Lizeth Villanueva won an award in school this week, but it didn't feel like a victory.
As KPRC-TV in Houston reported, Villanuevas teacher gave her the award for Most likely to become a terrorist, sparking outrage from parents and school officials in Channelview, Texas.
"I was shocked," Lizeth told KPRC. "[The teacher] said, 'Most likely to become a terrorist,' and she said my name, and she gave me this."
The award included her teachers signature. Channelview Independent School District official Mark Kramer told KPRC that the teacher handed out mock awards to the seventh-grade class.
Villanueva said she received the award in her AVID class, which is an advanced learning classroom for those who are headed to college.
She said the teacher warned students that the awards may hurt their feelings, but they were meant to be funny, HuffPost reported.
"It was not a joke," Lizeth said, according to KPRC. "I do not feel comfortable with this I do not feel comfortable being in the same classroom with (the teacher)."
Her mother, Ena Hernandez, said she was furious when she saw the award. She also said her daughter was visibly upset when she came home with the award.
"We're really upset about it coming from a teacher," Hernandez said. "That program is supposed to be for advanced kids. It is kind of hard to believe that she's doing that. Being a teacher giving this to a 13-year-old. How is she going to feel when she grows up later on?"
School Principal Eric Lathan released an apology on Twitter, saying the awards were insensitive.
Hernandez said she wants to see the teacher fired at the very least, KHOU in Houston reported.
It doesnt look good at all, especially coming from a teacher, a grown-up woman, Hernandez said. It doesnt look good because everything thats going on right now.
As KPRC-TV in Houston reported, Villanuevas teacher gave her the award for Most likely to become a terrorist, sparking outrage from parents and school officials in Channelview, Texas.
"I was shocked," Lizeth told KPRC. "[The teacher] said, 'Most likely to become a terrorist,' and she said my name, and she gave me this."
The award included her teachers signature. Channelview Independent School District official Mark Kramer told KPRC that the teacher handed out mock awards to the seventh-grade class.
Villanueva said she received the award in her AVID class, which is an advanced learning classroom for those who are headed to college.
She said the teacher warned students that the awards may hurt their feelings, but they were meant to be funny, HuffPost reported.
"It was not a joke," Lizeth said, according to KPRC. "I do not feel comfortable with this I do not feel comfortable being in the same classroom with (the teacher)."
Her mother, Ena Hernandez, said she was furious when she saw the award. She also said her daughter was visibly upset when she came home with the award.
"We're really upset about it coming from a teacher," Hernandez said. "That program is supposed to be for advanced kids. It is kind of hard to believe that she's doing that. Being a teacher giving this to a 13-year-old. How is she going to feel when she grows up later on?"
School Principal Eric Lathan released an apology on Twitter, saying the awards were insensitive.
Hernandez said she wants to see the teacher fired at the very least, KHOU in Houston reported.
It doesnt look good at all, especially coming from a teacher, a grown-up woman, Hernandez said. It doesnt look good because everything thats going on right now.
