BURIEN, Wash. — Felicia Wilson said she was heartbroken when her son came home on one of the last days of school with a certificate from his teacher for being the "Most Off-Task."
"He brought out the award and he showed it to me and I just started crying," said Felicia Wilson.
Highline Public Schools said the awards were given out at an end-of-the-year picnic near McMicken Heights Elementary School.
While other students were awarded certificates for positive traits, like "Best Listener," she said her son was called out for his disability. The awards were given out in front of other classmates.
"Everybody else was laughing so I laughed too," said Preston Wilson, who has just finished the sixth grade.
"He understood and he said he had no choice but to laugh because the other kids were laughing," said Felicia Wilson.
Felicia Wilson said what made the award even more humiliating is that her son can't help being off task because he suffers from attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.
"He truly has a disability, an inability to stay focused and on task for eight hours a day," said Felicia Wilson.
"I don’t know what the teacher's thoughts were. I know that it wasn't meant to be hurtful, even though i it was a hurtful thing,” said Tove Tupper, spokesperson for Highline Public Schools.
She added that Preston’s principal and teacher have already emailed Felicia Wilson an apology.
Felicia Wilson said that in the email the teacher wrote in part, “I am truly sorry if Preston was hurt by this award-that was never our intention. These awards were given out during our informal 6th grade picnic at the park. Most students received a humorous award, and in hindsight I can see why the award given to Preston could be misinterpreted.”
But Felicia Wilson said his teachers should have known better.
“Not OK for any child, especially with a child with a disability,” said Felicia Wilson.
Tupper said the district will be reviewing all end-of-the-year traditions next year to make sure something like this doesn’t happen again.
We asked if the teacher or teachers involved in this incident will be disciplined, and a spokesperson for the district said she couldn’t say because it’s a personnel issue.
Tupper added that the principal of McMicken Heights is also hoping to meet with Felicia Wilson and apologize in person.
KIRO
