The pics above are the sensory room. Lake Arbor admin staff were well aware this room needed to be up to code for the autistic students and they let it look this way for 2 school years. Just a junk closet where they housed any and everything. The principal keeps ignoring families, children and staff but these pics can not be ignored. This is the REAL THING!

 

 

This open letter was sent to all of Lake Arbor Elm. I am not the author but I applaud her for standing up and doing what's right. Please read and comment and share!!!!!! 

Greetings Fellow Educational Professionals, For those of you who do not know me, my name is xxxxxxx and I am a first year 4th grade Autism teacher at Lake Arbor Elementary School. I am a proud product of Prince George’s County Public Schools representing the Lake Arbor Elementary graduating class of 2005, Ernest Everett Just Middle School class of 2007, and Charles Herbert Flowers High School class of 2011. I am writing this letter to share my experience and express my concerns about what has taken place at Lake Arbor Elementary School during the 2025-2026 academic school year. As excited as I was to return to my alma mater and give back the love that this school once gave to me, I am extremely disappointed and disheartened by my experience while working at Lake Arbor. To say that this has been an unenjoyable school year would be an understatement as I’ve never experienced such an unprofessional and hostile work environment in my entire life. An environment that has negatively affected my health mentally, physically, and emotionally. And as I celebrate my 33rd birthday today, I felt compelled to leave you all with a gift that will hopefully change the trajectory of this educational institution for the better. I entered this role with no formal background in autism education under the guise that I would be trained, supported, and provided with unlimited resources necessary to support our most vulnerable students. But what I was met with was a complete lack of interest in our Autism students from the administration and a glorified baby sitters club with no resources, activities, or real opportunities to foster the growth and development of these students. A “program” used to solicit money on the backs of these students' disabilities but never utilized for their benefit, while purposely omitting them from school wide activities such as visits from Santa, literacy activities, field trips, and most recently, career day. For months our students went completely ignored while only acknowledged when beneficial to leadership and to have a principal with children of her own with special needs, yet displayed no real advocacy or interest in our Autism students, is absolutely disgraceful. The Lake Arbor that I knew and loved was a bustling vessel of promise and opportunity under the direction of Dr. Helen Coley. A beautiful community that was once centered around family, education, enrichment, and positivity has now become what feels like a mental and physical prison where a student's value is determined by data and numbers while the fun and enrichment that embodies what an elementary school is supposed to be, is intentionally neglected. An institution that once nurtured children’s talents and gifts, fostering the belief that anything was possible, has transitioned into a school where only select grade levels are allowed on field trips, field day is non-existent, school dances are unheard of, and the joy and laughter of young souls has become an irritant to the adults who chose to lead them. Unfortunately, Lake Arbor is no longer “proud and strong” as written in the school song, and unless immediate change is made, may never be again. Everyday I walked the dreary, destitute halls and could feel the misery and despair exuded in the air. A filthy building riddled with roaches and mice that has become an incubator for infectious disease. And a punitive environment where corrective action is offered more than coaching or encouragement, and those that advocate for themselves and their students are met with retaliation. To witness the anguish, depletion, depression, and defeat of talented educators who’ve collectively felt ridiculed, antagonized, bullied, and punished for showing up to a thankless job everyday with no real support, has been extremely hard to watch. And to observe the gross negligence of gifted students who deserved to be celebrated for their accomplishments outside of a meaningless dress down day, when they dress down daily outside of school, has also been extremely hurtful to witness. The absence of incentives, PBIS’s, and celebratory activities directly correlates to the influx of interminable behavioral issues that occur daily because students have nothing to look forward to or motivate them to perform positively. The treatment of our paraprofessionals, ISEA’s, and support staff has been absolutely egregious, as well. To totally omit them from Teacher Appreciation week while expecting them to continue to be the backbone of the building is unacceptable and utterly disrespectful. And while I’m aware that Support Staff appreciation week occurred during spring break, to deliberately refuse to acknowledge them