Jimmy Owens Escorted Out of Greater New Bedford Voc-Tech

The father of an outspoken student at Greater New Bedford Voc-Tech is let go from his position at the school.

According to the Standard Times, guidance counselor Jimmy Owens was escorted out of the building Tuesday morning. In a statement, Superintendent James O'Brien indicated Owens' dismissal came after a job evaluation where he failed to meet certain requirements.

Owens' daughter is Ja'Loni Owens, a senior at the vocational high school. Ja'Loni spearheaded a group of students to speak out against a so-called culture of racial and sexual intolerance in the school at the outset of this school year.

The same student group called for the dismissal of Academic Principal Rosanne Franco, who officially parted ways with the school this month.

Owens had been a counselor at Greater New Bedford Voc-Tech since 2004.