Thank you for your messages of support.

It’s hard to believe that because of the truth being shared, other victims have found the strength to share their own stories of pain.

Perhaps this space and words are a service to those yet to speak.

What my husband and I provide below is offered in hopes that followers of Christ would never allow abuses of power to be covered within any system that claims the name of Christ. We share this and plead for change because the victims, those advocating for them, and children within these systems deserve better.

Victims and their parents have confided in us and we share with their permission. 

We have documentation for everything we share.

There’s this terrible water ride my children once talked me into going on. Being both terrified of heights and having a weak stomach, it’s best I didn’t know the ride was called the ‘Tornado’ prior to starting.

You start off being pushed by the water over to one side, then slowly swirl around the top in a circular motion. Leisurely around and around you go. I remember thinking mid-swirl, ‘is this it?‘

But I didn’t know the ride was a trick. 

After we had met with leadership, there was a period of time when it felt like we were moving around without clarity. 

How did they not think this was a big deal?

Why did they not involve the police?

Why are people not being held accountable?

What is Hillcrest doing to help the victims?

Meanwhile, we had also learned that a student of a staff member had made a negative comment to victims in public. We notified the president of this and asked him to address this with the student and family.

Because we still had these concerns, two weeks later, my husband emailed the board chair, principal, president, and a board member stating,

“Hello All, We just wanted to follow up on a few of the questions we asked in our meeting on 8/15/24 to see what the progress was or if there were any updates. On 8/12/24 we had notified the president that (student) was heard saying in front of other students to the victims, “My mom told me to stay away from you girls or you’ll make stuff up about me, too.” As of the day of our meeting, the president had not yet visited with the family. Page 14 in the Student Handbook states that “Any retaliation for reporting sexual harassment is prohibited.” As we stated in our meeting, it is our goal to ensure Hillcrest is a safe environment for all students and believe that by not responding to these statements in a timely manner, Hillcrest is communicating to the student body and our own staff that retaliation is acceptable, while also creating fear for students/staff to speak out when/if they need. These students hear what is shared about those who spoke up, and they know this is how they will be spoken about if they say anything. What efforts has Hillcrest made to ensure retaliation has stopped by communicating with the necessary families, student, and with the student body at large? We had also asked what action will be taken if there is a further statement made by the student or any teacher in a negative manner about any student involved with the teacher’s situation. Has there been any determination on this? Finally, will there be further communication sent to Hillcrest families regarding the teacher’s termination? Thank you, Chad and Amanda Davison.

We received a reply from the principal that day, stating “Dear Chad and Amanda, Thank you for your email. I appreciate the information you’ve provided. No further action is planned at this time. Sincerely, Principal.”

Further confusion. 

Why would the school respond like this if they were taking this situation seriously and prioritizing student safety? In what environment would it be acceptable to retaliate against victims, let alone in a Christian environment?

The very next day brought another blow. 

My husband and I received texts from the teacher who was no longer employed, asking us to stay away and to not communicate with anyone from his family. Each family member and extended family members were listed by name. Some of these family members were best friends with our children.

This was greatly discouraging. Somehow the teacher knew that I made the phone call to the board member, which spurred on the school’s investigation and later termination of the teacher. 

How do they he know this? How did other staff know this?

We continued to grieve how our attempts to help protect students and promote transparency seemed pointless.

But, on 9/3/2024, the police were notified of the alleged sexual misconduct. We had hope that all of what we knew would come to light so that these students would be heard, and future students would be protected.

But would they be?

Weeks later, students share with my husband and I that the teacher in question is on campus during the school day. He was not in a parental role, and spent time in a classroom and the halls with students. Also on recess duty.

Why was the teacher still on campus during school hours? Why were we giving him ongoing access to students?

There was no making sense of this. We were swirling around and around on what felt like a meaningless ride. 

But this quickly changed.  

Just like my ride on the Tornado, the bottom eventually dropped out. 

And we realized we’d been tricked.