Baltimore Parents & Students Want Charter School Principal Reinstated

BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- The beloved leader of a Baltimore charter school is taken off the job, angering students and parents.  Weijia Jiang reports the principal was an outspoken voice when her young student was murdered back in May.

Community members say that was just one of countless times Dr. Bell spoke out against violence and now they're demanding to know why she lost her job.

A Baltimore community is reeling after the beloved principal of Montebello Junior Academy, Dr. Camille Bell, abruptly lost her position.

"This school needs Dr. Bell.  She was here for me through everything.  When I say everything, I mean everything and we need her," said Shawnta Little.

Little says the news is heartbreaking.  When her son, 12-year-old Sean Johnson, was gunned down during a drive-by shooting back in May, it was Dr. Bell who led the fight for justice.

"If we sit back in fear and say nothing, in essence what we're saying is it's okay to do this, kill more of our kids.  It's not okay anymore," Bell said at the time.

A spokesperson for Baltimore City schools tells WJZ it was the contractor that placed Dr. Bell here at Montebello that terminated her contract.  That New York-based company Edison Learning released a statement saying "There was a change in leadership at Montebello Junior Academy" and that this is a personnel matter of which they cannot discuss the details.

On Monday, Councilwoman Mary Pat Clarke had just wrapped up a meeting with Dr. Bell about youth crime.

"She walked out of that meeting into her office where she was handed a letter that told her she wasn't being renewed beyond the first of July," Clarke said.

It's unclear if a rally or demands for answers will change anything.  Students are among the many who hope they will.

"We could always count on her to be there to help us out," one student said.

At this point, we don't know why Dr. Bell was let go, but we'll continue to press Edison Learning to learn more.

Dr. Bell had been principal at Montebello Junior Academy for five years.