Protect Terra Nova students! Demanding a investigation!
Protect Terra Nova students! Demanding a investigation!
The Issue
Parents, students, and community members,
We are here today because we are tired. We are tired of the promises, the excuses, and the repeated failures. Just recently, our administrators and the district have once again shown us where their priorities lie. They want to talk about phone bans, about the latest policy, about anything but the truth. (found this out from students that attend TN now) But we are here to say, "Enough."
Let's not be distracted by a phone ban. Let's not waste our energy on a conversation about screen time when we should be talking about something far more critical: the safety of our children. We should be worried about how our administration has once again allowed teachers to allegedly abuse students.
The news from ABC7 News is not just an article—it is a wake-up call. It reveals two separate sexual abuse lawsuits against the Jefferson Union High School District, with shocking allegations right here at Terra Nova. A place that should have been a sanctuary, a place of learning and growth, was, as one attorney described, a "breeding ground for predators." This is a profoundly unacceptable reality, a gross dereliction of duty by the very people entrusted with the care of our children. We cannot and will not stand by silently while our children's safety is compromised. The fact that these behaviors were allegedly known, and yet allowed to continue, is a betrayal of the highest order.
We have learned that a woodshop teacher, who was allegedly known for years as "the creepy teacher" by students, was allowed to continue his employment despite multiple reports from students and parents. We are told the administration "did not follow up" and "did not take any repudiatory action." This teacher is now facing felony charges for his alleged actions against freshman special education students.
This wasn't an isolated incident. The complaints reveal a pattern, detailing a second lawsuit against a chemistry teacher for similar allegations of sexual assault. This teacher was allegedly investigated and terminated, but only after years of potential harm.
This is not a mistake. This is not an oversight. This is a systemic failure of leadership and responsibility. The district and the administration were negligent in their hiring, in their supervision, and in their refusal to act. The administration, including Principal Megan Carey (mcarey@jeffersonunion.net), and Vice Principals Ame Seibel (aseibel@jeffersonunion.net) and Steve Pofahl (spofahl@jeffersonunion.net), failed to protect our students. And what was their response? A cold, corporate statement to the media, talking about due process and privacy rights, instead of acknowledging the pain and the betrayal of the very people they are meant to protect—our students.
We demand that these individuals be investigated now for their failure to act. But the investigation cannot stop there. It must be a comprehensive, top-to-bottom inquiry that includes every single staff member who may have known about these allegations and did nothing. From the office staff who took the phone calls, to the teachers who heard the whispers in the hallways, anyone who was aware of this and chose to look the other way is complicit. Their silence is a testament to the failed culture of this school and this district, and it must be exposed.
QUOTES FROM MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC
“My daughter went there graduated in 2018 and had his class. She tried to set up a meeting with Carey along with other girls to discuss this issue and she canceled on them never rescheduled. Just did nothing. She knew that they were going to complain how he makes them feel uncomfortable and stated at them. My daughter dropped the class and even told her councilor but still nothing was done.”
“Attended TN from 2018-2022. (2019) Hired Greg Molkentin as my biology teacher that year. In 2009 he was a domestic abuser and came to class several times in active withdrawl of substances. Students gound his instagram where he posted that he was “a proud tiger teacher!” Which conveniently had cheerleader’s asses in the background photos. Every. Time. (2021) Reported sexual harassment to Megan Carey of a previous TN student who was getting on the bus during morning pick up hours and saying creepy shit and trying to get to know them more. There was never a follow up after the report. Learned there were 2 female students that had reported this SAME guy before me and heard of 2 more after the fact. She does nothing. Staff are well aware of everything and continue to stay silent.”
“To the students at Terra Nova this man being a predator was common knowledge, and time and time again nothing was done about it. Megan Carey has heard countless complaints from students and stayed silent. At Terra Nova a creepy teacher was far too common and we need to do better for the students safety. I hope his arrest made many people feel safer but it will never undo the damage done for so many kids who went unheard.”
“I’m the parent of two students that I had to pull out of Terra Nova due to lack of action by Steve Pohfal, Megan Carey, Toni Presta, Dorene Basuino, and Daina Lujan. Daina is responsible for official school complaints. In my case Dorene claimed she was responsible, took my complaint and hid it. I went straight to Daina who confirmed she never saw the complaint. That’s how these issues are being hidden. If you have a complaint contact Daina dlujan@jeffersonunion.net (650) 550-7964 Daina won’t do much either, but at least the complaint will be in the system. This school district needs a complete top to bottom overhaul”
“The fact that it took law enforcement to step in against Spinetti before the administration shows their lack of qualification and or care for their students. Though I was not a student at Terra Nova I’d heard horror stories about Spinetti from friends who were students of his and from graduates who were multiple grades above me. He was a twisted freak who didn’t even try to hide that fact from his students across the many years he was a teacher. The administration let reports pile up after multiple years without any repercussions. Those reports weren’t just pieces of paper, but real kids who tried to ask for help but were left unanswered by the adults who are paid to keep them safe. Sickening. My heart goes out to anyone affected by Spinetti and I hope that the new administration comes with some sense of responsibility and care for their students.”
