She made national headlines after saying her teacher bullied her for wearing a T-shirt supporting Mitt Romney. Now there's another twist to the saga.
Charles Carroll High School student Samantha Pawlucy returned to class Tuesday after a week's absence. But she says it didn't go well, so she won't be going back.
There are two versions of what happened at school Tuesday: one from the Philadelphia School District, and one from the Pawlucy family. The Pawlucys say they negotiated a resolution, with help from the mayor and the school district superintendent. But they say that's not what they got when Samantha arrived at school. She got a hero's welcome, as military veterans saluted her, serenaded her, and held up signs supporting her. But once inside the building, Pawlucy told her family it went downhill quickly, when she heard taunts from other students. "Actually when she was in the principal's office they tried to, they were coming in the office and they were saying things like you know, they want to get her, they want to beat her up, things like that," Samantha's father Richard told Fox 29. "So they locked her in the principal's office."
The trouble started September 28th, when the 16-year-old high school sophomore wore a Romney-Ryan T-shirt to school, in support of the Republican presidential ticket. She says her math teacher belittled her, insisting Charles Carroll High was a Democratic school in a Democratic town. "She took a red marker tried to draw on it and then she told me to take off my shirt and she would give me a different one," Samantha Pawlucy told Fox 29 last week.
After Pawlucy went public, Mayor Nutter and the school district superintendent intervened. The family says they all reached an agreement: the teacher, Lynette Gaymon, would make a public apology Tuesday before the student body. "Miss Gaymon is a very popular teacher, and if it came from her directly to all the students that it was all her fault, then Samantha would feel that nobody would try to intimidate her or try to start a fight in school with her," Richard Pawlucy explained.
Pawlucy's dad showed Fox 29 two letters he says are from the teacher, one written directly to his daughter, the other read to the students. "It's two different tones," he insisted. "One is taking full responsibility. It says right here, I used bad judgment, and this one there's nothing like that." So Samantha Pawlucy's first day back at school turned out to be her last day there. "She said come and get me dad, I want to leave right now," Richard Pawlucy said.
Philadelphia School District Spokesperson Fernando Gallard told Fox 29 he was there at the principal's office Tuesday morning, and he says he never heard anyone threaten Samantha Pawlucy. He also said the teacher was never supposed to read her own apology to the students, but she agreed to after the Pawlucys insisted. As for Samantha's immediate future, Gallard says the school district will help her transfer to another school, if she decides to stay in the district.
Friday, May 17 2013 6:08 PM EDT2013-05-17 22:08:49 GMT
A man in Montgomery County is determined to shock and disgust unsuspecting women, even if they're with their young children.If you were lucky enough to get outside Friday, to a place like the Perkiomen
A man in Montgomery County is determined to shock and disgust unsuspecting women, even if they're with their young children.
Tuesday, May 14 2013 5:49 PM EDT2013-05-14 21:49:13 GMT
A Hollywood A-lister takes the world by surprise by opening up about a very private matter. Angelina Jolie revealed Tuesday she chose to have a double mastectomy to lower her risk of getting cancer.
A Hollywood A-lister takes the world by surprise by opening up about a very private matter. Angelina Jolie revealed Tuesday she chose to have a double mastectomy to lower her risk of getting cancer. Jolie's not the first woman to do it, but she may be the most high profile. Her decision is touching off a serious conversation about the preventive measure.
A Philadelphia jury is scheduled to start a fourth full day of deliberations in the case of a Philadelphia abortion provider facing multiple counts of murder.
The jury in the death-penalty trial of a Philadelphia abortion provider has gone home without a verdict after another day of deliberations.
Sunday, May 19 2013 8:20 AM EDT2013-05-19 12:20:57 GMT
Finding a job without a college degree can be a difficult task, even if you're a war veteran. Now, they have the opportunity to turn their military training into college credits.
Finding a job without a college degree can be a difficult task, even if you're a war veteran. Now, they have the opportunity to turn their military training into college credits.
Sunday, May 19 2013 7:58 AM EDT2013-05-19 11:58:46 GMT
Once hailed as a hero after surviving a shotgun blast to his face in 2007, a former police officer is now charged with raping and sexually assaulting two women at gunpoint he met at a party.
Once hailed as a hero after surviving a shotgun blast to his face in 2007, a former police officer is now charged with raping and sexually assaulting two women at gunpoint he met at a party.
