Oyster-Adam teacher arrested

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Again, the point is that appropriate teacher student boundaries must be established and maintained. People need to be vigilant.

Moving forward as a parent community, I can assure you that this type of teacher/student boundary behavior will be tackled head-on should we be so unfortunate to ever experience it again.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Does anyone know what DCPS or other school systems offer for followup counselling for parents and teachers? My children were raised with good touch/bad touch training at home and school, but I wasn't. I'm an OA parent at Adams and I'm not sure what we do now. The DCPS counselors left the school. There was a community solidarity event during school on Friday. People were encouraged to wear school colors and the former principal attended. I couldn't make it on last minute notice and I haven't heard about what happened. My kid's teachers and parents and staff I've run into are still upset and confused.

The initial shock may be over, but what do we do now? How do communities handle the emotional aftermath for kids and adults? I know the kids are the most important focus, but I feel unprepared and none of the adults seem to want to talk about what happens next.

TIA for any advice

Call the school tomorrow. There is counseling available and an OA community meeting/counseling tomorrow evening, June 8th.

[Anonymous]

I am oa parent and haven't received any info about the counseling meeting. Did you get the info by email?

[Anonymous]

This is from the newsletter via email:

"Additionally, we have retained the services of Dr. Matthew Biel, Chief of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital. Dr. Biel will lead a group session with you to share insights
and guidance on how to support and talk with your children about sensitive issues. The session is open to all
Oyster-Adams families and will be held on Monday June 8 at 7:00 p.m. at the Adams campus. We hope you
will attend this informative session."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am oa parent and haven't received any info about the counseling meeting. Did you get the info by email?

Yes ... it came from our room parent. My child is in 4A, but I believe it went out to all parents. Maybe it goes to your spam file? I have copied it for you below:


June 8, 7:00 p.m., Adams Campus

The school has retained the services of Dr. Matthew Biel, Chief of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital. Dr. Biel will lead a group session with you to share insights and guidance on how to support and talk with your children about sensitive issues. The session is open to all Oyster-Adams families and will be held on Monday June 8 at 7:00 p.m. at the Adams campus. We hope you will attend this informative session.



June 9, 6:00-8:00 pm, Oyster Campus

Improve Quality of Life and Reduce Stress

Food, Childcare, plus Door Prizes.

Participants will learn how they can feel better by implementing self-care techniques proven to reduce stress. It’s hard to raise a child, and especially a challenging child! By learning how to balance your own needs with those of the rest of the family, you can be a better parent. During this highly interactive session, Dr. Sarah Wayland will provide an overview of some of the research-proven methods used in cognitive behavior therapy. The session will cover specific techniques for improving your moods, including (1) how to think constructively, (2) relaxation & mindfulness techniques, and (3) effective communication. Caregivers will learn to customize strategies to fit their individual profile because every parent (and every child) is different! These methods will help you cope with the stresses of raising kids and navigating challenges so you can be the guide you want to be, supporting your family and even your community.




June 10, 5:00 to 6:00 pm, Oyster Library

Help launch the Oyster-Adams Garden Program!

Pamela Ross, a TAG teacher, is starting an amazing garden program at Oyster-Adams, and she needs your help! This fall, the program will begin with a garden club that she will lead. Interested teachers also will use the garden as an essential part of their math, science, art and writing curriculums.

If you like gardening or the idea of having a thriving school garden, please come to the first garden meeting: June 10th from 5:00 pm to 6:00 pm, starting in the library and then moving to the garden. We’ll be talking about the benefits of having a school garden and how to make it a success!

If you can’t make it to the meeting but would like to get involved, please contact Pam at [e-mail] or at 202-257-4913 for more information. You also can donate to OCC: write a check made out to OCC that has garden program written on it and leave it or cash in an envelope designated for the garden program with Edith Shorts in the office. Many thanks!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is from the newsletter via email:

"Additionally, we have retained the services of Dr. Matthew Biel, Chief of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital. Dr. Biel will lead a group session with you to share insights
and guidance on how to support and talk with your children about sensitive issues. The session is open to all
Oyster-Adams families and will be held on Monday June 8 at 7:00 p.m. at the Adams campus. We hope you
will attend this informative session."

It's also the last page of the Tigre Times on our website, http://oysteradamsbilingual.org/2015/06/05/hello-oyster-adams-family-hola-familia-de-oyster-adams-tigre-times-10

[Anonymous]

Many thanks!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Does anyone know what DCPS or other school systems offer for followup counselling for parents and teachers? My children were raised with good touch/bad touch training at home and school, but I wasn't. I'm an OA parent at Adams and I'm not sure what we do now. The DCPS counselors left the school. There was a community solidarity event during school on Friday. People were encouraged to wear school colors and the former principal attended. I couldn't make it on last minute notice and I haven't heard about what happened. My kid's teachers and parents and staff I've run into are still upset and confused.

