West Wendover High School

I was a teacher at West Wendover High School. I recently quit teaching to escape the bullying that my sons were experiencing at West Wendover High School. Some students in the school are determined to sabatoge the efforts of the new principal, Dr. Hill, to end the bullying and intimidation that is going on. Elko County School District needs to address the problems in the school and give Dr. Hill the money he needs to hire security to more tightly supervise the students and end the problems. No single student should have the right to deny the majority the right to learn and yet a few students are causing so much disruption that the many cannot get good educations. I believe that it is the reason that test scores at WWHS are low. If the school continues to test low, the state of NEvada will take over. Local control will be lost. Support Dr. Hill and demand that the school district give him the resources he needs to end the reign of terror of these few unruly, out of control students.

dr hill quit

Yes, Dr. Hill quit--I think he realized after only a short time that it was a futile effort to try and change things at the school. Some of the kids are out of control, and teachers and local administration do not have the support of the district to get a handle on it. My child wants to be 'online' schooled this coming year, because of harassment and not being able to learn in such a disruptive environment. We'll do fine that way. I just hope they can get changes made before my grandkids have to go there.I heard last week that the elementary is losing 7 teachers, and the jr/sr is losing 6--(or vice-versa)so we'll need even more substitutes this year than last.
Maybe it would be better if the state did take over. We'll have to wait and see.

I'm curious why there is so much bullying going on there? What do you think is the solution?

We have a 76% hispanic rate here, but the kid that was bullying my child was a white kid--go figure. We've tried (as a parent's group last year) to get a full-time police officer in the school, which they apparantly have in several other Elko county schools, but our school administration refused to allow that (our vice principle tried to keep everything a secret that has gone on this past year). The police department (several officers and the chief) have repeatedly tried to offer more support, but the school refuses. Last year an 8th grader got beat up in the locker room, seriously enough to be sent to the hospital, another child was sexually assaulted, during the pledge of allegiance (which the teacher witnessed and tried to file charges), one of the substitute teachers had death threats posted on his door during 7th period, to name just a few; administration's response was, "I'm on my way to a meeting, I can't deal with this right now". Charges are filed by the students or parents, but administration will not report it to the police department or support the teachers. Most of the parents here work more than one job, don't have the time to spend with their kids, or don't care.

They've installed cameras in all the hallways (paid for by the Casino's), the teachers try to keep an eye out for problems, but it isn't enough. Keep in mind that the school houses 7th through 12th grade--that's part of the problem.

The district needs to take a more active role in our problems, even though we are 125 miles away.

my son last year was being bullyed by students at wwhs, everyday it was a hastle to make him go to school. At frist he would make excuses like " my stomach hurts" until he final came to tell one of my daughters that the reason he didn't want to go to school was because he was being picked on. i then talked to my son about the problem he was having at school. he tried to keep his voice steady to tell me about all the horrible things these kids would sasy to my son. I was hurt and upset. i felt like crying and so helpless how can m i help my son.
school is about to start again and my son is beging me not to enroll him. he still has a few years to finish high school. i don't know what to do! he is terified about going back to a place were he feels insecure. i as a mother don't want nobody to hurt my baby. i really want him to finish school. i guess i'm just scared that one day these kids will really hurt my son.

To: A Mother--you really should check into Elko online schooling--check out the district website and talk to Mrs. C and see if your son might could do that. That's what it's for..there's no cost to you, unless it's used as a make up class to graduate. You do need internet access from your home, and the child needs to be self motivated enough to stay on track and make it work. It's not for everyone. Good luck.

I just confirmed that vice-principal G Hess resigned, or won't be back--that will be good for the school. She was NOT conducive to a good atmosphere.

i used to live in wendover back in 1999 and they had that problem back then what this( want to be )kids need is someone who isnt going to be scared of their threats and show them who is the boss in the school that meaning the principal and the teachers, all i have to say is those kids are lucky am not a teacher because be sure that i wouldnt be babysitting

I went to school here most of my life,you can say i was a jock.I honestly hung around with all cultures and groups.I believe i was a leader there.Kids really cared what i had to say.How ever i didn't take advantage of that.I could have made a change.Now it's in me to let my younger brother know my thaughts so he can make that change if it is not made.As a student you can bring an army, and we won't care were young teenager who rebel at home, and at school.However a leader that everyone looks up to can make a change. These people are mainly those Who play sports trust me i know I was there. Another point is this of the old staff who use to be there.The principal would sexually assault female students by looking at improper areas.As a student i seen this.I was looking at the same thing but one im a student who was in the age!!!What staff we had huh? Some teachers who knew nothing about the subject it was horrible.I'd like to put a goo word For most of the jr high teachers.Mr Evans was so strict and so stubburn but yet he has been the best teacher ive had along with Miss Okefe.Thanks No one know better than those who have lived it.......Class Of 08

Who better to tell it like it is than an ex student! How true, your comments that a leader everyone looks up to can make a difference. Too bad that it's usually realized too late what a difference you actually could make.
Evans and Okefe I agree are a couple of the best. I see both of them often.
It's good to know that ex students take an interest in what goes on here, and would hope with the rest of us that something better for future students can happen. Thanks for keeping in touch through this forum.

u know what I'm still in wwhs and i agree that the district doesn't really give us so much money.Like whats the deal with all the other parts of elko having middle school but us just stuck in on school together! maybe that is why there is bullying going on older kids to younger kids?

