When Tomas Valero saw his daughter crying every day after school, he knew something was very wrong. Once he finally figured out what was going on, it completely surprised him. Before anything serious happened, he knew he had to resort to sneaky means. What did he do to find out the truth?
Starting School
It’s not easy for kids who are just starting school. It’s such a big adjustment for them, they need their parents’ full support to get through it. No matter how great the teacher is or how nice and friendly the other kids are, it’s always a scary and significant change for the kids.
Starting School
A Tough Adjustment
As if adjusting to school wasn’t difficult enough, a rude or mean teacher would make things a whole lot harder for a student. When Tomas realized his daughter was having a hard time at school, he knew it was time to find out what was going on there.
A Tough Adjustment
She Was Scared
There’s no doubt that almost all parents want nothing less than the best for their kids. It’s only natural for a parent to get worried when they see their kids in any kind of pain. Tomas is one of those parents. Understandably, he got worried when his daughter wasn’t acting like herself.
She Was Scared
She Became More Emotional
He noticed that his daughter started acting more emotional once she started going to a new school. At first, he thought it was nothing more than nerves. However, over time, he realized that there was more to the story than he knew about.
She Became More Emotional
The Same Routine
When crying and asking to stay home became a regular part of the day, Tomas got worried about his little girl. Every morning began the same exact way, and it got to the point where Tomas just couldn’t live with it any longer.
The Same Routine
The Situation Worsened
As the days turned into months, soon it became clear to Tomas that his daughter had no joy or excitement anymore. As time went on, she started getting more and more scared, often not wanting to go to school at all.
The Situation Worsened
Reluctant
Tomas tried finding out what the problem was by talking to her, but his daughter refused telling him or his wife the truth. Despite this, he knew he had to do something about this. He didn’t like seeing his little girl this way.
Reluctant
Her New School
His daughter had just begun kindergarten at Pine Grove Elementary school. Before this, he never noticed anything off about her at all. The only thing he knew was that she was a healthy little girl who made friends quickly and was creative.
Her New School
She Began To Change
However, not long after she started school there, Tomas noticed she became more emotional for some unknown reason. He could tell it was related to school somehow. He couldn’t figure out exactly what it was. Was it the kids, the teachers, the place itself?
She Began To Change
Did Well In School
Until this all happened, his daughter had been doing well in school. She got good grades, not to mention, the reports about her had been positive for the most part. All the same, a couple of months after she had started going to this school, her grades started slipping.
Did Well In School
Feeling So Powerless
To top it off, she would get emotional before as well as after school. What was happening? It became too much for Tomas to see his little girl act like this. He felt so powerless. However, he knew all the same that it was time to get to the bottom of the situation.
Feeling So Powerless
The Concerned Father
We’re sure any parent would feel worried about the well-being of their child. It was hard seeing his daughter be sad so often. He was beginning to get more and more worried about her. The more he tried finding out what was wrong, the more the little girl shrank away, That’s when he realized what could be going on.
The Concerned Father
A Stable, Happy Life
He thought about it a lot. Then, he came to the conclusion that she must be getting bullied by one of her classmates or even by one of her teachers. They had a stable and happy family at home, so he knew that couldn’t be it.
A Stable, Happy Life
Patience Is A Virtue
It’s very important to be patient. It might even be one of the most important virtues we can all learn, even if it’s difficult to practice. When it comes to teaching small kids, this becomes that much more valuable. If you ever had to deal with kids, then you know how hard they can be to handle. As an educator, patience is part of the job requirement.
Patience Is A Virtue
Her Formative Years
His daughter was still so young. She was in her formative years, meaning that she was in a crucial and important time of her life. What happens in during this time of her life will mold her into the adult she will be in the future.
Her Formative Years
Preparation For The Future
Tomas and his wife raised their two daughters and one son with a certain mindset, always making sure to surround them with positivity and encouraging them to be their best selves. They know how important it is to develop a strong sense of self in kids to prepare them for what the future holds.
Preparation For The Future
More Harm Than Good
Keeping that in mind, it makes sense that a harsh, mean teacher can seriously harm the children. Tomas and his wife definitely didn’t want that for their little girl. They started suspecting it was the root of their ongoing problem.