during a made-up holiday blatantly shows how little this institution values, respects, and appreciates the daily contributions and sacrifices that they make to keep this school running safely and smoothly. The Elementary Autism Program, which isn’t really a program at all, lacks consistency, direction, intention, and true inclusion, especially without an Autism Coordinator or present administrator. Lake Arbor’s administrators continue to hire unqualified individuals just to fill the roles and place them in intense environments without proper training, thus causing a high turnover rate. This ultimately affects the students’ overall growth because children with Autism need and deserve consistency. Most importantly, they deserve to be more than an afterthought. Despite continuous pushback, lack of structure, and improper planning, Lake Arbor officials still plan to move forward with the 5th grade inclusion process, removing autistic students from a structured self-contained classroom, violating their IEPs, and integrating them into overcrowded and unsafe learning environments full-time. And without the necessary support, will expect them to excel in those spaces and on standardized tests and then use that data to prove that they are incapable of grasping academic concepts and curricula; compromising the integrity of their individualized learning plans and creating additional barriers for their future success. It’s illegal, unethical, and unfair to the students and their parents, who they’ve intentionally withheld this information from, in order to move forward without their consent. And upon learning that I shared these plans with my students' parents, tried to assassinate my character by attempting to portray me as a liar, knowing that these changes were already actively in motion. To be fully transparent, I am appalled and disgusted at what MY school has become under the leadership of Latanya Sothern. To describe this administration as a “Mean Girls Club" would diminish the severity of how some of the women on the administrative team, especially Ms. Sothern, have shown up this year, because 50+ year old women can’t be “mean girls". They can, however, be narcissistic, disingenuous, disrespectful, vindictive, vengeful, spiteful, petty, and unkind; when they should be inspirational, compassionate, empathetic, empowering, respectful, and supportive, especially to other black men and women. Unfortunately, what I found were women old enough to be my grandmother operating from a place of insecurity so deep that they’ll use an imaginary hierarchy based on title and tenure to determine one’s value and ability to be respected, as opposed to the content of one’s character. But why should I have expected character and integrity from women who have made it abundantly clear that those aren’t traits deemed necessary to lead? So my question to you, Ms. Sothern, is if a school is only as strong as its leader, then what happens when a school has a principal with no principles? And what defines you as a leader when insecurity meets accolades, ego replaces stewardship, control becomes confidence, and power forgets responsibility? For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? You proudly represent Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated but have neglected your responsibility to uphold their mission of ‘cultivating and encouraging high scholastic and ethical standards, promoting unity and friendship among women, and most importantly, “Service to ALL Mankind”’; not just yourself or those who have agreed to push forward your agenda. As a Black woman in a position of power, your lack of humility, moral compass, and ethical consistency have been incredibly challenging to experience firsthand. Your “leadership” tactics have been deliberately malicious, manipulative, nefarious, and cruel having caused great harm to multiple members of your staff. So much so, that in your two years as principal, there’s been a mass exodus of educators who’d rather seek employment elsewhere than work under your leadership. And it’s extremely disappointing to know that you take pride in fostering such an unsafe, unhealthy, and chaotic environment for both staff and students. My hope for next year is as YOU enter the “Year of Accountability”, as you most recently described it, that you, too, will hold yourself accountable by reflecting on all of the negative feedback that you’ve received this school year and use it to improve as a woman and a leader; because the future of Lake Arbor Elementary depends on it. Ms. McLaughlin, your lack of presence as assistant principal has been very disappointing as well, because how can a school run efficiently when “key players” (a term you've coined) of the administrative team are never at work? And while I understand that you’ve had personal issues that have kept you away, your absence was still felt even while present in the building, especially as it relates to the Autism Program. You have not been a consistent figure available for support, direction, clarity, or knowledge-sharing nor did you make a conscious effort to visit our students or develop meaningful relationships with new Autism teachers, which is truly disheartening