Mother Seeks Justice After Teacher Denies Girl’s Right to Eat

Seething With Rage

She stood in the middle of the kitchen, gripping the lunch bag with white knuckles.

Her daughter sat at the counter, crying as she devoured her after-school snack. What the school had done was crossing a line, and she would somehow make them pay. 

Busy Mornings

Leeza Pearson poured her second cup of coffee and rushed to get her daughter’s lunch ready.

Every morning was a frantic race to get out the door and the rest of the day pretty much stayed at the same pace. But she wouldn’t have it any other way, and for one main reason.

Loving Mom

Leeza’s kids were the best thing to ever happen to her.

So, any form of life-scramble was something that would go towards making sure her youngest daughter had a bright future like her big brother. After all, things weren’t at all like when Leeza was a kid. And it would be that very point that would soon punch her right in the face.

Competitive Preschool

In their small town of Aurora, Colorado, the Aurora’s Children’s Academy was the best preschool any parent could hope for.

Even though Leeza wasn’t well off, was a single mom, and currently going to school for law enforcement, she made sure she had every single penny to pay for Natalee’s education. There was just one hitch.

Health Focus

The staff were sticklers for health – to the point of being a little nutty about the whole thing.

Still, with the rise of childhood obesity, Leeza could understand schools wanting to do their part. The problem that morning was the lack of one key food component.

No Time To Shop

There was just no time to go to the store. So, Leeza popped a small, alternative treat into her daughter’s bag and rushed her to school. 

When she returned home, however, Natalee looked miserable. Her little girl held out her lunch box and cried.

Still There

Leeze unzipped the top and her mouth hung open.

The lunch was untouched – not even a little nibble out of the ham and cheese sandwich which were her daughter’s favorite. But the worst part was the note the teacher had put inside.

Ridiculous Note

The first part was a reminder about their preschools healthy lunch policy – but it was written in such a condescending way. The second part, however, left her seeing red.

The entire ordeal was from the lack of fruit … and the two Oreo cookies Leeza had put in. Yes, two small cookies. But that wasn’t all.

Denying Food

The teacher in charge that day had taken away Natalee’s lunch! As a result, her little girl had had a rumbly tummy for hours – plus the heavy weight of the teacher’s “punishment.”

Leeza seethed with rage. She wasn’t going to take this laying down.

Absolutely Furious

They had no idea who they were dealing with.

She was now a momma bear on the warpath. The first thing she did was post the event on every social media app she had – including why it was so hypocritical of the school to do it in the first place.

Just Two Cookies

“It’s not like I was offering cookies to the entire class, and it’s not like that was the only thing in her lunch,” Leeza said. 

And she wasn’t the kind of mom to shove junk food in every day. On top of it all, her daughter was a healthy weight. But it was the school’s candies that tipped Leeza over the edge.

Teachers Do It Too

More than once, the preschool teachers had handed out little candies, such as jellybeans. They were rewards for winning games or being good.

So, why could a school hand out candy at their discretion (and without telling the parents) but putting in a cookie was ground for making a kid starve?!

Worldwide Support

Messages came pouring in and her story spread through the internet like wildfire.

Some agreed with the school, but most agreed with her – and they sent their own angry responses directly to the Academy. But when the news outlets got wind, that’s when the preschool finally said something.

Finally An Answer

It was the standard PR nonsense that anyone would expect.

But they did state that the notes were not part of the school’s policy and that denying food altogether was deplorable. They would “look into things immediately.”

Trying To Move On

Even though the months passed, and it was time to send her daughter to grade school, the issue still sat heavy with Leeza.

Still, it was a fresh start. She would continue to pack healthy things. But if anyone tried to pull a stunt like that again, they would regret it.

A Different Girl

Leeza’s daughter, Sarah, was always excited to go to school. She loved learning new things and making friends with her classmates. However, this whole ordeal had badly affected her and she wasn’t a happy little girl anymore.

Sarah told her mother that her teacher had taken away her packed lunch because she deemed it to be unhealthy. 

Badly Affected

Leeza couldn’t believe it. She had worked hard to prepare a nutritious and delicious lunch for her daughter, and now she was still being judged as a bad mother.

She couldn’t believe that someone would have the audacity to do such a thing, especially when it came to something as important as her child’s food. Leeza was losing hope in the principal, who promised to look into the matter.

Weeks went by, and Leeza heard nothing back from the principal, leaving her to wonder what was happening and if her daughter was safe at school.

Not Looking Forward To It

Leeza’s concerns grew as she prepared to send her daughter back to school. She knew the same teacher was still working there and couldn’t shake the feeling that the teacher was targeting her daughter. 

Her daughter confirmed her suspicions when she came home from school one day and told her that the teacher had taken her lunch away again.

No Change

Leeza couldn’t believe it. She pays for her daughter’s lunch on her own, and she doesn’t think it is fair for her daughter to be punished in such a way. 

