This anonymous teacher says that he repeatedly spoke to high school social workers and administrators about his concerns regarding Kelsey. He wonders whether the tragedy could have been prevented if his concerns were not continually ignored.
Kelsey would draw pictures on his tests of
people being strangled and pierced by knives. He’d also write comments such as,
“Who gives a sh--,” on a submitted paper. Kelsey, who didn’t appear to have
friends, would respond to his teacher’s concerns with an emotionless stare.
Huron Valley School District spokeswoman Janet Roberts claims that if concerns
were brought up by the teacher, a threat assessment would have been done. Steps
would have been taken, including a call to parents. Roberts was unable to
release any confidential information about the student and whether any steps
were ever taken or counseling ever received.
Steven Kelsey, now 19, quit school in March of 2007, which was his senior year. Jesika Kelsey, whose funeral today, is also listed as a dropout. She was 17 when she was murdered by her brother. She completed 11th grade at Milford High School, but did not return to school for 12th grade, according to Roberts.
We can't blame the schools for everything, and this story would have more credibility if the teacher would give his name. However, I believe him when he says that his concerns were ignored, as I have direct experience with this same Huron Valley School District ignoring safety issues eight years ago.
At that time, my children were in second and third grade at Heritage Elementary and I was a PTO Board member. District officials totally mistreated parents who brought major concerns forward. Eventually these issues turned into a criminal conviction and a major civil lawsuit, which was settled secretly.
Due to this experience, I took my children out of the Huron Valley school mid year and began to home school them.
The sad thing is that this district is one of the best and safest suburban public school districts in Michigan. It's the structure of all Michigan's public schools that makes them accountable to no one.
For more information, see "Former Milford High Student Killed and Raped by Brother."
Tuesday, January 6, 2009 6:03 AM EST
A former teacher of Steven Kelsey said he repeatedly spoke to high school
social workers and administrators about the boy’s “sadistic drawings and hateful
rants” on papers and exams, but the concerns were ignored. Steven Kelsey, a
19-year-old solider on leave, was arraigned Saturday for first-degree murder and
felony murder. Officials say he stabbed his sister Jesika, 17, to death in her
room in Highland Township. The U.S. Army private also admitted to sexually
assaulting her. Kelsey attended Huron Valley Schools until 2007. The teacher who
knew Kelsey — who asked to remain anonymous — said he wonders today whether the
tragedy could have been prevented had administrators or parents taken action.
The teacher said Kelsey’s drawings depicted people being strangled. He also said
he saw drawings showing people being pierced by knives. Kelsey would add the
drawings to tests he turned in, he said.
Sometimes, he’d write comments such as, “Who gives a sh--,” on a submitted
paper, the teacher said. When asked about the drawings, Kelsey lacked any
response, said the Huron Valley Schools man. “He had an emotionless stare,” he
said.
The person said that Kelsey didn’t appear to be one to get into trouble, though.
Kelsey was “somewhat of an outcast,” he said, who didn’t appear to have
friends. “He was very much a loner. He didn’t want to create a scene. He wanted
to blend in.” Huron Valley School District spokeswoman Janet Roberts — who would
not discuss any of Steven Kelsey’s educational background — defended the
district. “If this had been brought up, there would have been a threat
assessment done and steps would have been taken,” she said.
There may have been counseling, she said.
“But I can’t release that,” she said.
When asked whether any assessments were conducted on Steven Kelsey, Roberts
declined to answer, saying the matter was confidential.
If a student’s actions raise concerns, a call may be made to parents. School
officials can also do a threat assessment, which is a tool used to determine
whether students may do harm to themselves or others, Roberts said.
“Depending on what is happening, we can take measures to protect students and
teachers,” Roberts said. “It is all based on an analysis by counselors and
teachers.”
Steven Kelsey attended White Lake Middle School and then Lakeland High School.
Records indicate he quit in his senior year, in March 2007, and did not
graduate. The district has no record of him enrolling at another school.
He is considered a dropout, said Roberts. His sister is also listed as a dropout
from Milford High School. She completed 11th grade but did not return to school
for 12th grade, Roberts said.
Grief counselors were ready Monday at Milford High School, but “she hadn’t been
there this year,” Roberts said.
“There was little interest (in the counseling).”
Waterford working on mental health
Every school district has different protocols for dealing with mentally ill
students, according to Oakland Schools.
Students are referred to staff social workers, or they can be referred to
outside counselors, said Shelley Yorke Rose, spokeswoman.
Sometimes when school district officials get involved with a troubled student,
they hit roadblocks.
“We can jump up and down here but the parents are reluctant to follow through,”
said Gen Wandrie, prevention specialist with the Waterford School District.
“This is a big concern.”
Parents who do try to help their children also have complaints.
“They have told us they have a hard time navigating the mental health system,”
Wandrie said. “They become very frustrated.”
In November 2007, the Waterford district received a grant to help streamline
procedures involving students’ mental health.
“The grant allowed us to develop a referral process,” said spokeswoman Rhonda
Lessel.
The district provided training for counselors and teachers, and there are now
collaborative agreements in place with Community Mental Health.
“Our goal,” Wandrie said, “has been better identification of problems and
providing teacher awareness training.
“We believe we now have a workable tool for every scenario.”
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