as the person responsible for managing such a delicate program. Initially, you seemed like an administrator that would be an advocate and safe space to express concerns, but as the school year progressed, you have conformed to the negative energy that Principal Sothern has inflicted upon the entire building, ultimately becoming just as much as part of the problem. Ms. Harris, as an administrator, you have been the most present and consistent on the ground with us teachers. I do, however, encourage you to consider what will be your legacy as an assistant principal while at Lake Arbor Elementary. As a new administrator, you dove in head first, ready and willing to support wherever needed. And while somewhat commendable, it became evident that you had become so engrossed in the title of ‘Assistant Principal’, that you’d forgotten your responsibility to advocate for classroom teachers as someone only recently removed from the classroom yourself. You came into a broken system and while trying to fix it, also ended up conforming and becoming the very system you initially tried to change. Your lack of confidentiality combined with your desire to operate as a friend to some and leadership figure to others, essentially compromised your credibility as an administrator. You’ve allowed yourself to be used as a pawn to propel a negative agenda, when internally, you’re fully aware of the wrongdoing that has occurred within this building amongst leadership. I encourage you to exercise discernment as you continue in this role as a new, young administrator, because the same women that you currently look to as allies don’t truly value you nor do they see you as an equal and upon you realizing this, may quickly become your enemies. Ms. Saunders, the only words that I can use to describe your work ethic as Special Education Chairperson are slothful and lackadaisical. You completely mishandled ensuring that IEP meetings, resources, and support were communicated properly to parents and teachers in a timely manner. Once you became overwhelmed with your own workload, you proceeded to offload your responsibilities onto already overworked teachers in order to relinquish the blame when annual reviews and reevaluations were already severely outdated and out of compliance. As a first year SpEd teacher, you never took the time to ensure that I had an understanding of how to complete or process such important documentation and when asked for help, provided minimal guidance and sole reliance on ChatGPT as a training tool. I’m extremely disappointed in the nature in which these students' IEPs and important documents were mishandled, especially during the final weeks of the school year. Ms. Henry, as a Math Resource Teacher, working with you has been exceedingly unpleasant due to your lack of instructional support, coaching, positive energy, and encouragement. While I’m still unsure about your actual job responsibilities, I assumed you would have at least been available to provide math resources and guidance considering them to be a major part of your role. When approached for help you’ve been consistently condescending, belittling, patronizing, and rude making it impossible to view you as the prominent leadership figure that you desire and believe yourself to be. Ms. Small, as the Principal’s Secretary and first line of communication in the front office, you have also been immensely unpleasant to work alongside, as well. Most mornings you refuse to speak or acknowledge staff members entering the front office and seem extremely disinterested when approached for support, especially when indulged in your own personal phone calls. The front office should always be a space where students, staff, and parents feel welcomed and met with pleasant, polite energy. However, you’ve created a space that feels extremely frigid, uncomfortable, and unwelcoming to most staff members, with the exception of those with whom you have personal relationships. Mr. Jones, while I haven’t had many interactions with you this school year, as the only male in a leadership role, I feel compelled to acknowledge your absence of a strong male presence as it relates to the students. In a building full of women, being the only male in a position of power comes with a level of responsibility that I never observed you step into. Outside of bus and lunch duty, I’ve never witnessed you make a significant effort to build rapport or invest time, energy, or advocacy into the students you’ve committed to serve. As Community School Coordinator, you rarely have answers as to where community school money is being spent, and more importantly, why our students haven’t reaped the benefits of those funds outside of winter coats and a bag of vegetables. As important as your role should be, it seems plagued with comfortability and complacency as opposed to true leadership. And finally Nurse Calhoun, throughout this school year, I have observed what I believe to be an intentional lack of responsiveness to student health concerns. Traditionally, school nurses are meant to be comforting, compassionate, and move with a sense of urgency as it relates to students' health. Unfortunately, you’ve created a space where students