Lack of Oversight
Two defining components that led to the two-year legal battle with the Zimmermans and Renton Prep were
1) lack of oversight, and
2) lack of transparency at the Schools,
making it ripe for abuse of power.
The consequences of allowing ourselves to be a part of a school which lacks oversight and transparency became glaringly apparent when Dr. David-Paul Zimmerman ("DPZ") sent an email dis-enrolling Jasmine, Randi, and Hailey, just 30-minutes after a meeting that ended abruptly after all three Zimmermans walked out mid-meeting.
The Zimmermans have created a oligarchical system which allow them complete control and discretion over how policies are enforced, who is admitted or dis-enrolled, how 24/7-audio-video footage is utilized/kept/deleted/stored, and how disputes are handled.
There is no oversight, no reasons needed, and no checks-and-balances in place.
Exhibit A:
The dis-enrollment email from DPZ on Tuesday, May 24, 2016 at 8:07 PM, which does not list any reason, allowed the Zimmermans complete control to manipulate the narrative to their advantage.
No student should be dis-enrolled or expelled without some type of checks-and-balances process; and every parent deserves to know why and how a decision was made at the very time the communication is sent.
After Jasmine, Randi, and Hailey went to school on both Monday and Tuesday, as normal, and after attending a meeting with the Zimmermans and other parents and students, with the sole purpose of solving and moving past the mishandling of a situation by Gloria Zimmerman the previous Friday-- this email was both confusing and devastating to our three daughters, as well as to our entire extended family.
Exhibit B:
There was no such "safety" or "emergency" situation that would justify DPZ suddenly dis-enrolling the Fernandez girls without explanation, so he exaggerated and made up details alleging both a physical threat by Rod actually took place, as well as the degree to which he says it occurred.
The way in which DPZ describes Rod in court documents seems extremely concerning.
If true, why didn't DPZ immediately dis-enroll the family, rather then wait four days?
If true, why did DPZ allow the girls to attend school, as usual, on Monday and Tuesday, knowing it is Rod who drops off and picks up the children from school everyday?
If true, why initiate and hold a two-hour meeting on Tuesday evening with our family, another family, and another student, regarding a separate matter?
And, if true, why would DPZ, Michelle, and Gloria abruptly stand up and walk out of a meeting, leave another teacher alone with Rod, other parents, and students, and potentially escalate a situation by turning the lights off in the room, if DPZ believed Rod was a such a loose cannon, as he subsequently describes only after being asked to account for Michelle's statement to students in the 6th grade homeroom the following morning?
DPZ is either lying, or he's incompetent and failed in what he has described in his sworn testimonies as his paramount duty-- to prioritize, above all, student and staff safety on campus. Our family heard weak explanations from DPZ and Michelle throughout the case attempting to minimize or exaggerate whenever it was most convenient. When unraveled, their words are complete contradictions.
In DPZ's November 20, 2017 Deposition, notice the carefully crafted response describing his thought process in the context of his interaction with Rod.
“If this man is out of control, he's got clenched fists, he's angry, even if I defuse that and even if we come to some kind of a reconciliation and send him off, it doesn't change the fact that what happened in the office leaves me with the sense of, what happens if that happens again? Not just with me, but another teacher, someone else who might have to confront his daughter about an issue. It becomes an issue for me in terms of safety of the community. I never make decisions about people, because I don't know him. He may not have had any issues whatsoever for the next 20 years with us, and in my mind, he may have been the father who comes the next day with a gun and goes berserk.” p. 27, lines 15-25, p. 28, lines 1-2.
IT DOES NOT MAKE SENSE. The Zimmermans cannot have it both ways, but because there is no oversight, and DPZ, Michelle, and Gloria have been allowed to masterfully shape the narrative for so long without question or repercussion, here we are.
This exaggeration, misrepresentation, and manipulation by DPZ, and the corroboration by Michelle and Gloria, are patterns seen throughout this entire ordeal. They became more clear with documents and evidence gained throughout the case.
The bottom line is that the lawsuit itself was solely about defamation by Michelle. Throughout the case many disturbing issues came to light that were not relevant to the defamation claim itself. These issues are, however, relevant to our family. This case, and all the documentation that tell the true story, have not only brought a sense of peace to our family, but also a moral responsibility to share our experiences and perspectives for others to be their own judge and decide for themselves.
The fact that we were not able to prove all the elements needed to win this case does not exonerate the Zimmermans of fault. It only highlights the extent to which people, who may have started out well-intended, can end up trading in their once cherished values when arrogance and lack of humility get the best of them. There is always a road to redemption, if one is willing to take it
EXHIBIT C:
DPZ talks about his wide-range discretion to administer policies in his Deposition on November 20, 2017.
At times it seems DPZ is trying to paint it both ways-- whether he follows a policy or has full discretion, saying, "...the congregation has entrusted with me to make emergency decisions on the spot. I can ask you to walk out of the school and not come back without any further discussion." p. 41, lines 6-9.
Next, responding to whether its very much discretionary, DPZ states, "No. The policy that we follow, it's rare that that would happen. It would happen only in the event that I felt the safety of the staff, the safety of the students-- and that would be my decision to make as the administrator." p. 41, lines 11-14.
Later, DPZ admits he has full authority to dis-enroll students, saying, "And that's also very clear in our handbook, we can disenroll at any time for any reason." p. 41, lines 9-11.
In our view, DPZ uses his authority and the fact that no system of oversight exists at Renton Prep to change the narrative when it's convenient or when the actions or behaviors of either himself, Gloria, or Michelle are questioned.
EXHIBIT D:
Another example highlighting Renton Prep's lack of oversight, in terms of the admissions process, can be seen in an excerpt of a meeting between DPZ and Dawn on May 20, 2016 (just minutes after DPZ met with Rod, and later claimed feelings of being threatened).
Exhibit E:
Another curiosity around oversight and governance at Renton Prep is the reporting structure. Who does DPZ or Michelle (who is now listed on the website as Executive Director) report to? Is it the Church congregation? The Church Council? The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod? Some other type of Board? Who sits on this Governing Board and what is their fiduciary and administrative responsibility?
According to the State of Washington, Renton Prep is listed as a Non-Profit, of which there are four Governing People--DPZ is one of them.
There doesn't seem to be any school board, no management by the Renton or Seattle school districts, no parent-teacher association, and clearly not a diverse governing board.
DPZ sits on the board and has intermittently and interchangeably acted in the following self-appointed capacities, in whatever suits him or benefits the Schools, and by extension, his family:
Executive Director
Head Administrator
Administrator
Pastor
Head of the Schools
Director for Augmented Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning, Virtual and Mixed Reality Research, Renton Prep
To read more about the Toxic Leadership of the Zimmerman's, visit the following pages: