POWAY, Calif. — Several parents stopped sending their kids to school at Tierra Bonita Elementary in Poway. Specifically, nearly half the kids in one TK class. The parents say it centers around safety concerns and what they call a lack of transparency.
The parents say it started with an email from the principal confirming sheriff’s deputies were on campus one day last month, but said at no time was there any threat to students or staff. That’s a comment parents call disturbingly deceptive.
“My son will not return to that classroom unless that teacher is removed,” said Jenna Fritsch. Her son is in the class where witnesses say the teacher forcefully grabbed a student by the arm and shoved her into a chair.
Jenna says that child's parent had no idea until several days later, when she told her after doing her own digging into the incident.
“I contacted her to share the information because I would want the same to be done for me if somebody knew something about my child being involved,” Jenna said.
CBS 8 reached out to the San Diego County Sheriff's Office which confirmed in a statement, "On September 26, 2024, the San Diego County Sheriff's Office responded to investigate an alleged child abuse incident involving a teacher at Tierra Bonita Elementary School in Poway."
But during that investigation, the teacher was allowed to remain in the classroom. Concerned parents packed Poway Unified's school board meeting last week to share their frustration.
“This is not normal,” Julia Fontana told the board. "This is inappropriate teacher to student behavior.”
Parent Amanda Cosmo added, “The failure to place this teacher on leave during that investigation speaks volumes as the perception is that the district is more focused on protecting staff and wanting to limit negative exposure.”
Both the district and the sheriff’s office later determined no crime had occurred, but parents say the district never interviewed any of the children involved or their parents.
“It didn't feel like student safety was at the center of their thought process and their actions that were being taken,” Jenna said.
CBS 8 contacted the district for comment and this afternoon they informed us that, effective today, the teacher will no longer be in that classroom. They say a substitute will take over until a permanent teacher is hired, but added that the teacher is still employed by the district.
Parents say they are relieved the teacher will not be returning to their classroom, but say this situation has broken their trust with the school’s administration and the district.