Oyster-Adam teacher arrested

[Anonymous]

I attended the meeting. It was really good. Dr Biel, Chief of Child Psych at Gtown was really down to earth and didn't try to have all the answers but was generally very encouraging that this horrible event does not have to be a trauma for every kid.

- things become traumas in part through how people respond to a difficult event. Denial, concealment, hysteria, chaos, blaming the victim...those would make this a trauma for our kids. But we can work hard to mitigate the risk of long term damage.

- listen to your kids cues. Don't vomit up too much info, just ask what the child has heard or if he or she has questions..Listen listen listen

-Every kid has a different way of processing this grief or pain. Don't worry if your kid seems strangely unaffected. Unless there are other stress signs (regressive behaviors, lack of sleep, agitated moods) it may just be that they kid is doing ok for the moment...

-Keep it simple. Don't focus on sexuality and power dynamics and molestation and pathology. Focus on the bad act--the "bad touching" and how that is wrong and so the teacher got in trouble. Kids will get that concept. Emphasize that no matter how much you like someone or know someone, that kind of bad touching is wrong and will be punished.


-It is empirically and statistically true that school is the safest place for kids to be--more than even home. So while this terrible tragedy occurred, this doesn't mean kids aren't safe at school.

-It's ok to trust your teacher. You should encourage kids to trust their teacher. That doesnt mean bad touching is ok from a trusted teacher. Bad touching is never ok. But the key is not to get our kids so worked up that they fear or distrust their leaders all the time..

We need better boundaries for teachers. Teachers shouldnt be kids' best friends.

We need more communication from the school about what they are telling kids and what they are hearing kids talk about.

DCPS and Canazales have worked VERY HARD this past few days. They wish the early response were faster but seem to be busting their balls to make OA safer for kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I attended the meeting. It was really good. Dr Biel, Chief of Child Psych at Gtown was really down to earth and didn't try to have all the answers but was generally very encouraging that this horrible event does not have to be a trauma for every kid.

- things become traumas in part through how people respond to a difficult event. Denial, concealment, hysteria, chaos, blaming the victim...those would make this a trauma for our kids. But we can work hard to mitigate the risk of long term damage.

- listen to your kids cues. Don't vomit up too much info, just ask what the child has heard or if he or she has questions..Listen listen listen

-Every kid has a different way of processing this grief or pain. Don't worry if your kid seems strangely unaffected. Unless there are other stress signs (regressive behaviors, lack of sleep, agitated moods) it may just be that they kid is doing ok for the moment...

-Keep it simple. Don't focus on sexuality and power dynamics and molestation and pathology. Focus on the bad act--the "bad touching" and how that is wrong and so the teacher got in trouble. Kids will get that concept. Emphasize that no matter how much you like someone or know someone, that kind of bad touching is wrong and will be punished.


-It is empirically and statistically true that school is the safest place for kids to be--more than even home. So while this terrible tragedy occurred, this doesn't mean kids aren't safe at school.

-It's ok to trust your teacher. You should encourage kids to trust their teacher. That doesnt mean bad touching is ok from a trusted teacher. Bad touching is never ok. But the key is not to get our kids so worked up that they fear or distrust their leaders all the time..

We need better boundaries for teachers. Teachers shouldnt be kids' best friends.

We need more communication from the school about what they are telling kids and what they are hearing kids talk about.

DCPS and Canazales have worked VERY HARD this past few days. They wish the early response were faster but seem to be busting their balls to make OA safer for kids.

Thanks for the update, glad a difficult situation was handled well.

[Anonymous]

http://archive-edu.com/page/1652157/2013-03-18/http://cabrini.edu/About/Profiles/A-World-of-Good/Giovanni-Pena.aspx
Hope they are checking with the other schools he worked at...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:http://archive-edu.com/page/1652157/2013-03-18/http://cabrini.edu/About/Profiles/A-World-of-Good/Giovanni-Pena.aspx
Hope they are checking with the other schools he worked at...

