Balcom Ave, Corning, NY 14830

My son's experience at Hugh W. Gregg Elementary was one of the most disappointing experiences our family has had in education. What should have been a place of learning, safety, and belonging became a place where he experienced bullying, exclusion, and physical altercations with other students.As one of the few Black students in his environment, my son often felt isolated and unsupported. When incidents occurred, he was frequently discouraged from speaking up. Lunch monitors would tell him not to "tattle" rather than address the behavior that was occurring. Over time, this sent the message that reporting problems was more troublesome than the problems themselves.What was most troubling was the response from school leadership. Rather than feeling like the principal and district administration were partners in protecting my child, I often felt they were defensive, dismissive, and more focused on protecting the institution than addressing the concerns being raised. My son was physically attacked, yet meaningful interventions and accountability were lacking. As a parent, watching your child lose trust in the very adults charged with protecting him is heartbreaking.There were a small number of educators who showed genuine care and compassion, but they were the exception rather than the rule. The overall culture left my son feeling unseen, unheard, and unprotected.Schools should be places where children are encouraged to use their voices, where bullying is addressed, and where every child feels safe regardless of race or background. Unfortunately, that was not our experience at Hugh W. Gregg Elementary.