Sunday, May 19 2013 1:45 AM EDT2013-05-19 05:45:51 GMT
A Powerball jackpot-winning ticket worth an estimated $590.5 million was sold in Florida, but there were also million-dollar winners sold in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, according to the lottery.
A Powerball jackpot-winning ticket worth an estimated $590.5 million was sold in Florida, but there were also million-dollar winners sold in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, according to the lottery's website.
Saturday, May 18 2013 9:28 PM EDT2013-05-19 01:28:06 GMT
Rain moved in Saturday afternoon and the chance for it will stick around through the seven day forecast.
It becomes very unsettled across our area with clounds and showers again Sunday. The best chance for rain is in the morning and afternoon thunderstorms are possible towards our south.
Sunday is cool but we do warm up well into the 80s by Tuesday. With the warm weather comes a better chance for thunderstorms.
Friday, May 17 2013 11:44 PM EDT2013-05-18 03:44:01 GMT
A couple of Good Samaritans helped rescue a 3-year-old boy's lifeless body from an Allentown creek. Their quick thinking and help from police helped bring the boy back to life.
A couple of Good Samaritans helped rescue a 3-year-old boy's lifeless body from an Allentown creek. Their quick thinking and help from police helped bring the boy back to life.
Friday, May 17 2013 7:38 PM EDT2013-05-17 23:38:13 GMT
A woman who lived with a Delaware pediatrician accused of waterboarding her 11-year-old daughter has agreed to plead guilty to child endangerment charges and testify against him.
A woman who lived with a Delaware pediatrician accused of waterboarding her 11-year-old daughter has agreed to plead guilty to child endangerment charges and testify against him.
Sunday, May 19 2013 12:24 AM EDT2013-05-19 04:24:33 GMT
Officials in Connecticut say it was amazing that there were no fatalities or more injuries after two Metro-North trains collided around 6 p.m. in Fairfield Friday evening.
Officials in Connecticut say it was amazing that there were no fatalities or more injuries after two Metro-North trains collided around 6 p.m. in Fairfield Friday evening.
Sunday, May 19 2013 12:13 AM EDT2013-05-19 04:13:53 GMT
The NYPD says a 14-year-old girl was shot and killed on a Queens MTA bus Saturday night. The incident happened around 8:50 p.m. on board the Q-6 bus on Sutphin Avenue and Rockaway Boulevard
The NYPD says a 14-year-old girl was shot and killed on a Queens MTA bus Saturday night. The incident happened around 8:50 p.m. on board the Q-6 bus on Sutphin Avenue and Rockaway Boulevard
Sunday, May 19 2013 12:05 AM EDT2013-05-19 04:05:15 GMT
Authorities say one person is dead and another was injured when the vehicle they were in ran off the road and crashed into Huntington harbor on Long Island Saturday evening.
Authorities say one person is dead and another was injured when the vehicle they were in ran off the road and crashed into Huntington harbor on Long Island Saturday evening.
Saturday, May 18 2013 10:14 PM EDT2013-05-19 02:14:35 GMT
An airline official says a US Airways flight with 34 people aboard was forced to make a belly landing at Newark International Airport after experiencing landing gear trouble. No injuries were reported.
An airline official says a US Airways flight with 34 people aboard was forced to make a belly landing at Newark International Airport after experiencing landing gear trouble. No injuries were reported.
Saturday, May 18 2013 8:33 PM EDT2013-05-19 00:33:09 GMT
A 12-year-old boy was shot and killed and his father was wounded on a Jersey City street Friday night. Police say Gywan Levine Jr. and his father, Gywan Levine Sr., were walking on Rutgers Avenue
A 12-year-old boy was shot and killed and his father was wounded on a Jersey City street Friday night. Police say Gywan Levine Jr. and his father, Gywan Levine Sr., were walking on Rutgers Avenue
Saturday, May 18 2013 6:52 PM EDT2013-05-18 22:52:45 GMT
A large crowd of supporters in the Bronx joined the parents of a slain teen to protest a judge's ruling Saturday. Constance Malcolm and Francelot Graham whose son Ramarley was killed back in February
A large crowd of supporters in the Bronx joined the parents of a slain teen to protest a judge's ruling Saturday. Constance Malcolm and Francelot Graham whose son Ramarley was killed back in February