Tomas Valero saw his daughter crying every single day after school. He could tell that there was something wrong. When he finally learned what was going on, it took him by complete surprise. Before this happened, he had to resort to sneaky means. What did this concerned father do to bring the truth to light?
Starting School
It is not easy for kids when they have to start school. It is often a big adjustment, so parents need to support the child as much as they can. No matter how good the teacher, or how nice the other students are, it is always a big change for little ones.
Starting School
A Tough Adjustment
If adjusting to school is hard enough, a rude teacher will make things much more difficult for a student. When Tomas noticed his daughter having a hard time at school, he knew it was time to figure out what was going on.
A Tough Adjustment
She Was Scared
Without a doubt, every parent out there wants nothing less than the best for their kids. So it is only natural for a parent to feel concerned when they see their little one in pain. Tomas is one of those parents, so he understandably became worried when his young daughter wasn’t acting herself.
She Was Scared
She Became More Emotional
He realized that his child started to act more emotional after she started at a new school. In the beginning, he thought it was nothing more than a case of nerves. However, he realized that there was more to the story.
She Became More Emotional
The Same Routine
Tomas became extremely worried when crying and asking to stay home became a regular occurrence for his little girl. Each morning began with the same routine, and Tomas couldn’t live with it any longer.
The Same Routine
The Situation Worsened
Days became months, and it soon became clear to him that his daughter no longer had any excitement or joy whatsoever. She was starting to get more scared as the days went by and frequently protested attending school.
The Situation Worsened
Reluctant
Tomas tried to find out the real problem by talking to her, but his daughter was reluctant to tell him or his wife the truth. Despite this, he knew that something needed to be done. He did not like seeing his poor little girl like this at all.
Reluctant
Her New School
His daughter just started kindergarten at Pine Grove Elementary School. Before this happened, he had never noticed anything off about her. All he knew was that she had been a healthy little girl who was quick to make friends and had a creative streak running through her.
Her New School
She Began To Change
But, not long after his daughter began to study there, he noticed that she started to get more emotional for some reason. Tomas could tell that it had something to do with the school. Was it the kids, the teachers, the place itself?
She Began To Change
Did Well In School
Up until this happened, his daughter had been doing well in school. She got good grades and the reports about her had been positive more often than not. However, A couple of months after she started going to her current school, her grades began to slip.
Did Well In School
Feeling So Powerless
On top of all of this, she would get emotional before and after school. What was going on? It was too much for Tomas to see his little girl act this way. He felt powerless in this situation. He knew it was time to get to the bottom of the situation.
Feeling So Powerless
The Concerned Father
We are sure that any parent would feel worried about the well-being of their child. It was tough to see his daughter sad so often. He was starting to get more worried about her. The more he tried to get to the bottom of it, the more his little girl shrank away. Then he realized what could possibly be going on.
The Concerned Father
A Stable, Happy Life
He thought alot and then became pretty sure that she was getting bullied by her classmates or perhaps by one of her teachers. They had a stable and happy family life at home, so he knew that it must be about something outside of their house.
A Stable, Happy Life
Patience Is A Virtue
It is very important to be patient. We daresay that it is one of the most important virtues we can all learn, even if it can be difficult to practice. When it comes to teaching little kids, this becomes even more valuable. If you have ever had to deal with kids, you know that they can be hard to handle. As an educator, it is part of your role to be patient as your students try to learn.
Patience Is A Virtue
Her Formative Years
His daughter was still very young. She was in her formative years, which meant that she was in a crucial and important time of her life. What happens in these years will mold her into the adult that she will be in the future.
Her Formative Years
Preparation For The Future
Tomas and his wife raised their 2 girls and son with this mindset, always surrounding them with positivity and encouraging them to be their best selves. They know just how important it is to develop a strong sense of self in the little ones to prepare them for what the future holds.
Preparation For The Future
More Harm Than Good
Keeping that in mind, it only makes sense that a mean, harsh teacher can do more harm than good. Tomas and his wife definitely did not want that for their young daughter, and they began to suspect it was the root of their problem.