“So many people in my graduating year were very outspoken about girls being harrassed and affected by his behavior and nothing came of it. Another past incident involving a student being targetted by a teacher was dismissed only 2 years before our graduation— there is clearly a repeat pattern of administration's ignorance when it comes to the safety of their students. It's appalling that continuing to ignore students has led to this.”
“When I was a student at this school a few years back, my mom & I reported this teachers disgusting behavior to the Principal and Vice Principal and was informed “We will look into this” with no follow up on the matter. This was back in 2019. The Principal and Vice Principal are just as complicit and disgusting for not taking these students allegations seriously, dating back to 2016 from what I remember and heard. The entire Terra Nova administration and school district of JUHSD needs to be investigated.”
“As a current student of Terra Nova high school, many students and myself have reported to multiple teachers about the eery demeanor withheld of Mr Spinetti amongst young girls. Going as far as favoring young girls wearing any type of form fitting clothes, and dismissing young boys from asking questions about the class along with being stand offish with any male students. When this issue was brought up by the school through an email saying a “teacher” was arrested, I could guarantee you an estimate of 80% of this school believed it was Mr Spinetti, and it certainly was. This is not a bias, this is a repeated issue at Terra Nova that is witnessed by students. My art teacher, a woman, when brought this subject up, went to go on a express she did not believe us students when we said this certain teacher was the one arrested and added, “I’ll stand for my brothers,” just to give you some insight on the mentality within Terra Nova higschool. The teachers do not protect these students, they look out for their own wrongs hoping the parents won’t research and dig deeper.”
We refuse to accept this. We refuse to be silenced. The administration has a duty to protect our children, and they have failed. The time for empty words is over. The time for action is now. We demand transparency, we demand accountability, and we demand justice for every student who has been harmed.
WE WILL NEVER SETTLE FOR LESS!
417
The Issue
Parents, students, and community members,
We are here today because we are tired. We are tired of the promises, the excuses, and the repeated failures. Just recently, our administrators and the district have once again shown us where their priorities lie. They want to talk about phone bans, about the latest policy, about anything but the truth. (found this out from students that attend TN now) But we are here to say, "Enough."
Let's not be distracted by a phone ban. Let's not waste our energy on a conversation about screen time when we should be talking about something far more critical: the safety of our children. We should be worried about how our administration has once again allowed teachers to allegedly abuse students.
The news from ABC7 News is not just an article—it is a wake-up call. It reveals two separate sexual abuse lawsuits against the Jefferson Union High School District, with shocking allegations right here at Terra Nova. A place that should have been a sanctuary, a place of learning and growth, was, as one attorney described, a "breeding ground for predators." This is a profoundly unacceptable reality, a gross dereliction of duty by the very people entrusted with the care of our children. We cannot and will not stand by silently while our children's safety is compromised. The fact that these behaviors were allegedly known, and yet allowed to continue, is a betrayal of the highest order.
We have learned that a woodshop teacher, who was allegedly known for years as "the creepy teacher" by students, was allowed to continue his employment despite multiple reports from students and parents. We are told the administration "did not follow up" and "did not take any repudiatory action." This teacher is now facing felony charges for his alleged actions against freshman special education students.
This wasn't an isolated incident. The complaints reveal a pattern, detailing a second lawsuit against a chemistry teacher for similar allegations of sexual assault. This teacher was allegedly investigated and terminated, but only after years of potential harm.
This is not a mistake. This is not an oversight. This is a systemic failure of leadership and responsibility. The district and the administration were negligent in their hiring, in their supervision, and in their refusal to act. The administration, including Principal Megan Carey (mcarey@jeffersonunion.net), and Vice Principals Ame Seibel (aseibel@jeffersonunion.net) and Steve Pofahl (spofahl@jeffersonunion.net), failed to protect our students. And what was their response? A cold, corporate statement to the media, talking about due process and privacy rights, instead of acknowledging the pain and the betrayal of the very people they are meant to protect—our students.