More Harm Than Good
Creating A Plan
Being a resourceful person, Tomas decided he needed to figure out what was going on with his daughter. He was having a hard time since his daughter was too young and shy to tell him about what was going on with her.
Creating A Plan
Time To Take Action
Being the father that he is, he couldn’t just let his daughter get more and more sad with each passing day. He had enough and decided he was going to do something about it. The only question was how? He thought about it for a while and finally came up with a plan.
Time To Take Action
How Would He Do It?
How could Tomas hear what was happening at school without having to be there at the time? He knew that if he asked to sit in on the class one day, the teacher would just change her behavior. He needed a more creative solution to make sure he was catching her in the act.
How Would He Do It?
Hidden Hearing Device
And so, Tomas decided to ‘listen in’ – literally. He went and created a tiny hearing device and placed it in his daughter’s hair. This would allow him to listen to what was happening at her school. Hopefully, it would allow him to understand what she was experiencing there.
Hidden Hearing Device
Drastic Measures
He knew this was a very drastic way to go about it, but it was important to him. It was important not only to know what was going on but to have proof on hand as well. He didn’t tell his daughter what he was putting in her hair since he thought it might distract her throughout the day.
Drastic Measures
Anticipation
Tomas couldn’t wait and see what would happen over the course of the school day. He waited for his daughter at the door and smiled at her as she ran up the driveway. He was excited to finally get that smile he knows and loves back on her face again.
Anticipation
Astounding Results
When Tomas started listening to the recording when she came home, he was shell shocked about what he heard. After listening to the whole thing, he was absolutely livid but still glad he finally knew what was going on.
Astounding Results
The Source Of The Problems
From the recording, it sounded like the teacher was being mean to the students. Tomas continued listening to the recording and realized this must be the reason for his daughter’s problems. He knew there was no time to waste. It was time for him to do something about it.
The Source Of The Problems
Teacher Troubles
He could tell that the teacher was taking advantage of her position. It hurt Tomas to hear the person they paid to care for their daughter behaved so callously. He really couldn’t wrap his head around it at first.
Teacher Troubles
What To Do?
As he was listening, he found out that the teacher not only said offensive things but her tone was also mean. The recording allowed Tomas to hear just how much she screamed and yelled at the kids over the most trivial things. What should he do now?
What To Do?
Sick To His Stomach
It sickened him to see a teacher would behave in such a way, so he decided it was time to raise the issue with the public school district. When things like this happen to your children, it’s usually easier to take it up with someone who has the power to do something about it.
Sick To His Stomach
Filing A Complaint
Instead of talking to the teacher directly, Tomas decided there was a much better chance of changing things if he turned to the state school board instead. So that’s what he did. He set up an appointment to tell his and his daughter’s story.
Filing A Complaint
Their Poor Response
Despite the fact that Tomas had a valid complaint as well as proof to back it up, the school district did nothing to help him in any way. He couldn’t help but feel disappointed by the response he got from them. To him, it was absolutely sickening that the teacher had been tearing down children on a daily basis.
Their Poor Response
No Action Taken
Can you imagine just how upsetting it must be to hear they weren’t willing to do anything about this problem? They did say they disciplined the teacher for what she did, but that wasn’t enough for Tomas. He wanted them to do more than that.
No Action Taken
Making His Point
Tomas wasn’t happy at all about the response he received from the authorities. The teacher was still teaching the class his daughter was in. He couldn’t help but feel like it was time for retribution. Soon enough, he made the decision to take it on himself to do something about Duncan, the mean kindergarten teacher.
Making His Point
A Parent’s Duty
The school offered to move his daughter to another class, but this wasn’t just about his daughter anymore. Tomas was worried about the safety and wellbeing of the other kids in her class as well. As a parent, he knew he had to stand up for his child, but also all the other children.
A Parent’s Duty
For The Kids
He was upset the school didn’t offer much in the sense of support or change. It was a problem that would greatly affect the lives of all these kids. As long as Duncan was teaching, there will be children affected by her anger. Even though he and the other parents protested together, the school didn’t budge. However, he and the parents refused to give up.