More Harm Than Good
Creating A Plan
Tomas was a resourceful person and decided that he had to find out what was going on with his daughter. He was having a tough time since she was too young and shy to tell him up front about what was going on.
Creating A Plan
Time To Take Action
As a dad, he could not just let his poor daughter get sadder and sadder with each passing day. He had enough and decided that he was going to do something about it. But how? He thought long and hard before finally coming up with a plan.
Time To Take Action
How Would He Do It?
How could Tomas listen in to what was going on at school without actually being there? He knew if he asked to sit in on the class one day that the teacher would just change her behavior. He needed to be more creative than this to ensure he was catching what exactly was going on.
How Would He Do It?
Hidden Hearing Device
He decided to ‘listen in’… quite literally! He actually created a tiny hearing device and placed it in his daughter’s hair. This would let him listen in to what was going on in school. Hopefully, it would give him the opportunity to understand what she was experiencing there.
Hidden Hearing Device
Drastic Measures
He knew that this was a pretty drastic measure. However, it was important to him not only to know what was going on but to have proof on hand as well. He didn’t tell his daughter what he was putting in her hair because he thought it could distract her during her schoolday.
Drastic Measures
Anticipation
Tomas could not wait to see what would happen over the course of her school day. He waited for his little girl at the door and smiled as she ran up the driveway. He felt excited to finally get that smile he knows and loves back on her face.
Anticipation
Astounding Results
When Tomas began to listen to the recording after she came home, he was shocked by what he could hear. He was livid after listening to the recording, but he was glad that he finally knew what was happening.
Astounding Results
The Source Of The Problems
It sounded like her teacher was being mean to her students. Tomas continued to listen to the recording and realized that this must be the source of his daughter’s problems. He was in awe, but there was no time to waste. It was now time for him to do something about it.
The Source Of The Problems
Teacher Troubles
He could see that her teacher had been taking advantage of her position. It pained Tomas to hear that the person they paid to take care of their child was behaving so callously. He honestly couldn’t believe it.
Teacher Troubles
What To Do?
As he kept listening, he found out that the teacher not only said offensive things, but the tone that she used to say them was also mean. The recording allowed him to hear just how much she screamed at the kids over the most trivial things. What should he do now?
What To Do?
Sick To His Stomach
It made him sick to see that a teacher would behave in such a manner, so he decided that it was time to raise the issue with the public school district. When things like this happen to your kid, it is usually easier to take it up with a person who has the power to do something about it.
Sick To His Stomach
Filing A Complaint
Instead of talking to the teacher herself, he decided that there was a better chance of things changing if he went to the state school board instead. So that’s exactly what he did. He set a date and told his and his daughter’s story.
Filing A Complaint
Their Poor Response
Even though Tomas had a valid complaint and the proof to back it up, the school district failed to do anything to help him. He could not help but feel disappointed by the response he was given. For him, it was sickening that she had been tearing down children on a daily basis.
Their Poor Response
No Action Taken
Can you imagine how upsetting it must be to hear that they were not willing to do anything about this? They did state that they disciplined her for what she did, but Tomas wanted them to do more than that.
No Action Taken
Making His Point
He was not at all happy about the response that the authorities gave him. The teacher still taught the class his daughter was in. Tomas could not help but feel that it was time for retribution. Soon enough, he decided to take it upon himself to do something about Duncan, the kindergarten teacher.
Making His Point
A Parent’s Duty
The school offered to move his daughter to another class, but it was behind his daughter now. He was worried about the safety and wellbeing of the other children who were in her class. As a parent, he knew that he had to stand up for not only his child, but all of the children.
A Parent’s Duty
For The Kids
He was upset that the school did not offer much in the way of support or change. It was an issue that was going to affect the lives of all these kids. As long as Duncan was teaching, there were still children who would be affected by her anger. Even though he and the other parents protested, the school would not budge. However, they did not give up.
