Kavon Ward’s frustration with El Rincon Elementary School in Culver City, California, reached a breaking point in December when she confronted the school principal, Dr. Amy Hodge, over the persistent bullying her 7-year-old daughter Semira endured. What started as an impassioned plea for intervention escalated into a verbal altercation, after which Ward was banned from campus. For Ward, this response epitomized what she sees as systemic negligence and hostility toward Black parents advocating for their children’s safety. “This is what they do to Black women,” Ward said, reflecting on the incident.

The bullying began in Semira’s first-grade year and reportedly escalated despite school-led investigations and promises of intervention. According to Ward, her daughter was verbally and physically targeted by classmates, with insults such as “fat” and “stupid” escalating to violent attacks. In one instance, Semira’s teacher reported that she was punched in the face unprovoked, leading to a visit to urgent care. Another incident during her second-grade year saw two boys reportedly jump Semira and kick her in the stomach, despite measures that were supposed to prevent such contact.

In response to earlier complaints, school administrators acknowledged in an investigative report that the bullying against Semira occurred on “numerous occasions.” The school claimed to have disciplined the bullies and implemented safety measures, such as monitoring her during vulnerable periods and allowing her to select a class that excluded her alleged bullies. Yet, Ward alleges that these measures were inconsistently enforced, leaving Semira vulnerable to further harm.

The situation escalated further after the confrontation between Ward and Dr. Hodge. Ward received an email from the Culver City Unified School District banning her from campus, citing threats to the health and safety of students and staff. Ward disputes this, stating that she only threatened legal action for the school’s perceived negligence. Following the incident, the school sent out a community email addressing parent concerns, while rumors circulated that Ward might have instructed her daughter to threaten other students, further intensifying tensions.

Ward now plans to pursue civil action against the school district, seeking accountability for what she describes as two years of neglect and inaction. For Ward, the issue transcends her daughter’s case—it’s a broader fight for equity and the protection of marginalized students in schools. “You’re supposed to be protecting all kids,” she said. “But instead, they made me the enemy for standing up for mine.”