards retain the right to fire superintendents, a "you scratch my back and I'll scratch yours" good ol' boy regime of board members and superintendent can literally destroy a school district. This must be changed. However, for now I am concentrating on unethical, greedy, inept judges and lawyers, reporting their conduct to the Disciplinary Board, and making their behavior as public as possible.

Teaching in the Los Lunas district should be more pleasant now, and taxpayers should be relieved to see their money is not being squandered.

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