Is the school really that bad? I was planning on moving my kids and my self to West Wendover from Arkansas. I would hate to move to a place that has awful schools. I thought the population wasn't over 10,000. How can a school be that bad? Please let me know. Thanks.

No the school isn't that bad. There are two sides to every story and only one side is being represented. My children go to WWHS and they love it. Sure funding is low, but always has been in Wendover. Kids will make of the school what they will. The key is parent involvement.

Frank Clayton wrote:

I'm curious why there is so much bullying going on there? What do you think is the solution?

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As an teacher who quit because my own children were bullied. I think one solution is more security--cameras and guards. the other solution is an "in-school" suspension program. Kids act up to get suspended wso they can run all over town. Put them in a room with cubicles, 3 bathroom breaks and no talking. Aside from conversation with the monitor, any talking gets them an automatic additional day. They must complete all homework assignments and the monitor also can give qwuizzes and tests. I kgot into trouble for threatening to file charges against a student who attacked my daughter. Any violence in the school and charges should be filed automatically. These kids understand juvy! I am just glad I don't live there anymore. My son speant 18 months in treatment as a result of the bullying he got in WWHS. I am GLAD Dr. Hill got fired--he wanted to kiss to many behinds in Elko. The letter he put in my personnel file means I cannot find another teaching job so what goes around come around--I hope he is sweeping floors somewhere.

I personally had a child that was in Miss Johansen's class, Miss Johansen called my husband and I to tell us that our child was acting up in her class and was basically disruptive, and uncontrollable. We set up a conference to go and speak with Miss Johansen and our child, on said day we arrived a few minutes early and stood outside Miss Johansen's classroom to wait, our childs last class of the day was Miss Johansen's. As we were standing there waiting we witnessed the whole class jumping, screaming, running and being disruptive and uncontrollable. When we sat down and spoke with Miss Johansen and our child my husband pointed out what we had seen and were told by her that she allowed the kids the freedom to do whatever they wanted for the last 15 mins of class everyday. My husband then asked her how our child acted in her class before the last 15 mins and we were told that they acted fine, we then questioned why we were having a meeting with her, if all the kids are allowed to do whatever they wanted for the last 15 mins of class and our child was not disrutive during their actual "learning time" what seemed to be the issue?, she could not give us a concrete answer. Also just to point out as an educated person Miss Johansen should know how to spell or at least use spellcheck on her computer, with all the spelling and grammer errors in her post I sure wouldn't want her teaching my kids and am glad that she will not be teaching my other two.

Hearing all of you express your feelings about the WWHS gives me the chills. One person said 76% of Wendover is Hispanic well theres your problem. Where is the authority in this school. I went to elementary in Wendover and i have witnessed hispanics starting fights and jumping young children. When is it going to end. I will never move my children to your town ever... You have the most murders in Wendover it just blows my mind. Are the cops, judge, teachers, parents allowing there kids to do what ever the want. Again where is the authority? Where are the parents? Where is the principal, where is the security? Your town needs to get their asses in check and start eliminating the problem. Check for green cards and if they dont have them send the asses back where they came from. I understand if you come to america and work and try to suport your family but bringing your back ground with you is sicking to others around your town. I hope you all our proud of you kids and what they doing to your TOWN.

dear past resident,
it is people like you who keep the racism feuling. How much better do you think you are telling people who want a better life here that they don't deserve to live here. Much of the reason children get jumped by "hispanics" is because they did something to deserve it. These jumpings cannot be stereotyped, because I, being white want to jump you for your offensive comments.

I went to West Wendover High and the problem has to do with the teachers AND students, I constantly remember teachers telling students that they should drop out since they where of no use in school there was even a time when student where arriving late and they locked them out of the building for about a half hour until they decided to open the doors to let them in and had them all sign a peice of paper before they where let into their classes And personally I dont mean to "call" Carolyn Johansen "out" but I do remember that some students tried to keep out of your sons way for threats about " chopping them up" and other nonesence, and theres no racial problems betwen "White" and Hispanic students Hispanic Students jump each other even more then the local "white" kid.
The Students will always treat the teacher how they are treated Mrs.Okefe and Mr.Evans are perfect examples of this no student ever made a threat to any of them both that I can remember they are an EXCELLENT example of what teacher should be like they push you and pressure you to do great, and thats why most students pass their class but most of all they give the student respect and dont label them like ive seen other teachers do, and I personally think that if all the teachers acted like this all the students would change as well.

I lived in West Wendover, taught at the high school and had 4 children enrolled in West Wendover Elementary and in WWHS.
To the Ex-student in Toole, UT:
My son had 4 locks cut off his gym locker and hallway locker in the last 6 months he attended the high school. His bicycle was repeatedly vandalized--tires and tubes slashed and brake cables cut with wire cutters while it was locked on the school's bike rack. When the costs reached $100 in repairs I allowed him to store it on my room, in defiance of Dr. Craig Hill.
The students of the school basically drove my son to an emotional breakdown. If my son made threats to dice anybody, why wasn't it brought to my personal attention? Why didn't somebody tell the principal? If I had had such information, I could have gotten him help sooner. He would not have suffered a complete collapse!
If your are a WWHS student and you hear another student making such threats report it, immediately! That kid making threats could act on them. WWHS does not have enough security to deal with a kid who comes to school with a shotgun,a rifle or a pistol or two.
Do not ever forget Columbine! Bullying at WWHS is rampant and kids have mental breakdowns due to it. I am surprised it has not already occurred there.