For The Kids
Signing A Petition
Word got out about what was happening in the school. Everyone heard about how Duncan treated the little girls in her class. Tomas didn’t get a lot of support after his initial attempts to get justice, but things started turning around when he made a petition on Change.org. Soon enough, the public arrived to rally around his house. He had over 2,000 signatures for the dismissal of Duncan in no time.
Signing A Petition
The Media Spotlight
It was an even bigger surprise when Tomas found himself in the middle of the media spotlight. Local news channels heard about what was going on at Pine Grave and they admired Tomas for his determination to get justice.
The Media Spotlight
The Entire Country
It didn’t take long for the story to pop up all across the country. It meant that people all over the nation would hear about what this teacher did, even if Tomas wasn’t able to have her fired. This gave him some hope that things could change.
The Entire Country
Preventing Childhood Traumas
The worst thing about what the teacher did is that it was going to have a lasting effect on the child. Things that kids pick up when they’re so young tend to stay with them for a very long time, if not for the rest of their lives.
Preventing Childhood Traumas
What Could Have Been
Had Tomas not noticed his daughter’s behavior and not worked to get to the bottom of things, she might have been traumatized for the rest of her life. It was a serious thing that affected the other kids too.
What Could Have Been
Being A Mentor
Anyone who has kids knows how challenging it is to be a good mentor. A lot of times, one will first have to scrutinize and criticize their own actions and behaviors. This isn’t easy to get done, but it’s essential if you want to be a good role model for your kids.
Being A Mentor
The Best Parent Possible
Tomas did learn from this experience that there would be times when things are out of his control no matter how much he tried being the best parent he could be. Despite this, he would go through hell and back to ensure the safety of his daughter. He also wanted to keep this from happening to other kids.
The Best Parent Possible
A Teacher’s Responsibility
It’s the teacher’s responsibility to impart lessons that go further than the set curriculum. They should help improve the imaginations and minds of the kids they teach. These are things that will leave a massive impact on the lives of the kids as they grow older. A teacher is meant to inspire the kids they teach.
A Teacher’s Responsibility
Her Father’s Efforts
It’s never a good idea for teachers to display abusive behaviors and assert dominance by fear. All this does is stifle the progress of the kids and make them more anxious and fearful overall. Did Tomas’ efforts to fix the problem work? We’ll have to find out.
Her Father’s Efforts
Holding Onto Hope
While Duncan continues teaching at the school, we hope she’s at least come to the realization of how harsh she’d been to the kids in her class. Tomas is still hoping against hope that the necessary changes will happen since he knows he’s in the right.
Holding Onto Hope
Lives At Stake
It felt to Tomas like the school had been putting the lives of the kids at stake all thanks to the short temper of one teacher. He learned it would be impossible to make changes if he didn’t take a stand. He desperately hopes his actions change the school system even just a little to make sure other kids wouldn’t be harmed.
Lives At Stake
Making Them Stronger
This entire ordeal had been hard on him and his daughter, but eventually, Tomas admitted that it made their family that much stronger. He never would have found out that something like this was happening if he didn’t go the extra mile.
Making Them Stronger
A Better Dad
By this point, his daughter is attending a class taught by a different teacher. If anything, Tomas learned how important it is to pay attention to his daughter and how she’s acting. This has made him a better dad thanks to what happened.
A Better Dad
Always There
No matter what happens, Tomas will always be there for his daughters and son. He and his wife will stand up for their kids whenever and however they need to. Without great parents who recognize the problem, their daughter would still be getting bullied by her teacher.
Always There
Good Parents
Since the very day their little daughter left the hospital, they always had her best interest in mind. This is what makes a good parent. Tomas and Laici always make sure to care for the needs of all three kids they have.
Good Parents
Support System
In order for kids to grow up and mature into members of society, having parents with a good head on their shoulders and a good heart always helps. A stable home life prepares the child for other things later in life. Aliya is truly lucky to have such a great support system!
Support System
Preparation
Tomas and his wife Laici had been awaiting their children’s birth for a long time. When their daughter was finally born they wanted to be sure that we’re able to handle this responsibility and give her the love and attention she deserved.