The teacher had no right to take the child’s lunch away or to address the parents about it. Leeza knew she had to take action and fast.

It Gets Worse

Sarah’s experience with the teacher only worsened Leeza even more. She said the teacher was picking on her, and she took her lunch away again. 

The obstinate teacher said that she was worried that Sarah was overeating sugar and took her doughnut away.

Personal Security Measures

With her daughter’s permission, Leeza decided to place a hidden camera on her daughter’s necklace. She wanted to see what was happening in the classroom and if her daughter was being targeted. 

The camera captured everything, and it was clear that the manipulative teacher was jealous of the delicious lunches her daughter brought to school. 

A Nasty Teacher

The other children were also jealous, and the teacher used this to her advantage. She confiscated the lunch, hoping the other children would keep quiet. 

How could a grown woman be so childish and immature? A teacher should be putting the needs of the children first. This was at her daughter’s expense, and Leeza couldn’t believe someone would do this to a child.

Drastic Measures

That’s when Leeza put a hidden camera on her daughter’s necklace. She wanted to see what was happening in the classroom and find the truth behind the teacher’s actions. The camera doesn’t lie, and what it revealed was shocking. 

The teacher was jealous of Sarah’s delicious lunches, and the other children were jealous too. What the teacher did is unforgivable. No decent human would confiscate a child’s lunch goodies and let them go hungry all day.

Real Proof

Leeza presented the footage to the principal and demanded that the teacher be fired. The principal was shocked and couldn’t believe someone would stoop so low. 

He immediately took action, and the teacher was fired. Leeza felt relieved knowing her daughter was safe and she wouldn’t have to worry about her lunch anymore.

Finally Some Consideration

The principal called Leeza in for a meeting to discuss the situation. She showed him the footage from the hidden camera, and he was shocked. He apologized to Leeza and her daughter for how they had been treated.

He assured her that the teacher would be dealt with and that her daughter would not be bullied anymore. Feeling relieved, Leeza hugged her daughter and promised to always be there for her.

She realized that she had to stand up for what was right, even if it meant going against authority. She was proud of her daughter for being strong and not letting the teacher get the best of her.

Justice Is Served

The teacher was fired, and the class was given a new teacher. Leeza’s daughter was happy to be back in school and was excited to see what the new teacher was like. She was grateful for her mother’s support and knew that she would always be there to protect her.

The other mothers in the class also noticed a change in how their children were treated. They were no longer picked on or bullied, and the class was happier. They thanked Leeza for her bravery and for standing up for what was right.

News Spreads

The revelation of the teacher’s actions caused quite a stir among the other mothers in the school. Some were against Leeza for spying on the class, but others were glad that the truth was out.

Some good mothers even reprimanded their children for causing problems in the class. Leeza was scared at first, but she knew she had the support of some real caring mothers.

Thanks to the hidden camera, the principal could see the teacher’s actions, and he took action. The teacher was fired and moved to a far-off town, and she was never seen again. Leeza felt a sense of relief that her daughter was safe and that the teacher was no longer in a position to harm her or any other children.

There Is Still More

But Leeza couldn’t shake off the feeling of injustice. Why should her daughter be punished because the other children were greedy? She knew this problem went beyond her daughter’s school, so she decided to speak about it.

Leeza started a campaign to raise awareness about the importance of healthy food in schools and the adverse effects of denying children their lunch. 

Her campaign gained momentum, and soon, many schools across the country were implementing healthier food options for their students.

My Daughter Is Back

Leeza’s daughter was overjoyed and proud of her mother. She was no longer the target of jealousy and could enjoy her delicious lunches without repercussions.

Leeza felt a sense of satisfaction knowing she had made a difference in her daughter’s and many other children’s lives. She knew that her daughter’s story had a happy ending, but she also knew that many other children were still facing the same problem. She promised to keep fighting for them, too.

From then on, Leeza packed her daughter a healthy and delicious lunch daily. She also checked in with her daughter’s teacher regularly to ensure she was doing well in class. She was determined to ensure that her daughter would have a happy and successful school experience.

A Happy Pre-School Life

Leeza’s experience with the teacher had taught her an important lesson. She realized that sometimes it’s necessary to stand up for yourself and your rights, even if it means going against the norm. She was proud of herself for taking action and protecting her daughter. From that day on, Sarah’s packed lunches were never taken away again, and she was free to enjoy her nutritious and delicious meals at school.

In the end, Leeza’s determination and bravery paid off. Her daughter was happy and healthy, and the class was a better place for all the children. She had shown that one person can make a difference and that standing up for what is right is always the right thing to do.

Disclaimer: To protect the privacy of those depicted, some names, locations, and identifying characteristics have been changed and are products of the author’s imagination. Any resemblances to actual events, places, or persons, living or dead, are entirely coincidental.