“Undercover Operator, Quiet Fire”

Meet Kendra Minaya-Daniels

Season 1: The Setup – “The Assignment”

Kendra Minaya-Daniels, a fierce, emotionally intelligent Afro-Latina, is an English teacher, guidance counselor, and undercover operative. When she advocates for students, she is labeled intense; however, she is anything but intense. Her calm, well-grounded demeanor could be misconstrued as defiance. What her colleagues are not attuned to is that she is an undercover operative for the school board, hired to weed out racism in the halls of West High. Her colleagues expect her to be the cultural translator for every Latino student—a role they assumed she would take since she is one of only three Latino teachers in the entire school. She took on the role to get close to the students of color and Latino descent to hopefully weed out the culprits who continuously violate the rights of these students.

In past years, students reported on the staff at West High, and those reports fell on deaf ears until now. Enough parents of students at West High came forward to open a case that should have been opened three years ago. Now, Ms. Daniels has been tasked with the job of uncovering the staff and their motives for the systemic racism. But which of the staff are responsible for the racism taking place? Kendra’s focus is on the top. If she has learned anything in her past three years, nothing gets past the principal of West High. Kendra took this assignment knowing that she was going to rattle some chains and rattle some chains she will.

Season 2: The Pressure – “The Expectations”

It’s time for the morning meeting. As Kendra enters the conference room, all eyes are on her as she makes her way to the conference table. The staff don’t know what to make of Kendra because they still haven’t the slightest clue who she is and nor have they figured her out in the three years she has been at West High. Armed with her pen, a notebook, and her morning cup of joe, Kendra scans the room.

Her eyes are set on the principal, Mrs. Brook—an older, mature woman in her sixties, freshly pressed blazer, stern look, and icy demeanor. Her demeanor is anything but inviting. She seems to invite chaos into the room and doesn’t care about the consequences it brings to her staff and students. Her leadership style is one of control and neglect. The consequences of that leadership have rippled through classrooms, especially for students of color and Latino descent.

She knows that most of the staff are oblivious as to what is going on. It seems that she can count on one hand who the troublemakers are. The troublemakers are the principals’ closest allies, or should she say minions. Ms. Brooks is most definitely at the heart of all the racism that has been happening over the last three years, and Kendra intends to bring everything she has been doing to light.

Next in line is Ms. Brook’s Vice Principal, Mrs. Yerger—a gullible young woman who does everything Ms. Brook tells her to do, even if that means incriminating herself. If Kendra is to be successful, then she will need to get close to Mrs. Yerger, for she is the key to bringing Ms. Brook down. Kendra sees that Mrs. Yerger is perhaps her only chance of bringing Ms. Brooks to justice. Ms. Brooks hasn’t a clue that she is being investigated and that is exactly what she wants is for Ms. Brooks to think she is getting away with her disgusting behavior. It was up to her to figure out Mrs. Yerger’s vulnerabilities and use her vulnerability to her advantage. Ms. Brook cannot know that an investigation is taking place. It would be up to her to stay under the radar until she has enough evidence to make a case against Ms. Brooks.

Of course, this wouldn’t be easy with the time that she had left to investigate. The school board’s expectations are to wrap up this case by the end of the school year. The parents are not backing down—they expect results, and the only chance they have is Kendra’s expertise in the field. This is but one of many cases she has cracked on systemic racism in the school system. Kendra writes in her notebook: “Operation Mrs. Yerger.”

The meeting starts… the usual. course updates, hallway duty assignments, student behavior issues. It’s all a performance, sadly—silence is a ritual, and the staff meetings are a place where racism hides behind professionalism and “policy. Ms. Daniels gets lost in thought...

For the last three years: Latino students have been punished for speaking Spanish, Black students are labeled “disruptive” just for asking questions, teachers when they think no one is listening will joke about the kids being “stupid” or “ghetto”. Really unacceptable behavior for adults, yet alone teachers. Has it come to this? A place where teachers who are supposed to stand up for our students become our students’ bullies. Teachers who have kids of their own act this way. How do they live with themselves?

“Ms. Daniels, do you have anything you want to add?” says Ms. Brooks. Kendra snaps back to reality just as Ms. Brooks is asking her a question. “No, I think all that needed to be said has been said.”

“Seems you were in deep thought Ms. Daniels. Is there anything that is pressing you now?”

“No, nothing” Kendra now annoyed with Ms. Brooks. Can she not get the hint?

Again, thinking to herself: If I had something to say I would have said it. I don’t need to add anything because none of this is going to matter when I finish my investigation. I will allow the principal to think she has everything under her control. I must bite my tongue for now.

Kendra breaks out of thought long enough to hear “Okay, everyone meeting is over you may return to your classes. Remember to email me with any questions you have that you can think of that you haven’t been able to ask at the meeting today. As always, I have an open-door policy.” Kendra thinks again to herself: That’s almost laughable!

