ROSENBERG, Texas – A Richmond mother says her 9-year-old son walked into class looking for help and walked out in tears.
She says the person who hurt him wasn’t another student — it was his teacher.
Now Lamar Consolidated ISD confirms it’s investigating, while education experts say this case highlights the need for stronger protections when bias-based bullying reaches the classroom.
EN ESPANOL: Una madre de Richmond dice que la maestra de su hijo de 9 años lo humilló después de pedir ayuda contra el acoso,
Shai Jones says her son, Chance, had already been bullied for months. Other students at his elementary school mocked the way he walked and talked, calling him gay in front of classmates.
Each time she reached out for help, Jones says the focus turned on her son instead of the students taunting him.
Then came the day that changed everything.
“He held it in all day, but when he got home, he broke down crying,” Jones said. “He told me his teacher said the reason kids call him gay is because of how he walks. Those words came from the one person who was supposed to protect him.”
Chance, who’s only nine, says he was shocked and embarrassed.
“She said the reason people call me gay is because of the way I walk. It made me feel hurt and sad,” he said.,
Jones says she immediately went to the school the next morning, demanding answers.
She says administrators told her they would investigate, but never explained what steps would be taken.
“I felt dismissed,” Jones said. “It felt like they were trying to figure out what to tell me next instead of figuring out how to fix what happened.”
Days later, Chance was placed in in-school suspension after pushing a classmate who mocked him again. Jones says it felt like the system punished her child for reacting, not for being bullied.
She recorded a video describing what happened and shared it online. Within hours, thousands of parents across the country were reacting, demanding accountability.
In a statement to KPRC 2, Lamar Consolidated ISD said:
“Our campuses are expected to be safe, supportive environments where every student is treated with dignity and respect. Lamar CISD does not tolerate bullying, discrimination, or harassment of any kind.”
The district says its investigation is still ongoing and declined to discuss personnel matters.
Dr. Ashwini Tiwari, department chair of Urban Education at the University of Houston–Downtown, says once a child reports bullying, the law is clear — the school must investigate immediately.
“When a nine-year-old says they’re being hurt, adults have one job — to listen and protect,” Tiwari said. “Teachers must report it. Principals must investigate it. And parents should document every step.”
She says under Texas Education Code §37.0832, districts are required to adopt policies that prohibit bullying and outline how schools must respond to complaints.
Tiwari adds that when teasing targets how a child looks, talks, or walks, the situation can move beyond bullying and into discrimination protected under federal law.
“This kind of behavior, especially when tied to gender expression or perceived identity, falls under civil rights protections,” she said. “Parents can escalate concerns to the district, to the Texas Education Agency, or even to the Office for Civil Rights.”
Tiwari says teachers need stronger professional development to handle these issues.
“Too often, educators don’t know how to respond in the moment. They minimize it, or try to explain it away, and that causes more harm,” she said. “What happens at nine years old doesn’t just disappear — it stays with that child for years.”
What parents can do if the school doesn’t act
Dr. Tiwari says parents have both rights and tools when they believe a school isn’t protecting their child.
1. Document every incident. Write down the date, time, names involved, and a detailed description. Save screenshots, notes, or photos if available.
2. Notify the teacher and principal in writing. Email both with the full account and ask for a written response. This starts an official record.
3. Contact the district’s student services office. If the issue isn’t resolved, request a meeting with district administrators.
4. File a complaint with the Texas Education Agency. Parents can report potential violations of anti-bullying laws through TEA’s formal complaint process.
5. Report discrimination to the Office for Civil Rights. If the bullying involves race, gender, disability, or perceived identity, parents can file with the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights.
6. Support your child’s mental health. Ask the school counselor for support and, if needed, find therapy outside of school. “The damage from words can be invisible but lasting,” Tiwari said.
Jones says she’s transferring her son to another school, but she doesn’t want the story to end there.
“I want accountability,” she said. “Not just for my son, but for every kid who’s ever been made to feel less than by an adult they trusted.”
She says the hardest part isn’t just what was said — it’s seeing how deeply it changed her child.
“He told me he doesn’t want to go back,” Jones said quietly. “He’s nine. He should feel safe at school.”
Resources for families
- Texas Education Agency – Bullying Information: tea.texas.gov
- U.S. Department of Education – Office for Civil Rights: ed.gov/ocr
- National Bullying Prevention Center: pacer.org/bullying
- KPRC 2 Investigates tip line: click2houston.com/contact