Parent Warning: Weaver Elementary…read more
Los Alamitos USD is one of the best districts in California, and we love being part of this community. Most schools -- Hopkinson, Rossmoor, Lee -- truly live up to that reputation. But parents need to know: Weaver Elementary, under Principal Dr. Schmidt and teacher Colette Sullivan, is not safe for children.
Here's what happened to our kindergartener. For three weeks straight, he was removed from Ms. Sullivan's class and left alone in the principal's office for hours every day -- without our knowledge. He was not disruptive. His only "offense" was not finishing assignments. Instead of being supported, he was dropped in a chair with no desk, no guidance, and no instruction, while his classmates learned.
We only discovered this because our child became so fearful that he broke down and begged us not to take him to school. The secretary confirmed the routine, and Dr. Schmidt himself admitted it happened multiple times and defended it as acceptable. The school kept no records and never notified us.
Think about that: a six-year-old child, abandoned daily, completely unsupervised. Imagine the damage to his trust in school, his sense of safety, his joy of learning. For weeks he sat silently, terrified, while we thought he was in class.
When the district was alerted, the superintendent investigated and disciplined both Dr. Schmidt and Ms. Sullivan. That discipline alone proves how unacceptable their conduct was. Yet, shockingly, both remain employed at Weaver, still responsible for children.
This was not discipline. This was not education. This was neglect. And it happened under the direct leadership of Dr. Schmidt and Ms. Sullivan.
After transferring to Hopkinson Elementary, our son's experience was completely different. Principal Garcia and his new teacher welcomed him, supported him, and restored his love of learning. He is thriving again -- proof that Los Al schools can be extraordinary.
But Weaver is not. The leadership failed. The teacher failed. But I'm glad the superintendent's discipline did bring accountability but it won't bring back the damage that it did to our child.
Parents deserve to know the truth: Weaver Elementary, under Dr. Schmidt and Ms. Sullivan, is not a school you should ever risk sending your child to. Until there is a complete change in leadership, avoid this school at all costs.
Do not make the mistake we did. Do not send your child to Weaver Elementary.