In November 2025, Albert Einstein Academy Elementary schoolers went on Thanksgiving break with a principal and came back without one. For the seven months since, there have been swirling questions and confusion about what happened. “Here I am, well outside my comfort zone because I believe in j ustice, I believe in accountability, and I believe in doing what is right,” said Greta Bouterse at a Friday morning press conference outside the school. She worked for Albert Einstein Elementary for 22 years. 12 of those years were as principal. Her lawsuit against the school says two years ago, school staff started trying to unionize against then superintendent, David Sciarretta, because they weren’t happy with his leadership. As the union effort picked up steam, the suit says Sciarretta started pressuring Bouterse to illegally sabotage it by “talking to her people” and identifying which teachers could be swayed to oppose it. Bouterse didn’t do that. “Albert Einstein Academy suddenly raised for the first time in 12 years, a question that had never come up across four different HR coordinators,” said her attorney, John Gomez. “A question that was legally irrelevant because California charter schools are not required to employ credentialed administrators. She was told to resign by thanksgiving or be fired.” She didn’t resign and Sciaretta followed through firing her. Last week, Sciarretta suddenly resigned amid more community pushback and an investigation still ongoing into if he embezzled thousands of school dollars. When asked if she would come back to the school, Bouterse said, “That’s a long answer, which I can’t answer right now. But right now, I’m focusing on making right what was wronged. I think our community has a lot of work to do, and we have some faith now knowing that there will be a new superintendent.” Albert Einstein Academy has yet to respond to our requests for comment. ...read more read less