For The Kids
Signing A Petition
Soon enough, word got out about what was going on in the school. Everyone heard about how Duncan treated the little kids in her class. He did not get a lot of support after his initial attempts to seek justice, but it all started to turn around when he made a petition on Change.org. Soon enough, the general public arrived to rally around his cause. He soon had over 2,000 signatures for the dismissal of Duncan!
Signing A Petition
The Media Spotlight
It came as an even bigger surprise when Tomas found himself in the middle of the media spotlight. Local news channels got wind of what was happening at Pine Grave. They admired him for his determination to get justice for what happened.
The Media Spotlight
The Entire Country
Soon enough, the story swept across the nation. It meant that people all over the country would hear about what this teacher did, even if he was unable to have her fired. This gave Tomas some hope that things would change.
The Entire Country
Preventing Childhood Traumas
The worst thing about what she did was that it was going to have a lasting effect on the child. Habits and fears that kids pick up when they are young tend to stay with them for a very long time, if not forever.
Preventing Childhood Traumas
What Could Have Been
If Tomas did not notice his daughter’s behavior and worked hard to get to the bottom of things, she might have suffered from trauma for the rest of her life! It was a serious matter that affected other kids too.
What Could Have Been
Being A Mentor
Any parent knows that it can be challenging to be a great mentor. Often, one will first have to scrutinize and criticize their own actions and behaviors. This is not easy to do, but it is vital if you want to be a good role model for your kid.
Being A Mentor
The Best Parent Possible
However, Tomas would learn that there were times when things were out of his control no matter how hard he tried to be the best parent possible. Despite this, he would go through hell and high water to ensure the safety of his daughter. He also hoped this would never happen to other kids.
The Best Parent Possible
A Teacher’s Responsibility
It is the responsibility of a teacher to impart lessons that go further than the curriculum. They should help improve the imaginations and minds of the children. These are things that will leave a big impact on the lives of the kids as they grow up. A teacher has to ensure that they inspire the kids.
A Teacher’s Responsibility
Her Father’s Efforts
It is never a good idea for teachers to display abusive behaviors and assert dominance by spreading fear. This will only stifle the progress of a child and will make them more anxious. Did any of Tomas’ efforts to fix the problem work? We’ll have to find out…
Her Father’s Efforts
Holding Onto Hope
Duncan continues to teach at the school, so we hope that she has at least realized just how harsh she had been to the kids in her class. Tomas is still holding onto hope that the necessary changes will happen since he knows he has a valid point.
Holding Onto Hope
Lives At Stake
It felt like the school had been putting the lives of the children at stake all thanks to the short temper of one teacher. He learned that it would be impossible to change things if he did not take a stand. He hopes his action changed the school system even just a bit to ensure other kids wouldn’t also be harmed.
Lives At Stake
Making Them Stronger
The entire ordeal had been tough for him and his child, but Tomas eventually admitted that it made their family unit stronger. He would never have found out that something like this was happening if he did not go the extra mile.
Making Them Stronger
A Better Dad
At this point, his daughter is now attending a class taught by another teacher. If anything, Tomas learned how important it was to pay attention to his daughter. It has made him a better dad thanks to what transpired.
A Better Dad
Always There
Tomas will always be there for his 2 daughters and son. He and his wife will stand up for their kids whenever and wherever no matter what. Without such great parents who recognized a problem, their daughter would continue to struggle and be bullied by her teacher.
Always There
Good Parents
Ever since the day their little girl left the hospital, they always had her best interest in mind. This is what makes a good parent. Tomas and Laici always make sure the needs of their 3 kids are taken care of.
Good Parents
Support System
For kids to grow up and mature into members of society, having parents with a good head on their shoulders always helps. A stable life at home prepares the child for other things later in life. Aliya is so lucky she has such a great support system!
Support System
Preparation
These two parents were preparing for the birth of their little one for a long time before she finally arrived. They ensured they were both mentally and physically ready to welcome a person into the world.
Preparation
Together Forever
Tomas and Laici met when he was in the Army. They forged a bond right from the start and decided to spend the rest of their lives together. Since he was going to be deployed, they decided to tie the knot.
