If she'd said, "blanco" her principal would have found some other means to dismiss her. The NYC-DOE "officially" laid off 2000 teachers before the start of the 2012/2013 school year. Building principals were unofficially ordered to "excess" a certain number "for cause" to bring that number closer to 3000. Those laid off are better off than those fired "for cause." Being fired from a NYC public school pretty much guarantees the end of one's ability to get any job in the field of education. This unjust firing was in reality, a "perk" given by Mr. Mulgrew, the union pres. to administrators to dispense with troublesome teachers. Troublesome meaning anything from truly bad but tenured, therefore, legally impossible to fire, to someone you just don't like for any reason at all. In exchange, the principals are expected to re-elect Mulgrew for another four years. The NYC- DOE is run by the Jєωιѕн-Masons, and they don't hide that fact. A look at any NYC public school entryway will reveal an 8×12sign that actually has the masonic symbol and lodge number.
Not all NYC public school teachers are masons, but it is a requirement for one who wants to advance into educational administration and the associated politics.