Back in 2007, it was Corey's 5th year in education. His first year from what I had heard was quite a disaster. He needed a veteran teacher in his class almost every day to help him with management. His 2nd year was better, but it was a CTT class and the burden was not completely on him. In his 3rd year as a teacher somehow was able to squirm into a reading recovery position or something like that, and in his 4th year, well check this out. His 4th year, he was doing his administrative internship. Yep. You read that right.
Seems Corey had from the get go decided that he was on the path to the glory of being an administrator. I guess that is how would think having left the world of advertising. But anyway, his 5th year in eduction and at the school he became an assistant principal.
But all I wish to share is my brush with Corey's swelled head and his trip to power. The other stuff, how he pissed off every teacher in the school, his incompetence, will be left to the historians to decide.
On August 31, 2007, (remember those two days before Labor Day?) in a conversation I was having in the teachers lounge with a colleague I was sharing my two cents about the expectation of our then principal to take work home with us. In my conversation with said colleague I said, "I ain't doing any shit at home." Unfortunately, Corey was in ear shot of me and heard it.
I paid no mind for Corey had told me the previous spring that he would be his own man, that he would not be influenced by our then bi-polar principal. That, and the fact that I considered him a friend made me think that no biggie.
About 3 months later, just before the 90 days to put something in writing ran out, Corey called me to his office with my chapter chair to face charges of unprofessional conduct. What could it be I wondered. Why I was there for dropping the word shit in a sentence.
Of course as a tenured teacher I refused to give a statement. In fact, Corey was quite upset that I refused to give a statement. But too bad.
Several days later I got a letter in my file. In it I was told that I was unprofessional for using such a word as shit and that if it happened again I could receive an unsatisfactory.
Now never mind that there was not one single kid in the entire building that day, or would be for another 6 days or so. Never mind that it was overheard in a private conversation I was having with a colleague. Never mind that if it offended Corey Prober so much all he had to do was just pull me aside and ask that I be careful. Nooooooooo!!!
Corey Prober knew that he got his position through not being qualified but by puckering up and suctioning his lips to the anus of the then principal. That at no time did Corey, and he knew it as well, have the skills or the temperament to me an AP. As everyone knew in PS 154, as well as he did. at the time Corey Prober was a fraud.
So what became of Corey Prober? After that school year his position was excessed and instead of going back to his Common Branch license and teaching with everyone he turned against him at 154, he slithered off to the Island Academy on Rikers Island where rumor has it he was traded around daily for a pack of Newports.
I have heard, but can't confirm, that Island Academy has closed. I do not know where Corey Prober is. But if you work for this putz, be wary, very wary.
Corey Prober is a prime example in my opinion of why education in NYC is at an all time low.