What a colorful history he has. It would typically be the responsibility of the DC government to scout around for his other victims, but in this case I wouldn't be so sure. As the professionals on this thread have said, it's highly unlikely that this was the teacher's first encounter with molesting an underaged boy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I attended the meeting. It was really good. Dr Biel, Chief of Child Psych at Gtown was really down to earth and didn't try to have all the answers but was generally very encouraging that this horrible event does not have to be a trauma for every kid.

- things become traumas in part through how people respond to a difficult event. Denial, concealment, hysteria, chaos, blaming the victim...those would make this a trauma for our kids. But we can work hard to mitigate the risk of long term damage.

- listen to your kids cues. Don't vomit up too much info, just ask what the child has heard or if he or she has questions..Listen listen listen

-Every kid has a different way of processing this grief or pain. Don't worry if your kid seems strangely unaffected. Unless there are other stress signs (regressive behaviors, lack of sleep, agitated moods) it may just be that they kid is doing ok for the moment...

-Keep it simple. Don't focus on sexuality and power dynamics and molestation and pathology. Focus on the bad act--the "bad touching" and how that is wrong and so the teacher got in trouble. Kids will get that concept. Emphasize that no matter how much you like someone or know someone, that kind of bad touching is wrong and will be punished.


-It is empirically and statistically true that school is the safest place for kids to be--more than even home. So while this terrible tragedy occurred, this doesn't mean kids aren't safe at school.

-It's ok to trust your teacher. You should encourage kids to trust their teacher. That doesnt mean bad touching is ok from a trusted teacher. Bad touching is never ok. But the key is not to get our kids so worked up that they fear or distrust their leaders all the time..

We need better boundaries for teachers. Teachers shouldnt be kids' best friends.

We need more communication from the school about what they are telling kids and what they are hearing kids talk about.

THANK YOU!!!! Wish the school had sent this out.

[Anonymous]

There is another event tonight at 6pm at the Oyster campus. It was originally going to be about stress-reduction techniques and self care for families, but now Dr. Julie Lopez, a psychologist, is also making a presentation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There is another event tonight at 6pm at the Oyster campus. It was originally going to be about stress-reduction techniques and self care for families, but now Dr. Julie Lopez, a psychologist, is also making a presentation.

Julie is amazing! She's a social worker who specializes in trauma and sexual abuse and used to work at the Rape Crisis Center. OA families are in good hands with her.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There is another event tonight at 6pm at the Oyster campus. It was originally going to be about stress-reduction techniques and self care for families, but now Dr. Julie Lopez, a psychologist, is also making a presentation.

Julie is amazing! She's a social worker who specializes in trauma and sexual abuse and used to work at the Rape Crisis Center. OA families are in good hands with her.

That is so great to hear. I hope the school puts out the cliff notes again. EVERY school needs to learn how to better keep their children safe from predators.
Right?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There is another event tonight at 6pm at the Oyster campus. It was originally going to be about stress-reduction techniques and self care for families, but now Dr. Julie Lopez, a psychologist, is also making a presentation.

I wanted to go last night but I was super tired and couldn't make it. Anyone from Oyster elementary campus went? I am curios to know if people were able to share concerns, ask questions, etc. I wonder if this was a similar session like the one we had at Adams on Monday.


Any info would be greatly appreciate it.

[Anonymous]

This is odd. Maybe they were told not to post anything?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is odd. Maybe they were told not to post anything?

Or maybe parents don't have a lot of time between the end of an evening meeting and the next morning, what with checking homework & getting kids ready for bed and then, 9 hours later, up, breakfasted and out the door for the school day.

[Anonymous]

http://www.wusa9.com/story/news/local/2015/06/11/pena-oyster-adams-teacher-denied-bond/71058680/

[Anonymous]

How did the meeting the other night go?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:http://www.wusa9.com/story/news/local/2015/06/11/pena-oyster-adams-teacher-denied-bond/71058680/

Thanks for posting!

[Anonymous]

What a creeper-- it gets worse.