The prequel of events (part 1)

summary of events on Friday, May 20, 2016, leading up to the fernandez' dis-enrollment

a request for teacher guidance

On Friday, May 20, 2016, in the spirit of leadership and mentorship, Jasmine and three of her 9th grade classmates were compelled to go to a teacher for guidance on how to address a concern, which had become glaringly apparent when a younger classmate was overheard saying that a 6th grader made comments about the sexual orientation of two peers. 

Jasmine had already been made aware from her younger sister, Randi, who days earlier had asked Jasmine for guidance on how to best handle a situation in which the same 6th grader directly made disparaging comments to Randi about one student's intelligence.  

Gloria Zimmerman Meets with students

Jasmine and her classmates decided to approach Gloria Zimmerman ("Gloria") for advice, making clear their intention to facilitate productive communication among younger students within the Renton Prep community, in this case addressing the 6th grader's insensitive comments. 

Jasmine and her classmates brought numerous concerns to Gloria's attention, ultimately suggesting that she conduct a small meeting among the 6th grade class to discuss the issues, or themes related to the issues (i.e. the impact that words have on others, the importance of kindness), at hand. After listening to their concerns, Gloria assured the students that the matter would be properly handled.

Gloria gathered the group of students involved.

Instead of suspending her own judgment until all students had the opportunity to clearly and freely state their point-of-view, Gloria interjected and restated students' comments to fit her own perception of what she believed was going on (i.e. gossip, jealously). 

Despite Jasmine and her classmates bringing forth multiple concerns to Gloria's attention, her primary focus was on a disparaging comment that the 6th grade student made to Randi about another student.

The 6th grader admitted to not remembering whether or not she made the comment. On the other hand, Randi was adamant about what the 6th grader told her about another student. The more Gloria questioned and interrupted Randi, the more Randi began to feel nervous and apprehensive. 

Randi stated that the 6th grade student told her that another student wasn't smart and would draw for the duration of a coding competition she was participating in. Ultimately, Gloria twisted Randi's statement to fit her own version: that the student 'didn't know JavaScript'.  This was not at all what Randi originally stated, however,

Randi felt intimidated by Gloria's efforts to change her words. As a 12-year old, at the time, Randi didn't have the confidence, nor were her communication skills sophisticated enough to properly address Gloria's divergence from the facts of the matter.  

 At that point, both Randi and Jasmine began to fear that Randi was being painted as a 'liar' by Gloria.  And this was even more devastating because Dr. Michelle Zimmerman ("Michelle") had falsely accused Randi of lying twice in the past, both times Randi was proven innocent and Renton Prep staff apologized to Randi.  

While waiting in the Renton Prep parking lot for his two oldest daughters, Jasmine and Randi, to be released from school, Rod witnessed them both exit Renton Prep, crying hysterically in front of their classmates while running toward his parked van.  As he was driving, he heard Randi crying and repeatedly saying,

“They don’t believe me.  They don’t like me.  They think I’m lying.” 

Rod and DPZ talk

Rod walked the short distance from his house to AGCS to drop off his three daughters at the Potluck.  He saw DPZ and asked to speak with him.  DPZ agreed and proceeded to lead Rod into the building toward his office.  

Rod was born and raised in the Philippines until the age of 13.  English is his third language.  He is very quiet, laid back, and respectful by nature.  Rod comes from a culture where people are taught to have a great deal of respect for authority figures, especially those of a religious nature, and so he finds it difficult to express his concerns to people in high positions.

Having witnessed his daughters in a very emotional state, Rod was caught between feeling hurt and concerned for his daughters’ well-being. When asked by DPZ what was going on, Rod stated that he didn’t want to look at him when he talked because he knew it would be easier not to so he wouldn’t get nervous or distracted when trying to communicate his feelings. 

The conversation between Rod and DPZ was open, honest, and genuine.  DPZ did not, in any way, appear scared, threatened, or act under a heightened degree of stress.  DPZ quietly listened to Rod describe the pain and sadness he experienced as he witnessed his daughters crying earlier, and didn’t speak until Rod stated that Randi repeatedly said, “They don’t believe me. They don’t like me. They think I’m lying.”  At that point, DPZ spoke and said, “Wait a minute. Let’s talk about that because we take that very seriously.” It was then that Rod turned his face to look at DPZ as they continued their heartfelt conversation. 

Dawn Joins Rod and DPZ's Meeting

Dawn subsequently arrived and joined them at the meeting. As a gesture of respect, she apologized more than once to DPZ for Rod coming in without getting the full story first.

