Father files suit, claims CVESD principal, sheriff's deputy ignored his daughter's abuse report

A bungled investigation into sexual abuse of a student in Chula Vista Elementary School sounds familiar to me: an alarming allegation made to a CVESD administrator followed by NO meaningful investigation.

According to a recent Jane Doe lawsuit against CVESD and the San Diego Sheriff's Department, a principal stopped a girl's complaint in its tracks. 

I believe that the principal sincerely believed that no genuine abuse was occurring, and also believed that the child's mother would protect her. That's why the principal orchestrated a meeting at which it was decided NOT to start an official investigation.  

The principal was sadly, tragically mistaken.  

As a result, both the girl and her sister were sexually abused by their older half-brother during the subsequent eighteen months, and the mother was eventually found to be responsible for the wrongdoing.

So whose fault was the bungled investigation--the principal's or the deputy's? Or someone else's?

I submit that the school district was far more responsible for the outcome than some might imagine.

In my experience, school officials call the shots when law enforcement is called in--and this needs to change. 

The crux of the problem lies in the imbalance of power between the school district and the lone law officer. This is a problem that needs to be solved at the top levels of the school district and sheriff's department. Politics needs to be taken out of the situation, and should be replaced with professionalism.

Normal law enforcement procedures should be followed on school property. Victims should never be questioned in front of people who might be victimizing them. Police should not take direction from school personnel.

The political relationship between schools and CPS is different from the political relationship between schools and the sheriff's department. CPS does not take direction from school officials and that might be why CPS was not called in.

CPS might have done better than the sheriff. Perhaps the girl would have talked more freely in a private conversation with a civilian from CPS than in a rather intimidating and formal conference with a uniformed deputy, a principal, and the mother who had obviously failed her. If the mother had been available to take care of the problem, why would the girl have spoken about it to the principal?

I suspect that principals at CVESD have been trained as to how to fulfill the letter of the law.  

Certainly the principal was acting correctly from the point of view of the number one rule for school districts: maintain an appearance that there are no problems. One of the major tactics to achieve this goal is to silence voices of discontent, to keep problems hushed up, and to allow only favored individuals to have a voice. In CVESD and in many other districts, maintaining the political status quo is paramount. 

In my experience, school officials call the shots when law enforcement is called in--and this needs to change.  

CVESD seems to be a remarkably well-connected district.  Both the former mayor of Chula Vista and chief of police of Chula Vista had positions on the CVESD school board. This may explain why, when a wave of school embezzlements across San Diego County were being prosecuted and were receiving wide media attention, two embezzlements at Castle Park Elementary in Chula Vista received remarkably little attention from the media--and no charges were filed.

CVESD has a habit of maintaining the status quo by refusing to find out the truth about favored individuals. Sometimes the truth comes out, but I imagine there are a significant number of cases in which it doesn't.

Team 10: Father files suit, claims principal, sheriff's deputy ignored his daughter's abuse report

Suit: Abuse report should've been sent to CPS

Allison Ash

 Jul 9, 2015

Channel 10 News KGTV

SAN DIEGO - A father is suing the Chula Vista Elementary School District and the San Diego County Sheriff's Department after he claims they failed to protect his daughters from ongoing sexual abuse.

"Somebody dropped the ball," said the father, who asked that Team 10 hide his identity to protect his girls.

The civil lawsuit claims both agencies were negligent when they failed to report a child abuse allegation to Child Protective Services, allowing the fondling and inappropriate touching to continue for 18 months longer.

The father spoke only to Team 10 about the allegations, and he said in March 2012 his 9-year-old daughter told the principal of Sunnyside Elementary School that she was being sexually assaulted by an older half-brother. The father became emotional as he spoke about the principal's decision to call in a sheriff's deputy and the girl's mother. When the meeting was over, the girl was allowed to return to the home where the abuse was allegedly taking place.

"Nothing happened," said the father, who claimed that his daughter was pressured to change her story. "You just can't let it go in one ear and out the other and assume that a child misunderstood rape and wrestling."

The father, who is not married to the girl's mother, said it was during a visit with his daughters 18 months later when he first learned of the abuse allegations. His 15-year-old daughter was visiting him, and he said, "She stopped me dead in my tracks and started crying hysterically and told me she was being … that, uh, she was being molested by her brother."

