ALL the children in the class who were made to shun one child will be negatively affected by what happened in their classroom. The teacher seriously abused her student and needs to be removed immediately and permanently from working with children. I have some ideas for what to do next and I hope you will consider them. I am a licensed family and trauma psychotherapist in California - for 25 years. Lucie School Officials: I am writing on behalf of Alex Barton, the 5-year old boy who was made to be shunned by most of his classmates in your school. These are strong suggestions for what to do next. Also, here is another Daily Kos post with contact information for sending toys and cards to be forwarded to Alex Barton.Īs a trauma/family therapist for 25 years I sent the following letter to school officials on behalf of Alex Barton. Lucie County School District has removed Wendy Portillo from contact with students while district officials conduct an investigation into her behavior. Update, May 26: There is an excellent post about Alex Barton and Wendy Portillo on Daily Kos, with hundreds of comments. Judith Autistic Self Advocacy Network is asking all those who write to express their outrage to cc: so that ASAN can keep track of the strength and sources of the response. Lucie County Schools must also be made aware of the need to review and strengthen the school district's policies on preventing bullying and other abuse, as well as training teachers about neurological differences. Wendy Portillo needs to be removed from that classroom immediately, so that she cannot abuse any more children. There is no excuse whatsoever for a teacher, who ought to be setting an example of positive values, to instead teach a group of kindergarteners to bully and ostracize an emotionally vulnerable child. Lucie County Schools and the Department of Children and Families also are investigating. Police investigated her report of child abuse, but no criminal charges were filed. She also knew that his family had recently moved, which would cause any young child-and especially an autistic child-to feel anxious and vulnerable.Īlex's mother, Melissa Barton, reported that he was so upset afterward that she had to withdraw him from school because he started screaming when he saw the building. When she did this, Portillo was aware that Alex had developmental differences and was in the process of being tested for an Asperger's diagnosis. After making five-year-old Alex Barton stand in front of the class as punishment for misbehavior, Portillo told the other students to list what they didn't like about him and then encouraged them to "vote" him out of the class. I was thoroughly disgusted when I read about the abuse of a kindergarten student by teacher Wendy Portillo at Morningside Elementary School in Port St.
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