DPZ responded to Dawn's apologies as follows:

"Oh no, don't apologize."

"I respect Rod."

"I commend Rod."

"I would rather he [Rod] come to me."

"We're like family."

"I know Rod has his daughters' hearts."

At his own suggestion, DPZ stepped out to ask Gloria to join the meeting briefly at the end.  Gloria welcomed Rod and Dawn to watch the video of her and the Renton Prep students, including Jasmine and Randi, earlier that day and stated that,

“she has nothing to hide.”

When Gloria entered the room, Rod asked her why she made Randi apologize to the 6th grade student when Randi never denied what the student told her. Gloria was very sarcastic and asked Rod,

"Oh, so you were there?"  

Rod never accused Gloria of lying; instead, he asked her if she was calling his daughter (Randi) a liar. Rod and Dawn accepted Gloria's offer to watch the video, and DPZ readily agreed to schedule a video viewing the following week. 

Dawn looked at the time on her phone and told Rod that he was going to be late for work. Rod quickly stood up, thanked DPZ for listening to him, and attempted to exit the office when DPZ grabbed Rod's arm and asked if the three of them could pray.  DPZ insisted that all three of them hold hands in a circle while he prayed.  Upon conclusion of his prayer, DPZ initiated a hug with both Rod and Dawn. 

As Rod was walking out of the meeting, he thanked DPZ again for listening to him, to which DPZ responded,

“I’m glad you came in."   

Dawn and DPZ Continue to talk

Following the departure of Gloria and Rod, DPZ continued an almost 16-minute conversation with Dawn in the foyer outside of his office.  The conversation consisted of DPZ speaking almost the entire time in a jovial, carefree, and relaxed manner.  After all, they saw each other as confidants, having known each other for over 10 years – as DPZ put it earlier, “like family.”  

DPZ advised Dawn that she would appreciate what’s happened, in which she said, “And I apologize for that.” – for the same, exact reason she’d been apologizing to DPZ all along: for Rod going to him without knowing the full story.  Dawn explained that Rod had screamed at her during a telephone conversation she had with him as she was driving home from work earlier that afternoon. This occurred when Rod yelled, "Okay!" and hung up in response to Dawn raising her voice in frustration and saying, "Well, why don't you go there and talk to [DPZ] by yourself!" -- fully aware that Rod really wanted to go together with Dawn to speak with DPZ before the weekend.     

DPZ alleged to Dawn that Rod said,

“I’m so – right now, I don’t know what I’m going to do,” and then went on to postulate, “It’s like, if you need to hit me, you go ahead and hit me,” in which Dawn responded in total disbelief and said, “Dr., please.” 

Dawn went on to say that Rod's the nicest guy, but he goes crazy.  It was simply a figure of speech - meaning that he is very protective of his three daughters and would do anything for them. Although he is a quiet, laid-back person by nature, Rod will address concerns when it comes to the well-being of his children.    

DPZ went on to explain, 

“And uh, that's the reason I brought him here, uh, and just, he said, I mean, I’m gonna say this and it’s going to sound racist:  Filipino men have a certain style of doing.  I’ve had so many Filipino fathers in here.”  “And there’s a kind of a pattern, but I know it’s cultural, uh, but unlike, you know- he [Rod] doesn’t call names like many other ethnic groups who come in here and call you all kinds of stuff.”

(DPZ would often make culturally incompetent comments, but Dawn always dismissed this because of her closeness with DPZ.)

Dawn shook her head ‘no’ and replied, “That’s not him. No.” 

DPZ then said,

“[Rod's] emphasis on his daughter’s heart, his emphasis on Christianity – that’s who we are.  Gloria’s had a long day.” 

Dawn apologized to DPZ for two things:

1) For Rod going to DPZ without knowing the full story about what had happened with their girls.

2) Out of empathy for DPZ’s disappointing predisposed views concerning Filipino men/fathers.

Still confused as to how DPZ's racist stereotyped belief of Filipino men/fathers related to Rod, (see page 3 lines 1-13 of the Transcript), Dawn curiously asked DPZ if Rod was nice when he came to him, and DPZ indicated that Rod was "scary."  Dawn responded, "No, no," then out of empathy for DPZ's disappointing predisposed belief, said, "I apologize," to which DPZ responded, "You don't have to apologize." 

As Dawn and DPZ parted ways, DPZ affably agreed that the May 20, 2016 video involving Gloria and Renton Prep students (“Gloria Video”) would be made available for viewing the following week.

To find out what happens next, see The Dis-Enrollment.