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An elementary school principal who was removed over the summer after a wave of parental protests took her case before the LAUSD School Board today in an effort to win reinstatement.

Gail Greer was removed from the Mid-City’s Prescott School of Enriched Sciences Magnet Elementary School on July 27 by Superintendent Ramon Cortines after parents described her as unfit for the job and detailed their complaints in a petition.

“I feel like I am being forced into retirement and it hasn’t been fair,” Greer told LA School Report after speaking to the board.

In front of the board, she said, “I am not used to being before board members in an antagonistic way.” She said she has worked with board members and three past superintendents, raised school scores and attracted grants for the school.

“I do run the school like a family, and I have left schools better than when I received them,” she said.

Several supporters of Greer tried to help her appeal to remain at the school through the end of the school year.

A previous student talked about how she changed the 32nd Street USC Performing Arts Magnet school when it was “a bit troubled” and helped motivate him. Julkar Khan said Greer inspired him to write an article about environmental peace and earned him a Warren Christopher Scholarship. He said, “She treated us all like family and encouraged me to do my best.”

Parent and former student Edward White told the school board that he remembered how Greer encouraged him to read and write even though he was dyslexic. “She is a woman of integrity and whatever you decide, you need to know that she made changes in many people’s lives,” he said.

Associated Administrators of Los Angeles (AALA) representative Mike O’Sullivan said, “She has not been accused of child abuse or theft, and the demotion of this veteran administrator is insulting.”

The administrator’s union was trying to reached an agreement with the district that would allow her to remain in an administrator position until she could retire at the end of the school year.