Together Forever
Hard Times
Of course, it is hard to be a parent in general, but being a parent while also in the army is even harder. We can’t even begin to imagine how difficult it was for Tomas to be away from his wife and daughter.
Hard Times
At Peace
Tomas’ heart was always with his little girl and he longed to be with her. But, it did give him peace to know that she was being taken care of, at least he had that. His wife also missed him, and the extra help.
At Peace
Growing Up
But he would be back soon enough, so that was something for the family to look forward to. Aliya was such a well-behaved little girl who made her parents very proud. She was growing up right before their very eyes!
Growing Up
So Lucky
No matter where they went, she was quiet and patient. Sometimes they even forgot she was around, she was that quiet! She barely cried, and she slept pretty later (for babies). How did they end up so lucky?
So Lucky
Sorry Dad
How cute is Aliya with her little bow? She was clearly distracted by her thumb and something else far more interesting than her dad’s cellphone. Sorry Tomas! At least she enjoys being held!
Sorry Dad
Little Princess
This photo of the girls was taken when Aliya was a bit older and she now had a little sister. They were having fun one day playing dress-up and eating cookies. What a fun day! Aliya decided to be a princess.
Little Princess
Funny Faces
Aliya made a funny face when her teeth were growing in, so Tomas decided to re-enact the picture when she was a bit older. He had her dress in a similar outfit and smile the same way. How adorable is this!
Funny Faces
More Kids
After their 2 girls were a bit older, they decided to try for #3! On the way was the girls’ baby brother. Tomas and Laici loved being parents, and they longed to expand their family even more.
More Kids
3 Bundles Of Joy
And now there’s 3! We love how similar the three siblings look to one another. And it’s amazing how they really are a complete blend of their parents. Aliya wears glasses just like her mom. The purple frames are too cute!
3 Bundles Of Joy
Camera Queens
The girls love Snapchat and all of the filters that the app has available. Their mom also enjoys taking selfies with them and posting them for family and friends to see. Boy are they growing up fast!
Camera Queens
All The Way Up
When Aliya was little, she loved to ride on her dad’s shoulders. That way, she had a good view of everything around her. He always held onto her hands tight to make sure she was steady. She looks very excited!
Screenshot 8
Matching
At a family member’s wedding, Tomas, Laici, and Aliya all looked great. We like that they matched their outfits, don’t you? Aliya looks like she’s enjoying walking. Who knew it could be so fun??
Matching
Reading Is Fun
Tomas loves to read to his kids, and when Aliya was young, she especially enjoyed it. With her binky in her mouth and the soothing sound of her dad’s voice, she’ll be asleep in minutes!
Reading Is Fun
Always Smiling
Tomas’ goal in life is to make his kids happy and healthy. He makes sure to always put a smile on their faces no matter what. Even if he had a hard day at work or something’s on his mind, he always smiles for the kids.
Always Smiling
Daddy’s Little Girls
The girls are definitely daddy’s little girls…they just adore him! Aliya certainly enjoys being a big sister and showing her little mini-me the ropes. Whenever Tomas picks up Aliya’s sister, Aliya always joins in the fun!
Daddy’s Little Girls
Christmas Time
The family adores spending the holidays together, especially their favorite…Christmas! Aliya used to be scared of Santa, but it looks to us like she no longer has those fears! Santa Claus is even distracted by the spunky little girl!
Christmas Time
A Decade
The day that Aliya was born feels like centuries ago to her parents! The saying time flies certainly is true. They were first-time parents just yesterday, except it wasn’t yesterday, it was over a decade ago!
A Decade
Unconditional Support
Tomas hopes to guide his kids through life in the best way that he knows. He makes sure to give them love and unconditional support, as does their mom. Not only do these 3 youngsters have great parents, but they also have each other!
Unconditional Support
Always There
Tomas has raised quite the young lady who he hopes will do great things in this world. He will always be there for all of his kids, which is why he stood up for young Aliya that one day at school.
Always There
A Great Dad
Tomas thought something was up, and so he acted. He caught the teacher bullying his young girl, and he made sure it would never happen again. What a great dad Aliya has!
A Great Dad