for criticizing public schools in a letter to the editor.

Peters’ letter said public schools spend too much money on new buildings instead of education and that a quality education stems from values and family support, especially when modeled after Jesus Christ. It touched off a firestorm of responses, including some from DeSales graduates and Geneva City School District employees. Another appears today, as does one from Dr. Karen Juliano, DeSales’ principal.

Juliano said this morning that the policy of the Rochester Roman Catholic Diocese is to not comment on personnel matters, so she would not respond to reports of Peters’ firing.

But in her letter, she explained that Peters’ letter “did not represent DeSales High School, was not authorized by DeSales High School, and does not represent the opinions of the board of trustees, administration, faculty, staff and students of DeSales High School. We certainly do not wish to use the ‘Letters to the Editor’ section of the local newspaper as a recruiting tool.”

….Peters said she was shocked by how strongly she’s been attacked over her letter and by the lack of support from DeSales — especially Juliano — and the diocese.

“The thing that bothers me is that I have supported that woman every single time, even when I didn’t agree with her,” Peters said. “I always felt I was micro-managed by her constantly.

“I just feel like I was really betrayed by the diocese, because they gave the approval for this. I’m so tired of this diocese and their injustice to Catholic education. This diocese, I don’t care what they say, does not support Catholic education.”

Peters was also shocked that Juliano specifically reprimanded her for mentioning Jesus’ name in the letter. She noted that as Catholic educators, Jesus is the reason for everything they do.