He added, "I reacted like any father would react. I first got emotional, because I couldn't believe that this had actually happened to my daughter."

The father was angry and confused, and within minutes, the emotional pain was unbearable.

"It broke me. It was hard for me to process all of this because as quickly as I found out that it had happened to my oldest daughter, I found out just as fast that it had also happened to my youngest daughter," he told Team 10.

The father did what he said the school principal and the sheriff's deputy should have done more than a year earlier -- he contacted Child Protective Services.

"I was told there was never a report made in response to the school being notified and the school doing their investigation," he said.

Court documents show that within days of notifying CPS, both girls were removed from their mother's care and sole custody was given to their father.

The father claims neither the school nor the deputy followed California's Mandatory Reporting Law, and because they didn't, both his daughters continued to suffer.

"The abuse continued and it was worse," he added.

The lawsuit, filed on behalf of his daughters, refers to them as Jane Doe and Jane Roe. It asks for damages "stemming from Defendants' negligence, assault, battery, and negligent and intentional infliction of emotional distress."

"Because of this failure, these girls suffered immense emotional and sexual abuse," explained attorney Lorraine Nisbit, who is representing the two girls and their father.

...Gilleon also questioned the principal's decision to have the girl's mother present when she was questioned by the deputy.
"When that principal called the mom, she actually called the person who the CPS eventually blames for all of this. She actually tipped off the wrong-doer herself."
Gilleon said the investigation was "bungled from the start."

...An attorney for the County of San Diego told Team 10 the deputy involved in this case is an experienced child abuse investigator who works closely with CPS. He said the deputy had no basis for any action, so there was nothing to report...

CVESD principal (and former lawyer) Monica Sorenson leaves in the middle of the school year

Why did Monica Sorenson depart CVESD suddenly in the middle of the school year?

I noticed a few days ago that a law firm in Los Angeles was reading up on Monica Sorenson (on my blog). Is Monica thinking of returning to the practice of law--and leaving education altogether? Well, she might return to the practice of law, but that does not necessarily mean she'd be leaving the field of education entirely. The law firm that was looking at my blog, Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton, employs education attorneys.


Tiffany principal Charlie Padilla also left
in the middle of the school year

I also thought it was odd that Tiffany principal Charlie Padilla left in the middle of the year in December of 2010. It seems somewhat a dereliction of duty. What exactly would propel a principal to make such a move?

In case anyone is wondering, Monica Sorenson was on the Chula Vista Educators board of directors when this grievance was filed. Even though she was a lawyer, CTA was able to keep her in line, assuming that she ever objected to illegal actions. I think she was wrong not to blow the whistle on serious wrongdoing by teachers and the district. But I'm sure her ascent at CVESD would have been curtailed if she'd reported the illegal actions to the authorities. The original, unhacked grievance that Monica ignored can be seen here.

Del Mar district names new principal for Torrey Hills
By Michelle Breier
SDUT
Jan 10, 2014

DEL MAR — The Del Mar Union School District has named Monica Sorenson as principal of Torrey Hills School.

Sorenson comes to the Del Mar district with five years of experience as a principal, most recently at Chula Vista Hills Elementary, officials said. Before that, she was a teacher for 10 years.

Chula Vista Hills Elementary, under Sorenson’s leadership, received numerous awards and accolades for its academic and wellness achievements.

The Del Mar district said Sorensen is known as a principal who works well with parents, teachers and the greater community to create positive and dynamic learning environments in which students excel.

Sorenson takes the place of Barbara Boone, who left Torrey Hills to take a position as director of curriculum and instruction at the San Diego County Office of Education

Here is the hit on my blog from Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton

IP Address 12.146.203.# (Sheppard, Mullin, Richter& Hampton)
ISP AT&T WorldNet Services
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City : Los Angeles
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Time of Visit Jan 8 2014 8:45:03 am
Last Page View Jan 8 2014 8:54:06 am
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Referring URL http://www.google.co...
Visit Entry Page http://cvesdreporter...-sorenson-hired.html
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Visit Number 34,339

CAMARENA ELEMENTARY READY FOR STUDENTS

See previous story on this school HERE.

