Norfolk, VA – A Norfolk mother, Alicia Jordan, says her 3-year-old son with special needs was subjected to public humiliation after his teacher at the Berkley Campostella Early Childhood Center recorded and shared a video of him acting out on the first day of school.
Jordan explained that her son, who was diagnosed at just one year old as autistic, level 3, and non-verbal, often displays high levels of activity. On August 21, his first day of school, the teacher recorded him tearing down a bulletin board and scattering books in the library while narrating the behavior.
Video Shared with Parents
Jordan said she would have accepted the video if it were used privately to help improve her son’s Individualized Education Plan (IEP). However, she was shocked to discover that the recording was uploaded to the school’s ClassDojo page, a platform accessible to all parents at the school as per reports.
“At least four parents contacted me to let me know my son’s behavior was posted publicly,” Jordan said. “I felt like he was publicly humiliated when I had already explained his special needs to his teacher at open house.”
Reaction from the School
Jordan confronted the teacher directly, questioning why the video was shared despite their prior face-to-face discussion. She later brought the matter to the school principal, who reportedly apologized after viewing the footage.
“She was shaking her head and said she was sorry,” Jordan recalled. “But I told her I was pulling him out of school.”
Jordan emphasized that she believes the teacher should not be in charge of special needs students, stating that the actions violated ADA disability rights.
Norfolk Public Schools Responds
In a statement released Friday morning, Norfolk Public Schools (NPS) acknowledged the incident but said they could not comment on specific personnel matters:
“Norfolk Public Schools takes all school-related incidents very seriously. The safety and well-being of our students remain our highest priorities. While we understand the concerns that have been raised, this situation involves personnel matters and student privacy, which we are not able to discuss publicly. Please be assured that NPS is committed to addressing all concerns appropriately and ensuring that every student is treated with respect, dignity, and care.”
Mother Pulls Son from School
Jordan confirmed she has withdrawn her son from Berkley Campostella ECC and is exploring other options, including Fairlawn Elementary. When asked if she would ever consider returning him to the same school, she firmly responded, “No way.”
She also revealed she is seeking legal representation to pursue possible action regarding her son’s treatment.
Broader Issues of Student Privacy
The incident has reignited concerns about how student privacy and special education rights are handled in classrooms. Experts note that recording and publicly sharing videos of students—especially those with documented disabilities—raises serious legal and ethical questions under federal disability laws and FERPA (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act) guidelines.
Do you think the school handled this situation properly? How should schools protect the privacy and dignity of special needs children? Share your views in the comments.
