The coach at North Warren Regional High School in Blairstown, NJ, has been the subject of numerous complaints regarding toxic coaching environment. Many cheerleaders and parents have raised concerns to the athletic director about safety measures not being adequately implemented under supervision, but nothing is being done. 

Furthermore, allegations of favoritism and non-approachability have also surfaced which are detrimental to the overall team spirit and performance. In addition to these issues, it has been observed over the past five years that is unable to dedicate fully to the team’s development and success. Which forces us to teach ourselves from videos on social media. 

She stands around, talks on phone, chats with anyone nearby, and leaves practice multiple times for 10 minutes or even up to the whole time we are practicing, creating a 21:1 cheerleader to coach ratio. Since does not teach proper progressions, it forces the seniors to do job and not enjoy their final season. This lack of commitment is not only affecting individual cheerleaders but also undermining the essence of sportsmanship and fair play. 

She also does not allow us enough time in the summer to improve, and the team begins too late to learn anything before camp. This year we started in August which if any of you know, in order to reach our full potential before the season we need to start in May the latest. We had the opportunity this year to join another cheer team to compete in competitions, but we were told no by the athletic director because she asked too late. That team we would have been competing with placed 1st in regionals and is now competing at nationals in Disney World. 

She also spends money we do not have on unnecessary purchases; we don’t fundraise much so for to mindlessly spend the CHEERLEADERS money is absolutely unreasonable. In the past three years we have had four fundraisers bringing in not even enough money to pay for any of our camp. also orders our supplies late, so we have to get them the day before or the day of. For example, this year She asked us for a deposit and multiple other payments so that the less fortunate families could pay things like camp and clothes off gradually, which can run anywhere from $400 to $600, yet deposited the checks out all at once when the season was nearing the end, which defeats the purpose of multiple payments. 

She also talks to kids rudely and does not consider our feelings. She talks to other cheerleaders about how “bad” the others are. Every game we perform we feel embarrassed and like a joke, and it's even more embarrassing when fellow students say how boring our routine is.

 The team has talked about how she is causing us to lose passion for the sport that we all love and have devoted our high school lives to, but everyone is too scared to speak up in fear that they will be targeted by her. We fear because loves to favor certain cheerleaders which is made very obvious, an example of this happened very publicly at our banquet when did not want to present one out of four of the senior varsity pins. The other coach presented the first and then said and I quote “Ok, Now she would like to present the other three,” this personally is very unacceptable and disturbing coming from an adult responsible for being a leader and role model to the younger generation. 

She makes cheerleading into a task rather than a sport we actually want to do. Our team has a lot of potential, but She won't let us do anything. The team wants to be coached and treated properly, but due to the school favoring staff or faculty to be coaches the children don’t receive the coaching environment or respect they deserve. She only listens to favorites on the team. 

The seniors didn't have any senior privilege and they had to take over the coach responsibility which was admitted by both coaches at the banquet when they said, “The seniors took a lot of responsibilities off our plates.” An example of this is when they made the upperclassmen carry out equipment when it's a cheer thing to have freshmen do it. Someone told [Redacted] about it, and didn’t even give them the time of day. 

The athletic director has ignored all concerns that numerous parents have raised on various occasions. She never cares for the girl's safety unless it involves one of favorites, and personally safety should be number one priority especially with this kind of sport. 

There have been multiple occasions when cheerleaders would be hurt, and she would make them still cheer or call a cheer and then walk off. The team feels this is bad because when doesn't care we do not feel safe or comfortable telling. Which makes us stay silent and further our injuries. 

We believe that every player deserves an environment where they can grow both personally and professionally without fear of favoritism and our safety. A coach should be approachable for all players.

Please sign this petition if you believe in creating a safer and more supportive environment for our team.

Sincerely

One of your NWR Cheerleaders