CAMARENA ELEMENTARY READY FOR STUDENTS
Students at school that opens next week will try out some new concepts
By Caroline Dipping
SDUT
JULY 18, 2013

Principal Dan Winters describes himself as Camarena’s CEO, or chief encouragement officer.

About 900 students are enrolled in Enrique Camarena Elementary School, which opens next week in Otay Ranch. hool!]

CHULA VISTA — When the new Enrique S. Camarena Elementary School opens next week, one of the first things students will learn is that they can write on their classroom walls and desks. And they won’t get sent to the principal’s office because it was he who led the charge to make it possible.

The walls of the 36 classrooms are swathed in a special paint that mimics a whiteboard, where pen markings easily wipe away with a dry cloth. Student desks are also of a durable fabrication that can withstand the punishment of spelling tests and math calculations.

“The concept is that you want to use the materials you have,” said Principal Dan Winters. “I mean, talk eco-friendly.

“Think of all the paper you don’t need to use. When kids do some work that needs to be saved, they can take a picture of it with their digital device.”

Welcome to Camarena Elementary, the first new campus to be built in the Chula Vista Elementary School District since 2007. Where chalkboards and text books are so last century and digital devices such as iPads, Chromebooks and Android tablets will be the tools to help students, particularly those in the upper grades, learn their core subjects.

Winters, 50, has been in the Chula Vista district nine years, most recently as principal of Salt Creek Elementary. In January, he was selected to be Camarena’s inaugural principal, a role he has embraced wholeheartedly.

Describing himself as the school’s CEO (Chief Encouragement Officer), Winters said he wants to create among his handpicked staff a professional, collaborative culture like Google and Facebook where everyone works together. With literacy as the foundation, the curriculum will include elements of project-based learning, dual immersion, and technology.

Winters’ vision for staff, students and community is so straightforward he fit it on his business cards: “We are a neighborhood school developing digital literacy in a multilingual, creative environment.”

“It starts with literacy,” he said. “It is still the foundation, and common core standards are coming next year and they give credence to the fact primary literacy is still how we do things.

“And digital means literacy in our current environment whereby kids learn how to use digital tools effectively to get information to share and which to communicate.”

Although it has yet to crack a single textbook, digital or otherwise, Camarena Elementary is already poised to do a booming business. Located in the Otay Ranch Village 11 area — at 1650 Exploration Falls Drive, to be precise — the 11.85-acre campus has capacity for 975 students in kindergarten through sixth grade. Currently, 900 are enrolled.

The school district purchased the property for $2.7 million in 2008 but did not have the money to build. It wasn’t until last spring that the district was able to break ground, the estimated $30 million construction costs coming from CFD/Mello-Roos special tax assessments.

Also last spring, the school board approved the Camarena name for the school to commemorate the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration agent who was kidnapped and killed in 1985 while on assignment in Mexico. By November, the ceremonial last beam was placed in position during a particularly festive “topping out” ceremony, where it was noted that contractor Balfour Beatty Construction was ahead of schedule.

Dan Winters to be first principal of Camarena Elementary

I agree with Mr. Winters that building kids up starting at an early age is extremely rewarding. And I think "Camarena" is an excellent choice as the name of the new school.

Dan Winters to be first principal of Camarena Elementary
By Caroline Dipping
UTSD
JAN. 21, 2013

CHULA VISTA — Veteran South County educator Dan Winters has been named the inaugural principal of Enrique S. Camarena Elementary School, which is slated to open its doors in July. Winters is currently principal of Salt Creek Elementary.

Winters, 50, has been a principal in the Chula Vista Elementary School District since he was hired at Halecrest Elementary in 2004. Before that, he spent 17 years at Castle Park High School as a teacher, basketball coach and administrator.

The Eastlake resident said making the move from the high school to elementary school level was a culture shock “all in a good way,” and he never looked back.

“I loved high school and loved that age, but found I really had an opportunity in elementary school to build kids from day one educationally,” Winters said. “It’s been a great blessing.”

Winters is already crafting his vision for the success of Camarena Elementary, which was named last spring to commemorate the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration agent who was kidnapped and killed in 1985 while on assignment in Mexico. Located in the Otay Ranch Village 11 area, the 11.85-acre campus will accommodate up to 800 students in kindergarten through sixth grade.

