Demand Justice for Abused Special Needs Students – Fire All Negligent Wake County Officials NOW!

In November 2024, former East Wake High School teacher James Rencher was convicted on six counts of assaulting students with disabilities. These were children who could not speak up for themselves—students with disabilities who were nonverbal and dependent on the teacher entrusted with their care.

But that entrusted teacher abused them.

Despite multiple witness reports from staff members, school officials knowingly allowed Rencher to continue teaching (and abusing) for over a year after the first reports of abuse.

Instead of protecting the victims, administrators covered up the abuse, ignored evidence, dismissed concerns from parents, and even transferred Rencher to another school—giving him continued access to vulnerable children.

Who Knew & Did Nothing?
At least ten high-ranking Wake County Schools employees knew about the allegations and chose not to report them to law enforcement for over a year.

This is a blatant violation of their legal duty as mandated reporters, who are required by law to report any suspected abuse of a child. Instead, these officials protected the abuser, not the children.

They must be removed from their positions immediately.

We Demand the Immediate Termination of the Following Officials:

Superintendent Robert Taylor
East Wake Principal Stacey Alston
Assistant Superintendent Mark Savage
Assistant Superintendent Anthony Muttillo
Senior Administrator Perry Aaron
Assistant Principal Katonia Ford
District Administrator Peter Vierno
Others as captured in WRAL's investigation into the matter

These individuals knowingly failed to act. They allowed the abuse of children to continue.

Why This Matters

🔴 If not for investigative reporting by WRAL News, this abuse would never have been reported to the police.
🔴 The abuse was first reported to authorities only AFTER WRAL reported on the matter - which WRAL documented as more than 600 days after it was initially reported. 600 days of not alerting the authorities that a teacher was abusing his students.
🔴 These children would still be suffering at the hands of their abuser if it weren't for the media stepping in to help.
🔴 The district has shown NO intention of holding anyone accountable - the principal was even just assigned a job in the WCPSS central office making a reported $140,000 a year. 
🔴 How many other children are suffering abuse right now that staff are aware of but not reporting?

We Demand Action:

✅ PRESS CHARGES AGAINST STAFF WHO HID THE ABUSE.

Charge the employees with felony obstruction of justice and failure to report child abuse. Those who neglect their legal and ethical duties should face serious consequences, as their actions harm vulnerable children and undermine the safety of students. Holding them accountable is essential for justice and ensuring that abuse is not hidden.

✅ LABEL THE ABUSE OF CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES AS A HATE CRIME.

Abuse against children with disabilities is not only an act of violence but also a form of discrimination. Given the historical context and the disproportionate impact on this vulnerable group, these crimes must be classified as hate crimes. Such a designation would serve to emphasize the severity of the situation and send a clear message that North Carolina does not tolerate such abuses in its schools.

✅ IMPLEMENT STRICTER PENALITES FOR SCHOOL STAFF AND TEACHERS WHO FAIL TO REPORT ABUSE.

Teachers and school staff who witness or suspect abuse of students with disabilities should be legally required to report it immediately. However, too often, administrators downplay or misclassify these incidents as “HR issues” rather than prioritizing the safety of the children involved. There is a need for stronger penalties for those who fail to report abuse, as well as for those who attempt to cover it up.

✅ CREATE A PUBLIC REGISTRY OF EDUCATORS AND SCHOOL STAFF CONVICTED OF ABUSE. 

To further safeguard children with disabilities, I urge the creation of a public registry that includes the names and convictions of educators and staff members who have been found guilty of abusing students with disabilities. Those on this list should be permanently prohibited from working with children in any capacity, not only in the county or district where they were convicted but across the state. This measure would help prevent abusers from finding employment in other educational institutions, thereby reducing the risk of further harm to students.

✅ INCREASE OUTREACH TO SCHOOL SYSTEMS REGARDING REPORTING ABUSE.

Parents and educators need clear, accessible guidelines on how to report abuse and how to ensure that their reports are taken seriously. The North Carolina Department of Justice should work directly with the Department of Public Instruction, local school systems, and law enforcement to improve communication and foster partnerships to protect the most vulnerable students. The creation of dedicated hotlines, easily accessible reporting channels, and outreach efforts will help ensure that abuse is identified and addressed swiftly.

Sign the Petition to Stand Up to Abusers in the Educational System

No amount of professional development training can fix a conscious choice to cover up child abuse. These officials CHOSE to ignore it. They CANNOT be trusted to protect the children in our schools ever again.

What if this was your child? Would you want to know? 

Then don't let the district believe this is something the public will tolerate and turn a blind eye to. 

We demand that: 

North Carolina Attorney General Jeff Jackson oversees a comprehensive, independent investigation into this egregious failure. All implicated officials must be immediately terminated and permanently barred from any educational roles within North Carolina. 

SIGN THIS PETITION to demand justice. Our children deserve better!

 
Read More About the Investigation:
📌 Teacher who reported student abuse calls for resignation of Wake County school leaders
📌 East Wake principal out after WRAL investigation shows he failed to report violent teacher
📌 Guilty: Teacher who abused special needs students must seek anger management treatment

 
This isn’t just about one case. It’s about every child who has suffered and will continue to suffer if we don’t demand accountability.

Sign the petition. Demand justice. Protect our children.