The initial shock may be over, but what do we do now? How do communities handle the emotional aftermath for kids and adults? I know the kids are the most important focus, but I feel unprepared and none of the adults seem to want to talk about what happens next.

TIA for any advice

One resource if you need to talk is the DC Rape Crisis Center's 24 hour hotline--202-333-RAPE. They are there for anyone who might be affected by this type of situation (not just sexual assault survivors). I'm so sorry for everyone at OA and hope you and others get the resources and support you need.

[Anonymous]

Why has WaPo not reported on this or have I missed it?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why has WaPo not reported on this or have I missed it?

Would have been easy to miss - just one brief story by a Metro crime reporter. http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/crime/dc-middle-school-teacher-is-arrested-on-a-sex-abuse-charge/2015/06/02/dbc17ed4-0997-11e5-95fd-d580f1c5d44e_story.html

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As a lawyer and an O-A parent I agree that we should all listen very closely to what the prosecutor on this thread is saying.

The most important message we can give our kids is that they should go to a trusted adult whenever anything feels icky or off. The adults will worry about the other adults. We are here for the kids and they will be believed, loved, and not judged.

Unfortunately I also have a new perspective on teachers who act like buddies and peers. Adults need adult lives and adult friends. Teaching is a passion and an all-consuming commitment but a teacher is not a taller, older friend.

I am a teacher and I've been saying this since day 1. We all need healthy boundaries and teachers who treat students as their own kids do not have boundaries. I AM NOT saying that they are all up to no good. Many are simply misguided. As a teacher you students/parents are your clients. You need a certain amount of professional distance to keep the ball rolling in the right direction.

+ 1

As a parent, I think I would be alarmed if another adult took a keen interest in my child.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My reality on this subject: I have spent the last 10 years of my life as a parent teaching my child about predators, good touch/bad touch, stranger danger etc. I considered myself very diligent and accurate in my assessment of who predators are, and how to make sure I keep them away! Reality shows us that predators exist, and we even know that predators have a plan (possibly even subconsciously) to work their way into developing closeness with a victim. We all know that, right! My kid was in this class at OA with Mr. Peña and is currently still there. Because of that, many of us spent many hours at school sports events with GP, participated in field trips with GP, participated in parent teacher conferences with GP, and although we did our due diligence in life to the best of our ability, we did not see a red flag from a mile away. His friends did not see it, his peers did not see it, his employers did not see it, his family did not see it. It was a deep, dark, most likely very painful secret which is now exposed. Is it good that it has been exposed? Absolutely. Did any of the parent ignore the signs? No, we did not see signs regardless of how much you may "think" there were signs. If anyone had an inkling of an idea that this was a possibility, we would have addressed it immediately.

I understand where "outsiders" feel the need to express their opinion about the scenario regardless of their inside knowledge. Before now, I would have been there with you. But only now, have my eyes been opened. No matter how diligent you are, no matter how hard you try to know what other people are thinking or feeling inside their own mind, you will never know until its time. Please understand that the parents and students of OA are processing a "death" of someone who was in their lives daily, who shared significant times together, who laughed and learned together. Hindsight is 20/20, and very easy to point out from a keyboard in the privacy of your home. Please understand that everyone has the right to his/her opinion, but please do not insult the parent of this community or the school system with a 20/20 hindsight mindset. OA students, parents, teachers, friends and community need time to heal from this horrible death of what is our reality.

You're making some assumptions yourself.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am oa parent and haven't received any info about the counseling meeting. Did you get the info by email?

There is another meeting at Oyster tomorrow night. It looks like they modified the already scheduled meeting about taking care of yourself over the summer (?) and added a specialist who is also a parent. Streamlined communication is a perpetual challenge at OA for some reason.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am oa parent and haven't received any info about the counseling meeting. Did you get the info by email?

There is another meeting at Oyster tomorrow night. It looks like they modified the already scheduled meeting about taking care of yourself over the summer (?) and added a specialist who is also a parent. Streamlined communication is a perpetual challenge at OA for some reason.

I was thinking they'd get someone from CPS or someone who can talk about what sort of red flags to be constantly aware of. There's the aftermath to deal with, but also prevention.

[Anonymous]

Anyone attend the meeting?