Mission Park

I am extremely disappointed with the environment at Russell Middle School. There are ongoing issues with bullying that are not being handled appropriately, and this is clearly not an isolated problem—it is a pattern.What is even more concerning is that the issue is not limited to students. My child was spoken to in a demeaning and inappropriate way by a teacher, in front of peers, which was completely unacceptable. No student should be embarrassed or talked down to by someone in a position of authority. This is not about being “tough” or “holding students accountable”—it crossed a line.Even more troubling, this is not the first time we have experienced this. A similar situation occurred with another teacher involving my older son. At that point, it becomes clear this is not a one-off incident, but a broader issue with how some staff interact with students.The biggest issue, however, is the lack of leadership. The principal has been made aware of these concerns, yet nothing meaningful has changed. When behavior like this is allowed to continue, it sends a clear message that it is tolerated. At this point, it feels like these issues are being ignored rather than addressed.When teachers are allowed to speak to students this way, and bullying among students continues without proper intervention, it creates a negative and unsafe environment. Schools are supposed to support and build kids up, not contribute to tearing them down.A school should be a place where students feel safe, respected, and supported. Unfortunately, that has not been our experience. There is a serious lack of accountability, and until that changes, this will continue to be a problem.Students deserve better.