“I’ve been doing a lot of thinking about schools,” he said. “I would say if there is one thing I’d like to accomplish, I think of it as being when a kid wakes upon a Saturday morning, I hope the first thought is ‘Darn! It’s not a school day.’

“That is the picture I want to paint. Learning is exciting. My goal is to increase and multiply that in every classroom every day.”

Dual immersion studies and technology will play a big part in the school’s curriculum, Winters said. A passionate reader of fiction and nonfiction, he said literacy will still be the cornerstone of learning.

Winters graduated from Castle Park High in 1980. (“Once a Trojan, always a Trojan,” he said. “I bleed red and black.”) A graduate of San Diego State University, he earned a master’s degree in educational leadership from National University and his doctorate in educational leadership from the University of La Verne.

He joined Castle Park High’s faculty in 1986, where he taught English and ESL for seven years. An avid basketball player, he then coached Castle Park’s junior varsity and varsity teams for several years before moving into administration as attendance coordinator and assistant principal.

“I never intended to get into administration, but I found I loved it and I was good at it,” Winters said. “I connected with the kids and staff.”

Winters is married to his high school sweetheart, Leila Kashani, who is the assistant principal at Hilltop High School in the Sweetwater Union High School District. They have two children, one in the Chula Vista Elementary School District.

VILLANUEVA IS NEW PRINCIPAL FOR VETERANS ELEMENTARY

NEW PRINCIPAL FOR VETERANS ELEMENTARY
Villanueva arrives from Cajon Valley
Caroline Dipping
Aug. 23, 2012

Froylán Villanueva has been named the new principal of Veterans Elementary School in Chula Vista. His first day leading the 900-student campus was Monday.

Villanueva, 41, comes to the Chula Vista Elementary School District from the Cajon Valley Union School District, where he was principal for the past six years at Greenfield Middle School.

Previous principal Olga West
Director of Human Resources and Professional Development at Lemon Grove School District
Previous--CVESD, South Bay Union School District
Doctor of Education at UCSD

At Veterans, he replaces Olga West, who has joined the Lemon Grove School District as director of human resources and professional development.

A native San Diegan, Villanueva attended Hoover High School and San Diego State University. His career in education began in the Sweetwater Union High School District and included serving as an assistant principal at Mar Vista High and as an interim principal at Southwest Middle School. For several years, he chaired Adelante Latino, an annual conference that sends seventh- through 12th-grade male students from the Sweetwater district to UCSD for a day with Latino professionals who talk about what it takes to get into an industry and be successful.

Villanueva said he is honored to be part of the Chula Vista district and its mission to keep students the focus of every decision. He also looks forward to educating at the elementary school level.

“I’ve had the experience being with kids in middle and high school where I know where they are going,” he said. “Now, I’m looking at kids learning the alphabet and times tables. I’m really excited to be able to make an impact at the beginning of their education.”

The father of two daughters, Villanueva is an avid cyclist and runner.

DISTRICT APPOINTS TWO NEW PRINCIPALS

DISTRICT APPOINTS TWO NEW PRINCIPALS
Caroline Dipping
Union-Tribune
July 5, 2012

The Chula Vista Elementary School District has appointed two new principals.

Erika Taylor is the new principal at Palomar Elementary. Chris E. Vickers was appointed to serve as principal of Rosebank Elementary.

Taylor, a lifelong Chula Vista resident, began teaching more than 10 years ago in the Sweetwater Union High School District. There, she taught math and health and coached a variety of sports including volleyball, basketball, and swimming. She was hired by the Chula Vista Elementary School District two years ago as an associate principal at Olympic View Elementary.

Palomar Elementary is a 2012 California Distinguished School. In 2010-11, the most recent year available, it had an API, or Academic Performance Index, of 856, representing a 50-point increase in one year.

Vickers began his career in education with the Dallas Independent School District. In 2000, he and his family moved to Chula Vista where he has since worked for the elementary school district as a teacher and an associate principal. His most recent assignment was associate principal at Harborside Elementary.

“They are well acquainted with the district’s vision and values, and well acquainted with their respective school communities,” said Superintendent Francisco Escobedo. “I am confident they are the collaborative, skillful leaders that our community expects of principals in our district.”