We demand that these individuals be investigated now for their failure to act. But the investigation cannot stop there. It must be a comprehensive, top-to-bottom inquiry that includes every single staff member who may have known about these allegations and did nothing. From the office staff who took the phone calls, to the teachers who heard the whispers in the hallways, anyone who was aware of this and chose to look the other way is complicit. Their silence is a testament to the failed culture of this school and this district, and it must be exposed.
QUOTES FROM MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC
“My daughter went there graduated in 2018 and had his class. She tried to set up a meeting with Carey along with other girls to discuss this issue and she canceled on them never rescheduled. Just did nothing. She knew that they were going to complain how he makes them feel uncomfortable and stated at them. My daughter dropped the class and even told her councilor but still nothing was done.”
“Attended TN from 2018-2022. (2019) Hired Greg Molkentin as my biology teacher that year. In 2009 he was a domestic abuser and came to class several times in active withdrawl of substances. Students gound his instagram where he posted that he was “a proud tiger teacher!” Which conveniently had cheerleader’s asses in the background photos. Every. Time. (2021) Reported sexual harassment to Megan Carey of a previous TN student who was getting on the bus during morning pick up hours and saying creepy shit and trying to get to know them more. There was never a follow up after the report. Learned there were 2 female students that had reported this SAME guy before me and heard of 2 more after the fact. She does nothing. Staff are well aware of everything and continue to stay silent.”
“To the students at Terra Nova this man being a predator was common knowledge, and time and time again nothing was done about it. Megan Carey has heard countless complaints from students and stayed silent. At Terra Nova a creepy teacher was far too common and we need to do better for the students safety. I hope his arrest made many people feel safer but it will never undo the damage done for so many kids who went unheard.”
“I’m the parent of two students that I had to pull out of Terra Nova due to lack of action by Steve Pohfal, Megan Carey, Toni Presta, Dorene Basuino, and Daina Lujan. Daina is responsible for official school complaints. In my case Dorene claimed she was responsible, took my complaint and hid it. I went straight to Daina who confirmed she never saw the complaint. That’s how these issues are being hidden. If you have a complaint contact Daina dlujan@jeffersonunion.net (650) 550-7964 Daina won’t do much either, but at least the complaint will be in the system. This school district needs a complete top to bottom overhaul”
“The fact that it took law enforcement to step in against Spinetti before the administration shows their lack of qualification and or care for their students. Though I was not a student at Terra Nova I’d heard horror stories about Spinetti from friends who were students of his and from graduates who were multiple grades above me. He was a twisted freak who didn’t even try to hide that fact from his students across the many years he was a teacher. The administration let reports pile up after multiple years without any repercussions. Those reports weren’t just pieces of paper, but real kids who tried to ask for help but were left unanswered by the adults who are paid to keep them safe. Sickening. My heart goes out to anyone affected by Spinetti and I hope that the new administration comes with some sense of responsibility and care for their students.”
“So many people in my graduating year were very outspoken about girls being harrassed and affected by his behavior and nothing came of it. Another past incident involving a student being targetted by a teacher was dismissed only 2 years before our graduation— there is clearly a repeat pattern of administration's ignorance when it comes to the safety of their students. It's appalling that continuing to ignore students has led to this.”
“When I was a student at this school a few years back, my mom & I reported this teachers disgusting behavior to the Principal and Vice Principal and was informed “We will look into this” with no follow up on the matter. This was back in 2019. The Principal and Vice Principal are just as complicit and disgusting for not taking these students allegations seriously, dating back to 2016 from what I remember and heard. The entire Terra Nova administration and school district of JUHSD needs to be investigated.”
“As a current student of Terra Nova high school, many students and myself have reported to multiple teachers about the eery demeanor withheld of Mr Spinetti amongst young girls. Going as far as favoring young girls wearing any type of form fitting clothes, and dismissing young boys from asking questions about the class along with being stand offish with any male students. When this issue was brought up by the school through an email saying a “teacher” was arrested, I could guarantee you an estimate of 80% of this school believed it was Mr Spinetti, and it certainly was. This is not a bias, this is a repeated issue at Terra Nova that is witnessed by students. My art teacher, a woman, when brought this subject up, went to go on a express she did not believe us students when we said this certain teacher was the one arrested and added, “I’ll stand for my brothers,” just to give you some insight on the mentality within Terra Nova higschool. The teachers do not protect these students, they look out for their own wrongs hoping the parents won’t research and dig deeper.”
We refuse to accept this. We refuse to be silenced. The administration has a duty to protect our children, and they have failed. The time for empty words is over. The time for action is now. We demand transparency, we demand accountability, and we demand justice for every student who has been harmed.
WE WILL NEVER SETTLE FOR LESS!
417
The Decision Makers
Petition created on August 14, 2025