Season 3: The Discovery – “The Whispers Operation Mrs. Yerger” begins."

Kendra spots Mrs. Yerger after the morning meeting. Mrs. Yerger hums to herself with a huge smile on her face. It’s surprising to see her in such a good mood—and even more rare to see her so relaxed. Kendra has never in the last three years seen this side of Mrs. Yerger. She always seemed a bit nervous and agitated but today she seemed different.

Kendra cautiously approaches Mrs. Yerger, her notebook tucked under her arm, and the tone of her voice friendly but professional.

“Mrs. Yerger, do you have time after classes today to speak with me in your office?”

Mrs. Yerger responds, “Well, of course, Ms. Daniels. I will be free around 3:15 PM.”

Kendra nods. “Perfect. I will see you then.”

Mrs. Yerger seems to be in a good mood. That mood will change, because what Kendra is about to bring to her attention will be enough to wipe that smile right off her face. She can’t condone what Ms. Brook is doing any longer. After today, Mrs. Yerger will be put on notice.

Kendra has enough evidence to make her case—students have come forward, naming names, with evidence of staff corruption. This has gone on long enough. For three years, Mrs. Yerger has been complicit: following orders, keeping quiet when she should have spoken up. She blindly follows every directive given to her, even if it means sweeping complaints under the rug just to keep her job as Vice Principal. Under no circumstance is it okay to ever allow such behavior to happen. If you are a person in a position of authority it is your responsibility to ensure that the children are in a safe environment, and that your staff are doing what is ethical and right by the students.

Today, that all stops. Mrs. Yerger will either listen to what I have to say and comply or deal with the consequences of being complicit.

Season 3: The Confrontation – “Confronting Mrs. Yerger”

Kendra’s last student counseling session of the day. She finally has enough evidence to make her case. A student came forward today saying that her friend was suspended for defending herself against a teacher’s racist comment. This has gone far enough. Kendra is going to bring this to Mrs. Yerger’s attention today, along with numerous other complaints she has collected over the three years of her investigation.

This year alone, in the past two weeks, dozens of students have come forward with accusations against staff: racist comments, disparaging remarks about accents, and mocking students who couldn’t speak proper English—making them out to be stupid, berating them in front of their classmates. Teachers have demeaned students for coming from poor families, telling them not to come to school until they “dress like everyone else.” These teachers know that many of our kids come from families that are just getting by, yet they feel it is necessary to bully them publicly.

This is all coming out today. Whether Mrs. Yerger wants to hear it or not doesn’t matter. She must know that she is part of the problem—but she can be part of the solution.

Kendra, armed with her notebook, pen, and a smile, approaches the door of the Vice Principal’s office and knocks.

“Come in, Ms. Daniels.”

“Mrs. Yerger, I am here on official business.”

“Why am I not surprised, Ms. Daniels? I knew you were up to something when you approached me earlier.”

Kendra writes in her notebook… “It ends today.”

“You should know, Mrs. Yerger, that this meeting between us is of the utmost importance. Our students and their parents are waiting for a resolution to the racial discrimination that has been plaguing our hallways and classrooms. It has been three years since the first complaint, and you have done nothing but swept every complaint under the rug. I want to know what you have to say for such behavior.”

“Ms. Daniels, so let me get this straight—you believe that I am sweeping complaints under the rug? Why would I do such a thing? There was no basis for those complaints, and you should know that every one of those complaints was investigated and found to be false allegations by students acting out against teachers because they were punished for bad behavior. Do you really believe I wouldn’t investigate myself?”

“I’m guessing, Mrs. Yerger, you wouldn’t mind handing over those files so I can go over them and do my own investigation into those matters.”

“You are a guidance counselor and a schoolteacher. What gives you the right to those files?”

“I guess you didn’t get the memo, Mrs. Yerger. I am also undercover for the school board. I have been investigating you, the principal, and this staff for three years. Today, I am giving you the opportunity to be part of the solution, and not the problem. Either you hand over those files so I can do my investigation, or I will have no choice but to bring this matter to the district’s equity office and disciplinary board. Can I count on you to cooperate with me?”

Mrs. Yerger, cowering under pressure, fidgets in her chair, her hand shaking as she gathers the files. Her voice is unsteady.

“Of course, Ms. Daniels. I will do whatever it is you need me to do. Here are the files and everything you need to wrap up your investigation. I want you to know that Ms. Brook knew what was going on and told me to turn a blind eye. She said if I turned a blind eye, I would keep my job. If I didn’t, my job would be at risk. I did what I had to do to survive. What would you have done if you were me?”

Not at all surprised, Kendra responded, “I would have stuck up for the kids. And if that meant losing my job—sobeit. Those kids are our future, and your cowardice made them victims of the system. “You do realize that you’re admitting guilt—and what you’ve said to me today must be brought to the disciplinary board.”

