I won't stay silent. This is my first time speaking out publicly; my first right is “freedom of speech.” I will not be naming myself given the district's history. I CAN’T STAY SILENT ANYMORE.

I’m going to give a background on this whole story. I have been actively trying to transfer schools SINCE Nov/Dec 2024. It’s November 2025 now? I have been consistently sending emails, let’s talk, and much more to move schools. I have been experiencing racism, colorism, etc. The district decided, “Oh, let’s do a meeting without informing the student.” Yes, I didn’t know about the meeting until 2 days before. I went to the principal and told him I’m not doing it; I also told my parents I’m not doing it. The principal told me it was a meeting to basically “hear me out,” which I explained I’m not doing in a meeting with Shelly Sanders. The meeting was to try to make me sign a responsibility plan for me?? I didn’t sign it, so I'm not obligated to follow this, especially if what I have been doing is trying to fix an ongoing issue they won’t fix that has been going on since 2024!

They ended up doing the meeting; I really don’t know what happened because my parents didn’t speak about it. Here comes the incident that happened on Friday, October 31st, 2025, at my high school. On October 31st, 2025, at around 8:22, a hall monitor came to my class and got me. I was confused because I DID nothing that whole week but deny doing a meeting that I already declined multiple times! The monitor walks me straight to the principal's office. Both of the principals were in there. One of the principals I had a falling out with 2 weeks ago due to her lack of ability to remember simple things… The principal starts asking me if I’m okay, twice. I said yes both times to get this over with. Then they start asking about basketball. How is basketball relevant to this? EXPLAIN PLEASE. He then goes on to tell me he had a “great meeting with my parents,” how I have such good parents who want success for me, and more. Okay, this is where it gets intense. Shelly Sanders walks in; she closes the door and guards it. I’m still sitting and say, “Can I leave?” Then I proceed to get up like a normal human being! I walk to the door, and I say, “Can I leave?” again. She starts to keep holding the door shut, while the principal starts moving his chair with her, so it’s 2 against 1, but 1 is standing and 1 is sitting in a rolling chair. They basically keep me trapped in this room; I FELT STUCK. I said, “I’m uncomfortable,” 4+ times; they still won’t let me leave. They say, “Sit down.” I sit down, get my phone out, and start texting my brother, cousin, and friend, because my safety was at risk. My friend answered immediately because I sent her an audio 2 minutes before. My friend starts recording everything from that point on. The principal says, “I’m going to give you about 10 seconds to put your phone up.” When he says that, my friend starts voicing everything, and I put it up. Shelly Sanders starts again, playing the “you have amazing, wonderful parents” card. They are sitting up here trying to tell me how MY parents are? I was so uncomfortable I covered my ears, and then I heard the principal calling my name, saying, “Come on out here.” Then I went to the bathroom. They trapped me in a room, where I felt so uncomfortable that I couldn’t even do anything. I told them multiple times I wouldn’t do a meeting with Shelly Sanders due to the way she acts, and I just don’t feel peace around her, fortunately.

Everyone I have talked to about it, students and staff, said many different things, including, “I would have pushed her out of the way and left.” I didn’t do that because she has a victim mentality and will accuse me of something crazy with the principal backing her up. “That’s not okay; get your parents involved and do something.” They won’t do anything! “You made it clear that you don’t do meetings.” Exactly, and I have proof! People are saying the principal blindsided me, manipulated me, set me up, etc. I definitely WAS set up; I made it clear with my boundaries where I stand with this woman. They still did this? I don’t even know what to do; the central office is so not help-worthy and won’t do anything, ESPECIALLY since it's their “Executive Director of Student Services” of North Kansas City Schools district.

The principal and Shelly are trying to tell me how I have “such good parents,” which is very odd. You can’t tell me how MY parents act. You are not there to see how they parent. Shelly was trying to justify everything. You've known my parents for about an hour and automatically think they are the greatest parents? Is that logic real? I know my parents more than anyone. If my parents spoke up with me, I feel like this process would have been so much easier.

Shelly Sanders trapped me in a room, which again is and was very disgusting. She’s also a person that is very adamant that I’m “suicidal” because I showed an example of what bullying can do to people, including suicide. Showing an EXAMPLE of suicide that happened due to bullying does NOT make me suicidal. My mental health is draining so bad from this place. I’m suffering horribly. I can’t keep up anymore. I repeatedly told them my mental health is draining from this school, but yet NOTHING has changed. I’m never at peace. I pray for it to get better during school all the time; it's even the first thing I say every morning I walk into this school. In reality, me moving schools and leaving will be the best option. They also should start taking mental health seriously. 

 I have been called the n-word, “African booty scatter,” “Midnight,” “slender man,” and so many other disgusting slurs/comments, etc.

The N-word and slavery jokes have been ongoing issues. A non-Black student in several of my classes repeatedly called me the N-word, and despite reporting it ONCE, the administration did nothing. I've also been subjected to frequent "slave" jokes, even in front of teachers. When I provided information and proof, it was dismissed as "inaccurate" because I didn't name names. I feel pressured to disclose names, which would jeopardize my safety. Whether I provide names or not, the discrimination and racist remarks remain a reality. The district consistently blames these incidents on "miscommunication," which is a misuse of the term. I've communicated my concerns repeatedly, so the issue is they don’t want me to move schools. I sent the North Kansas City School District their policy because I had a concern about false information. Their policy claims they don’t allow discrimination, racism, and so many other things; it doesn’t add up…? 

My sister is in 7th grade, also within the North Kansas City school district. She is experiencing severe racism. On the morning of October 23, 2025, on the bus, 3 girls were making fun of my sister’s skin color (she is a dark-skinned young girl). She went to the principal and told her because, in her words, “I felt disrespected.” After she came home around 2:20, she texted one of the girls (they were all her friends). She texted the girls and said she didn’t want to be friends with them. After school she was outside, and another of the girls said, “Look at A***g with her black a**.” How is that ever okay? My sister stated nothing happened to any of the students that were being racist towards her after she reported them to the principal. This is so sad to see, especially since she is in 7th grade. She has had so many issues facing racism this school year. If I want the change, I will have to fight for it to happen. 

 They hate seeing a kid embrace another school that they FEEL welcomed by, which I will continue to do. Yes, I will be happier if I move schools. Yes, I would benefit if I moved schools. Yes, I would have a better relationship with my parents if I moved schools. They don’t understand how much changing schools can change someone FOR the BETTER. The principal said the school I want to transfer to is “full.” How can a public school be “full”?

This school I go to as of right now, they don’t offer any APs unless you’re a junior or senior, but all freshmen are required to take AP geography. The school I want to transfer to offers honors, AP, and IB classes for all and each grade, which is amazing. I would have more academic opportunities, especially for me. This school is known for their “strong academic reputation” and being the most diverse high school in Missouri. This school just provides so much for their students!  Ultimately, transferring schools is the solution for me. I hope this account raises awareness of these issues and encourages others to leave environments that condone racism, colorism, etc.

 I’m hoping this spreads awareness of my issue, also allowing me to transfer this semester! Thank you to everyone that read, and I hope I get you to sign!