Imagine, expecting nothing short of a typical day, you pull into the parking lot of your children's school, awaiting their arrival. It's a warm Spring afternoon, so you roll down your window, wondering what's taking them so long. Your children exit the building a few minutes later, and instead of their usual approach, you are met with tears of agony. You ask them what happened, but they respond only by telling you,

"They don't believe me. They don't like me. They think I'm lying." 

It was this encounter between Rod and his daughters that triggered a series of follow-up meetings, communications, and events that would ultimately launch the Fernandez family into a two-year legal battle for the right to their voice.

Our intention had been to disprove Dr. David-Paul Zimmerman's ("DPZ") false allegation that Rod threatened him with physical violence, which he detailed and claimed only after his daughter, Dr. Michelle Zimmerman ("Michelle") made a false statement to Renton Prep students that Rod threatened to punch him. Unfortunately, attempts by the Fernandez family to resolve this conflict came to an end when DPZ failed to get back to Dawn with what Michelle told Renton Prep students in order to clear Rod's name, as DPZ had promised her.  Instead, DPZ escalated the matter to the President of Amazing Grace Lutheran Church dba Renton Prep, Mike Nichols. 

Unfortunately, at that point, our family was forced to file a lawsuit, with the sole purpose of obtaining the Schools' audio-video that would have clearly proven that Rod never threatened DPZ in any way. 

It was not until well into the discovery phase of the litigation process, that the Zimmermans were obligated to divulge that there was no audio-video of the meeting that took place between DPZ and Rod on May 20, 2016.

It became the Zimmermans' word against Rod's.

We had planned to fight for the truth and then continue moving forward with our lives. However, one day prior to the conclusion of the trial, DPZ posted a distorted narrative of the case on social media.

We saw it.

We responded.

We were silenced.

Now we're here.

It is never easy to accept that a person you once revered and trusted could be capable of compromising the truth without regard for those they have hurt. 

Our mission now is to simply tell our story, as our experiences have revealed a side of the Zimmermans we could have never imagined. We feel an overwhelming sense of moral responsibility to share with those who are:

1) considering enrolling their children at Renton Prep,

2) endorsing the School and/or Dr. Michelle Zimmerman or Dr. David-Paul Zimmerman, and

3) seeking employment at Renton Prep,

so they are aware of the problematic power structure at Renton Prep which gives the Zimmermans unrestricted, and unchecked authority, while stripping away any protections for parents, students, or teachers who may disagree with them.

It has always been our hope that the Zimmermans and Renton Prep would take accountability, show humility, and be open to changing. The more that has come to light, the clearer it becomes that:

1) the Zimmermans are not likely to change; and

2) we are not alone, as other families have come forward with their own stories involving the lies, deceit, and ruthlessness of the Zimmermans and Renton Prep.

Instead of admitting to their years of transgressions, we anticipate that the Zimmermans will respond by continuing attempts to discredit us, making increased efforts to "prove" that our observations of the systematic racism, toxic leadership, and abuse of power at the Schools are lies.

Our family does not benefit from telling our story.  In fact, we've put ourselves in a vulnerable position by sharing personal and intimate details of our lives. 

With nothing to gain, we now understand that staying silent in times of injustice is no different than taking the side of the oppressor.

Never do we hope to be in that position again.

To find out more about our family's story, go to Why Care?