A Newburgh middle school administrator who is about to lose her job in the midst of a major staff overhaul, is not going away quietly.

Fior Flore, principal of Heritage Middle School Assistant, sat down with News 12 to publicly explain the experience and perspective she will take with her when she officially leaves her position at the end of the month.

Flores had her first of five children at age 15. She dropped out of high school. Her mother suffered from mental illness. But despite the challenges, Flores says she persevered.

She earned her GED, worked two jobs to stay afloat while in college, became a teacher and then made the jump to school administration.

During an interview in her dining room on Monday, Flores said she has helped troubled students turn their lives around and go to college because she has empathy.

"Sometimes I have kids in my office saying, 'But miss, you don't understand.' And I'm like, 'I don't understand? Let me tell you something, I do understand, because I was you. I was that kid that didn't understand,'" she said.

Having been with the district as a teacher and then assistant principal for seven years, Flores says receiving a letter in which district leaders told her to either resign or be fired was a jolt.

"I was actually shocked," she said. "I was very surprised."

Flores testified at the June 10 school board meeting, not to plead to keep her job, but to tell board members what the district is losing by firing her.

"I've been told that I care too much," she told the board, "that I get too close, stay too long and invest too deeply, but that's exactly what this work demands."

Acting Newburgh School District Superintendent Lisa Buon is making several changes. She is consolidating 15 administrator positions to seven and bringing in new talent.

Buon also recommended the firings of Flores, another assistant principal and the athletic director.

She could not discuss the personnel moves in detail, only saying that those three terminations were "for cause." Flores said that for legal reasons, she cannot speak much further about why she is getting fired. She could only say the firing is unwarranted.

She says she still hopes she eventually finishes her career in Newburgh, where she believes she is most needed.

"No one thought that a high school dropout would be where she is right now," Flores said, "so I'm really proud of the work that I've done."

More staff changes are on the table for Tuesday's school board meeting, likely the last meeting during which Buon will have majority support among the board to approve her personnel moves.

Two new board members — who vocally oppose Buon's overhaul — will join the board on July 2, creating a six-member majority whose members have promised to try to stop Buon's staffing plans.

The new majority will have the power to reverse many of the recent staff and curriculum changes.

The majority will also have the ability to vote Buon out of her position.