A Heartbreaking Journey at Wesley Christian Academy: Failing to Uphold Christian Values…read more
As a parent, I feel compelled to share our family's painful experience at Wesley Christian Academy. I do so not to shame, but to advocate for the well-being of other children who may walk the same halls. By shedding light on what we endured, I hope to spark honest reflection, accountability, and change. Our children, especially Black and Brown children, deserve better.
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AN UNWELCOMING ATMOSPHERE
From the moment my 7-year-old Black child entered Wesley Christian Academy, it became painfully clear they were not readily accepted. Though they were excited and eager to begin the school year, they were met with subtle exclusion and social isolation by both peers and some faculty. (The only exception being Mrs. Wong, who showed kindness and care.)
The school's lack of diversity was glaring. The overwhelming cultural homogeneity bred discomfort, hesitation, and in some cases, outright disregard for anyone who didn't fit into the dominant mold. The unspoken message was clear: You are not one of us.
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MENTAL HEALTH NEGLECT
This environment did more than alienate...it harmed. My child began coming home withdrawn, hurt, and increasingly unsure of themselves. They questioned their value, their identity, and even whether they belonged in the world around them. It broke my heart to watch their light dim.
Despite repeated efforts to engage with the school and raise our concerns, our cries for help were met with indifference. Over time, the emotional weight became unbearable. The neglect, microaggressions, and silent rejection led to a mental health breakdown, a terrifying and devastating moment for our family.
LEADERSHIP THAT LOOKED AWAY
We reached out. We did everything a responsible, concerned parent should do. And yet, the administration, especially the head of the school, Serio, chose to look away.
When I requested a meeting, she initially refused, directing me to speak with the teacher, something I had already done multiple times. When she finally agreed to meet, what she said stunned me. Instead of offering support or accountability, she shared that her own brown grandchildren once "tried to rub the brown off their skin."
She said it casually, as if it were a normal childhood phase, not a clear sign of internalized racism and psychological trauma. There was no reflection, no empathy, just an anecdote that further exposed how little racial awareness and emotional understanding exists within the school's leadership.
It was at that moment I realized that they are not just unequipped....they are unwilling.
This wasn't just disappointing. It was dehumanizing. The school's silence, deflection, and spiritual bypassing made one thing heartbreakingly clear: my child's pain was invisible to them.
A NAME MISALIGNED WITH ITS VALUES
Wesley Christian Academy boldly brands itself as a Christian institution. But where was the compassion? Where was the love? Where was the inclusion?
What we experienced was not reflective of Christ-like values. It was reflective of exclusion, racial ignorance, and emotional abandonment. If you preach Christian values, but fail to live them, especially when it matters most, then what is the point?
A CALL FOR URGENT CHANGE
This school must do better. It is not enough to claim faith, it must be lived. Wesley Christian Academy must Implement anti-racist education at all grade levels. Provide mandatory cultural competency training** for all staff and leadership. Create safe spacesfor students of all backgrounds to feel seen and supported. Commit to racial diversity in its student body, teaching staff, and leadership.
Foster open dialogue with families, particularly Black, Brown, and immigrant families, about their lived experiences in the school
These are not radical demands. These are the bare minimum steps needed to begin repairing harm and rebuilding trust.
OUR CHILDREN DESERVE BETTER
Our experience at Wesley Christian Academy was marked by microaggressions, racial exclusion, colorism, classism, emotional neglect, and deep disappointment. Our child deserved safety, joy, and belonging....not trauma.
To every parent of a Black or Brown child considering this school, be cautious. Ask the hard questions. Don't be swayed by branding alone.
To the leadership of Wesley Christian Academy: your silence is loud, your inaction is violent, and your faith, without works, is dead.
Our children are not collateral damage. They are image-bearers. They are worthy. And they deserve a school that sees them, protects them, and loves them in action and not just in scripture.
