The leadership failures at Walled Lake Consolidated Schools (WLCSD) have reached a tipping point, and it is time for Missing In Action President of the Board, Stephanie Kaplan, the other 3 Board Members who currently approve of Giles Hiring (Siegler, Crafton, and Smith) and Superintendent Dr. Michael Lonze to resign. The disastrous tenure of Wixom Elementary Principal Taneia Giles has exposed the depths of mismanagement and ideological extremism infiltrating our schools, leaving teachers, parents, and students in turmoil.
A Toxic and Dangerous School Environment
From her first day on the job, Principal Giles has demonstrated not only incompetence but a blatant disregard for the safety, morale, and educational well-being of students and staff. Her administration has been marked by racial division, failed discipline policies, and a refusal to engage with parents or faculty constructively.
On the first day teachers returned, Giles forced staff to watch a video on “white privilege,” singling out white educators as inherently privileged while ignoring the contributions and struggles of all teachers.
She, allegedly, openly favors black students, refusing to engage with white students in the same manner.
Safety concerns abound: Giles reportedly turned off security monitors, allowing students to wander unsupervised. One fourth-grade girl was left severely injured when a student threw a chair at her, splitting her head open—an incident that should never have happened under proper supervision.
Discipline has collapsed under her watch because she refuses to document suspensions in the system. This means the district’s code of conduct cannot be enforced, allowing chaos to persist without accountability.
Multiple teachers have reported a hostile work environment where younger staff are deliberately targeted and pressured into silence, fearing retaliation.
Teachers Are Resigning in Protest
The response from Wixom Elementary’s dedicated educators speaks volumes: they are leaving rather than continue under such a hostile administration.
One Teacher resigned after speaking out against the toxic environment.
Two teachers are currently on leave, and another is preparing to step away.
Many others are considering quitting, unwilling to endure continued mistreatment and mismanagement.
A teacher requested a mediator to address the growing hostility, but WLCSD Union President Gerald Sullivan has refused to listen.
Parents Left in the Dark While Schools in Crisis
Parents are equally outraged, but their concerns are being ignored at every level:
Principal Giles has refused to communicate with parents, particularly regarding crucial school events like fifth-grade camp, leaving families in the dark.
Special education students are being improperly placed into mainstream classes without the necessary support, increasing disruptions and potential safety risks for all students.
Despite the growing outcry, Board President Stephanie Kaplan is missing in action, refusing to answer emails from concerned parents and teachers alike.
Lonze’s Total Failure of Leadership
Rather than address these escalating issues, Superintendent Lonze has chosen cowardice over accountability.
Despite months of complaints, he has refused to place Giles on administrative leave, effectively endorsing her destructive leadership.
Last Friday, Lonze visited Wixom Elementary but refused to speak with any teachers, failing to acknowledge the crisis firsthand.
He continues to stand by the reckless hiring decision made under his watch, protecting administrators instead of students and staff.
Demanding Accountability: Resignations Must Happen
It is not enough to remove Giles—this crisis stems from a deeper rot within the district’s leadership. Every person involved in her hiring must be held accountable, including:
Superintendent Michael Lonze – for refusing to address the problem and ignoring teachers’ and parents’ concerns.
The five board members who voted to hire Giles despite clear warnings.
The district’s HR department, which should have conducted thorough vetting before bringing in such an unqualified and divisive leader.
WLCSD Union President Jared Dewitt, for failing to advocate for the very teachers he is supposed to represent.
Walled Lake’s students, teachers, and parents deserve better. If Dr. Lonze and his complicit board members refuse to act, they should resign immediately. The community is watching, the schools in crisis, and we will not allow our schools to be sacrificed on the altar of woke mismanagement.
The time for change is now.
Parents, Teachers, and community members: Do not let your voices go unheard. Contact the WLCSD Board, demand action, and make it clear—this crisis will not be tolerated.