My experience as a parent with Alamos Elementary School was extremely disappointing, particularly…read morebecause of how a serious racial incident involving my son, Amir, was handled.
On May 1, 2026, two students admitted to using a school-issued iPad and Google Translate to program the device to say, "Amir is a N-word" out loud in the classroom in front of other students and staff. As a father, I expected an incident this serious to be handled with transparency, accountability, urgency, and concern for my son's well-being.
Instead, I was left with more questions than answers. I had concerns about how the incident was officially classified, what consequences and protections were put in place, how the students would be separated from my son, how staff would prevent retaliation or additional harassment, and why my son could potentially be the one removed from a classroom if he felt uncomfortable rather than the students responsible for the incident.
I was also disappointed with the lack of transparency surrounding the investigation. I was not provided the information I requested regarding the iPad, how the device was programmed, screenshots or messages, or other documentation related to the investigation.
My experience communicating with the administration made the situation even worse. A meeting was changed to 8:30 AM without me receiving written notice, an email, phone call, text message, or updated calendar invitation. I was later told that I had verbally confirmed the change, which I disputed.
When I attempted to address my concerns in person, I felt dismissed and disrespected. My experience with Principal Jenniffer Aynesworth was particularly disappointing. I felt that instead of having an open conversation with me as a concerned parent, my concerns were not given the attention they deserved. I was also frustrated that I was unable to have the conversation I was seeking with Assistant Principal Cassandra Grace regarding the situation.
This was not about a minor disagreement between children. My son was specifically targeted with one of the most offensive racial slurs possible, using school-issued technology, in a school environment where he should have felt safe.
As a parent, I expected the school to communicate clearly, provide transparency about what occurred, protect my child, hold those responsible accountable, and treat me with respect when I advocated for him. Based on my experience, I did not feel that standard was met.
I hope Alamos Elementary and the district take situations like this seriously and improve how they communicate with parents and respond to incidents involving racial harassment. No parent should have to fight this hard simply to get answers and ensure their child feels safe at school.
