Gruwell backs Heermann; testifies at Hearing.

Famous Freedom Writers Teacher Erin Gruwell, of Long Beach California, took the "red-eye" in from Seattle to personally testify on behalf of 27-year veteran English teacher, Connie Heermann, at her Board hearing, on March 10th and 11th. The hearings were held for two days, six hours each day. Gruwell told the board, "something good will become of this. This is bigger than this meeting." And of course once Ms. Heermann's draconian 18-month suspension without pay was announced, "something bigger," did happen: continued press coverage and public outrage...from all over the world. Hundreds of emails protesting the "cruel and unusual" punishment were sent to non-receptive board members who largely acknowledged their existence but offered no further comment. Gruwell, who founded the Freedom Writers Foundation, has featured Connie's struggle on the Foundation website and has started a donation fund for Heermann. Gruwell is also rallying other supporters to publicize the problems teachers face today in trying to overcome timid and uncaring administrators in an attempt to reach "at-risk students.