On 3/19/20 I went to Reed Elementary to enroll my 9 year old foster daughter and from the moment of entering the building where the greeting at the window was unpleasant to meeting with the Registrar Adriana Portillo who treated me quite disrespectful. I thought she was just having a bad morning, but I received the same cold treatment this morning from her and lady at window. First of all Portillo, you are the registrar, your job is to welcome not judge. The first words out of your mouth and I quote "what are you here for" which you already were aware of why I was there through the exchange of words from lady at front window. Then when I say "I'm here to enroll my daughter" who is sitting next to me, you say "what, who?" I repeat myself as I am feeling uneasy with your greeting. Then you ask "who?" As if you do not want to acknowledge that my daughter is Hispanic and I'm not. Then you say "here, you'll need to feel these forms." I say "oh here, I've already filled everything out online, and here are copies of everything." As you still have us out in the waiting area roaming through my papers, you ask "do you have proof of residency" as if trying to make me look like I may have forgotten something, and I say "that is in there if you are looking." "Where is she coming from, do you have her withdraw papers?" If you would of paid attention to the very first two forms: Placement Authorization-foster care and Education Decision-Maker Child Protective Services. before I can finish my statement, you deliberately cut me off instead of listening and ask loudly and rudely "you haven't withdrew her from school, why?"
Then you say "well, it may take up to 10 days before I can get withdraw papers, so she will not start school until then."
You glare me down, and walk back to your office without a "come with me or have a seat and let's get started", you just rudely walked away.
Mrs. Portillo, for future use, always welcome new families, show all children/families you are glad to have them and introduce yourself first and foremost. It is not hard to say "have a seat, and I'll be right back." Read and learn about Foster care and CPS. As foster parents it is already hard enough on us to not receive information on our children when they are placed in our homes. As a school Registrar, you should know this. How hard is it for you to do your job and call the school and request information?
I don't know if you were discriminating against me yesterday when you tried to exclude me from taking a tour with my foster daughter and to meet her teacher when you said, and again I quote " I will take you and give you a tour of the school and meet your teacher, and you can wait out here, unless you want to meet her teacher." I respond "of course I want to meet her teacher, why wouldn't I." Then you say rather sarcastically "oh, you want to meet her teacher?" Again I reply, "why wouldn't I, is there a problem?"
When we get to the class room, you introduce my daughter and ignore me. My daughter's teacher smiled at me and introduced herself and sincerely said "hi mom." I loved that warm sincere greeting from her.
Afterwards you tell me she can not start school until you receive all paperwork, and to come in on 3/20/18 anyway to check with you and to complete more paperwork.
We arrived this morning at 8am (3/20). My foster daughter walks into your office and with "I'm here" and all you say is "you're late, school starts at 7:45am". Many kids roaming in wait area, so I kindly say "we are not late, you said check with you to see..."you are ignoring me pretending to be searching for something. You again refuse to acknowledge me and my daughter kindly. "Let's go," you say, and rudely walk off. You totally disrespected me when you placed your body in front of the door as if to block me from entering my daughters classroom on her first day, you saw her grasping my hands and you heard her say "I'm scared, you going in with me, right?" Of course I moved around you.
I don't know if I was discriminated against by you because me and my foster daughter are of different race or you are just rude and unprofessional Mrs. Portillo. Whatever the case, you do need to work on your manners and your interpersonal skills. You are the Registrar and that requires you to be accepting, a people person. That requires you to be knowledgeable about different types of families enrolling. I am proud of myself for ignoring your rude behavior. I am hurt, but I am grateful to be able to write a review on Yelp. Leander ISD, please train all of your staff on families and cultures, CPS and how children may come into our care with nothing but the clothes on their backs. Please train staff to be friendly and positive along with warmth and welcoming. Mrs. Portillo, treat all parents the same, would you have asked a biological parent if they wanted to meet their child's teacher? Very disrespectful! read more