rather remain ill than come to you for assistance, which is irresponsible, unfair, and alarmingly unsafe. There should never be a time where teachers should feel responsible for providing medical attention because the school nurse refuses to administer aid in a timely manner. Because of this, your reputation amongst students and staff has been labeled as substandard, abhorrent, and morally repugnant. My concerns are not personal, rather rooted in the belief that students deserve to have access to timely medical care and staff should feel comfortable seeking assistance from the school’s health professional when concerns arise, not when YOU feel they are important. Based on these observations and experiences, I have decided to resign from Lake Arbor Elementary and PGCPS as a whole, effective IMMEDIATELY. While I’m saddened to say goodbye to so many amazing students whom I love and love me, it is my responsibility to show them that they never have to dim their light or accept adverse treatment for a paycheck. And despite the jealousy, sabotage, and unfair treatment, I can walk away PROUDLY knowing that I created an educational space where multitudes of children felt safe, loved, and free to be kids. To my fellow educators, I thank you all for dedicating your lives to fostering a new generation of learners and leaders. You all continuously handled such mistreatment with style and grace while still showing up for your students everyday. And while Lake Arbor and this administration may not see the value in the work that you all do, please know that you are valued, you are important, and you are necessary. I understand that the current economic climate may lead you to believe that you are stuck, but please know that you all deserve to work in an environment where you are safe, supported, heard, and respected. You do not have to remain imprisoned within the rigmarole of Lake Arbor Elementary under Latanya Sothern’s leadership, because just like the Titanic, nobody believed it was sinkable until it sunk; and by then it was too late. You all have the knowledge and skills to thrive and excel in any environment and I encourage you to explore as many opportunities as possible until you find one that appreciates and celebrates all that you are, all that you give, and all that you do. In conclusion, I encourage every teacher and staff member to revisit their “why” regarding their role at Lake Arbor and in education as a whole. Are you truly embodying your initial mission or have you, too, become complacent and/or scorned by a school system not equipped to support educators or students? And what can you do today, tomorrow, or in the near future that actively supports the development of distinguished learners, courageous leaders, and advocates for humanity; not just academically, but holistically? Thank you to Mrs. Chaney, Mrs. Biggs, Mrs. Burley, Mrs. Dillard, Ms. Lasher, Dr. Kearney, and countless others for your unwavering kindness despite the circumstances. You all gave me hope that there were still good people inside this building. Thank you to the most amazing Paraprofessional and friend that I could have ever asked for, Ms. Joy Acker. I’m so blessed to have shared this experience with you. Your patience, love, and dedication to all students, not just your assigned group, is extremely admirable and should be used as a model for future paraprofessionals to come. This world is a better place because of you! And to My Tribe, Ms. M. Carter, Mr. Barksdale, Mr. Curtis, Ms. Wiseman, Mr. Queen, Ms. Shulterbrandt, and both Ms. Y. and K. Smith; THANK YOU ALL for seeing me when I felt invisible, encouraging me when I wanted to give up, and always being available to help whenever needed. You all poured into me on days when I showed up empty and reminded me of my greatness at times when I had forgotten. I wouldn’t have been able to survive this school year without your love, kindness, compassion, and support. As for me, I could never let this broken school define me or my worth; because I know that I’m MUCH bigger than the box that this school has tried to place me in. And while my work experience here wasn’t always enjoyable, I will always love Lake Arbor Elementary School for shaping me into the woman that I am today; strong, resilient, fearless, intelligent, and a TRUE disruptor. So as I close this chapter, releasing myself from the confines of “the system” and move forward in pursuing my dreams outside of education, I hope that the love that I’ve poured into this school, the students, and this final act of courage will inspire you all to do the same. 

There are 4 active petitions for Lake Arbor Elm on Change.org. The principal know these exists and called us all "birds and stated that we are just chirpping" so chirp louder! Please see previous petition on Dr. Sothern and please comment if you have something to share. Our children are losing valuable staff that care and our vulnerable special education students are not being heard.

1. Open Letter sent to Lake Arbor Staff, PGCPS BOE and Parents-june-18-2026
2. Remove Dr LaTanya Sothern from principal position
3. Open Letter #2 to PGCPS about Lake Arbor Elm
4. Open Letter #3 to PGCPS about Lake Arbor Elm