Preparation
Together Forever
The couple got acquainted back when Tomas was serving in the military. They immediately connected and wanted to spend the rest of their lives together. Sadly he was stationed to leave soon so they rushed to get married.
Together Forever
Hard Times
Being a parent is a hard enough job, but being a parent and serving in the army is double the pressure. Tomas was devastated to leave his family all the time but was also intent on serving his country. He wanted to make them proud.
Hard Times
At Peace
While he was serving he always longed to be with his daughter and wife. It made it easier that she was being taken care of but it was still difficult. At home, his wife was also struggling and missed him so deeply.
At Peace
Growing Up
He was expected to come home soon and his family constantly looked forward to this day. Their daughter Aliya was rather well behaved and always impressed her parents. They couldn’t believe how fast she was growing up!
Growing Up
So Lucky
As a baby their daughter was always well behaved. She was calm and patient and they often forgot she was even around because of how peaceful she was. She rarely cried and she was an excellent sleeper. They couldn’t have been more grateful!
So Lucky
Sorry Dad
Just look at how adorable she is with this bow! She was so preoccupied with sucking on her thumb that she wasn’t paying any attention to her father taking this selfie. Come on, give dad some attention!
Sorry Dad
Little Princess
This picture was taken when Aliya was a bit older and at this time was an older sister! They were having such a great day playing dress-up and eating cookies. Mom was definitely loving her quality time with her girls.
Little Princess
Funny Faces
When her teeth started to grow in Aliya wanted to show them off to everyone. Tomas wanted to recreate the same picture a few years later. He dressed her in the exact same outfit and pictures her with the very same pose! How cute!
Funny Faces
More Kids
Two children were not enough and they decided it was time to bring a third in to the mix. The girls soon learned that they were expecting a baby brother to join their family. Thomas and Laici were so excited to expand their family.
More Kids
3 Bundles Of Joy
Good things come in three! The three siblings look incredibly similar and it’s so beautiful how much they look like both parents! Aliya and her both wear classes but maybe as the others grow up they will too. We also love her purple frame.
3 Bundles Of Joy
Camera Queens
The young girls are obsessed with social media applications like snapchat because of the fun filters they can use. Even Laici likes taking selfies with them, its something fun that they do together. They put online and this way all their friends and family can be part of it!
Camera Queens
All The Way Up
When Aliya was a young girl, she would go on her father’s shoulders so she could see her surroundings better. He carefully held on to her so she would not fall down. Look how happy she is to be with her daddy!
Screenshot 8
Matching
Once the family attended a family member’s wedding and Aliya, Tomas, and Laici got all dressed up for the event. The best part is that their outfits match perfectly! It seems like Aliya was learning to walk and having a great time doing so!
Matching
Reading Is Fun
Tomas is a big fan of reading to his children. He thinks it’s a good way to spend their time together and also get her mind thinking. When Aliya was a young girl she really enjoyed this and hearing her father’s voice helped her fall asleep easily.
Reading Is Fun
Always Smiling
Tomas was the kind of dad who wanted to give his children everything. He did everything possible to make sure they had smiling faces. He also wanted to keep a smile on his phone face in front of them regardless of any stress he was experiencing.
Always Smiling
Daddy’s Little Girls
The two girls are definitely daddy’s girls and we can see that in this photo. Aliya likes being the bigger sister and the one to show her baby sister what to do and what not to do Aliya wants to be part of the fun when her father is holding her little sister.
Daddy’s Little Girls
Christmas Time
The holidays are the perfect opportunity for the family to spend quality time together. Christmas is one of their absolute favorite holidays even though for a long time Aliya was afraid of Santa Clause. Thankfully this is not the situation anymore.
Christmas Time
A Decade
It feels like forever since Aliya was born. They have been through so much in such a short period of time and at this point, they had their first child over a decade ago. They were preparing so much to be parents and now it’s just a piece of cake!
A Decade
Unconditional Support
Tomas wants to be the best role model for his children. He aims to offer guidance and constant love and assistance. He works hard alongside his wife to make this possible. They both feel incredibly lucky to have their kids but also each other. How beautiful is that?
Unconditional Support