I am writing to tell our experience and concerns with the local private school Grande Ronde Academy. We enrolled our children in August. The first week our family got COVID. My husband became dependent on oxygen and we lost his father all within two weeks.

Our 8-year-old son missed two weeks because his class was quarantined. He was home when his papa passed and was there as they worked on him. His teacher showed him no grace. She never reached out to us to discuss the trauma our son experienced and when approached she wouldn’t talk to us. She demanded every last assignment to be done right away. We were not mentally or emotionally capable of doing that and had been advised by counselors to not push him due to his ADHD, anxiety and trauma.

When asked why she didn’t reach out she replied, “I don’t know you, why should I?”

I am a teacher and understand the benefits of verbal learning, so we did my son’s work verbally. She then accused me of cheating and sent him to the office.

Principal Johnson went out of his way to help us but lacked support and respect from the board.

The president of the board seemed to hear my concerns but no action was taken. No apology was received. At the public board meeting they discussed how new people corrupt their school.

Since we are new and our son has a true fear of his teacher, we chose to no longer “corrupt” their school.

Elise Stevens

Union