Mrs. Yerger, her face pale with disbelief, hands trembling, lowers the folder onto the desk. Kendra writes in her notebook, “Mission accomplished!” As she closes her notebook, Kendra’s voice is calm but firm.

“I will be submitting my report first thing tomorrow morning. I suggest, for your sake, you get ready to reap the consequences of your actions. After all, we reap what we sow. I will let them know that you are cooperating, but you will not get out of this untouched. However, if you cooperate with the investigation, we may be able to keep your job.

As for Ms. Brooks—her days are numbered. She has a reckoning awaiting her. Do not approach Ms. Brooks or tell her anything we discussed today. She doesn’t need to know anything. She will know soon enough. If I find out that you warned her in any way that will be grounds for termination.

I would appreciate your cooperation and know that I understand that your complacency was in part due to fear. However, that does not excuse your behavior. You will be given leniency for your help in this matter. Thank you for not making this harder than it already is Ms. Yerger.”

The Fallout- “Day of Reckoning”

The day that Kendra has been waiting for these past three years is now here. Parents and students will finally get the results they have been waiting so patiently for.

Over the loudspeaker: “All staff are to report to the auditorium at the end of the day. No one is permitted to leave the school—this is a mandatory meeting for all staff!”

Kendra was approached earlier that day by the district’s equity office upper management, congratulating her for a job well done. She was asked to prepare opening remarks for this special meeting. Kendra was proud of the job she has done these past three years and was excited for all of this to come to an end. Just knowing that those who were behind the racial discrimination will be barred from employment and never be able to work around young people again made her smile.

A new day—a day of reckoning—has begun.

Thinking to herself: This will all be over in three hours.

Mandatory Meeting- “All Staff Report”

Kendra gets up from her seat, walks to the podium, places her notebook on the podium, and begins to speak.

“For those of you who do not know who I am, my name is Ms. Kendra Minaya-Daniels. I have been an English teacher and a guidance counselor for three years at West High. What you may not have known is that I have also been investigating the staff here at West High. I was hired three years ago by the school board to investigate allegations of racial discrimination at our school.

The reason we are all here today is that the school board thought it was only right to be transparent with all of you—to let you know our findings and what we have decided to do about the situation at hand. The staff who were involved have all been terminated. Policies and procedures are being rewritten. And today, we are going to hear the voices of the students who have been victimized.

Today is a new day. We put this terrible incident behind us and commit ourselves to doing better by our students. From now on, every student will have a voice, and their voice will not be silenced. We will investigate every incident that takes place, and it will not be swept under the rug as it once was. Staff will no longer be motivated to do what they know is wrong out of fear of losing their job.

We have a new principal, and I would like to introduce her because she has a few words she would like to say. Mrs. Yerger, will you please come to the podium?”

There was a sudden stir in the audience—teachers looking at each other in disbelief. Some said they knew that Ms. Brook was behind all of this, intimidating Ms. Yerger and any staff who would not do as she asked. This was indeed a new day, and it was a good day.

Ms. Yerger takes the microphone, and what she says next brings hope to the staff that West High is truly in good hands with her at the helm.

Conclusion – Mrs. Yerger’s “Speech of Hope"

“As you all know, I was the Vice Principal for the past three years under Ms. Brooks. While I am not proud of what I did, I must say I too was a victim of Ms. Brooks—but a victim no longer. When I was initially approached by Ms. Daniels, I was petrified by her findings. I knew that it was wrong that we swept the complaints under the rug, but I was afraid of losing my job if I went against the wishes of the principal.

I can honestly say it makes me sick to my stomach knowing that I was complacent in helping Ms. Brooks mistreat our students and allow other staff to also mistreat our students. I want to apologize to the students, parents, and to you—the staff—those who were not a part of this disgusting behavior. It hurts me deeply to know that I was the cause of many sleepless nights for our kids and parents who, for three years, have fought against the system.

I want to thank you, Ms. Daniels, for having the courage to stand up for our children and accept the assignment of bringing those who have victimized our children to justice. This is a new day—a day that will be carved in all our memories. We move forward in unity with one mission, and one mission in mind: to create an atmosphere for our students that promotes inclusion for all students.

Never again will we have a problem with racial discrimination. Never again will our students and their parents have to be victimized at the hands of the people they are supposed to look up to. It is our job to ensure that every student who walks through our halls feels that they are safe, seen and heard.

Without further ado, I will hand you over to the students and their parents. As they tell their stories, let us listen to them not just with our ears—but with our hearts.”

As Mrs. Yerger leaves the podium; the auditorium erupts with applause.

Author: Kelly-Jo Farner

Kelly's Literary Haven

08/29/2025applause.