Tales Of An Educated Debutante
on life, loss and the joy that rules the day.






























The future is far away and scary, but today is lovely.
Adrian H. Wood, PhD
The Abusive Teachers Who Remain
The Abusive Teachers Who Remain in Berkeley County Schools, West Virginia Yes, there are so many good ones, but as a special needs mama, we should not ignore the bad. Don’t forget about Loretta Redmer. It was the 2009-2010 school year when Reanna Viands went to Principal Tana Burkhart regarding an incident with Loretta Redmer, teacher aide at Opequon Elementary School. At the time, Redmer was an aide in Viand’s son’s inclusive second grade classroom. She witnessed Redmer sp ..
Read moreDear Berkeley County Schools,
Are you surprised to hear from me? Though I’ve been banned for days on Facebook and Instagram, today you blocked me on Twitter. My account is @PHDdebutante. I’m guessing you know that, but just in case any one wants to follow me. Anyway. I thought it would be prudent for me to share with you that a federal judge ruled in May of 2018 that it is unconstitutional for a public forum operated by government (Berkeley County Schools) to block critics. Even Donald Trump is not allowed ..
Read moreHistory of Sex Abuse in Berkeley County
In 2018, at Spring Mills High School, Shepherd University student teacher Rachel Grizzle was accused of having inappropriate relations with a 13-year-old boy and a 16-year-old student of Spring Mills High School, where she was a student teacher. She was charged with third-degree sexual assault, soliciting a minor via computer, two counts of use of obscene matter and exhibiting material depicting minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct. At the time of the charges. Grizzle was student ..
Read moreThe Good ‘Ole Boys of West Virginia
Berkeley County has the makings of a scandalous novel- filled with lies, affairs, nepotism and coverup, but it’s not a made-up story. In September of 2018, Eagle School teacher aide Alexandria Callie Tost, the daughter of Michelle Tost (Assistant Director of Special Education in Berkeley County) was arrested for drug use and admitted to snorting heroine in the student bathroom. The charges against Michelle Tost’s daughter were dropped. In November of 2018, Michelle Tost was re ..
Read moreAnd Then There Was One
Yael And then, there was one. One child, one family, left amongst the rubble called the special education classroom at Berkeley Heights Elementary in Martinsburg, West Virginia. I knew there were four children, but I had not heard his story. Until today. His name is Yael. He’s just five years old and has autism and epilepsy and, like his classmates, he’s non-verbal. Always a happy child, lover of music, and marked by bright smiles, at least until he began ..
Read moreLetter from Berkeley County Schools
Since I have been banned from tagging or commenting on Berkeley County School’s Facebook page, I’ll just leave this mess of nothin’ right here. February 21, 2019 Parents and concerned citizens, We appreciate and share our community's concerns regarding the incident reported in one of our schools. The Berkeley County Board of Education and its administration do not tolerate any action or inaction that may negatively impact the health, welfare or safety of our students. ..
Read moreDear Mr. Governor,
My name is Emma Rader and your name is Governor Jim Justice (https://www.facebook.com/WVGovernor/?__tn__=K-R&eid=ARCzK88k54F3ysk_gqJNLzcL4wcPAOQPCPXXUl46XWzR27dsq6IjdKo79Mq8LjP6fPl_Ui3Uz8W6kGBQ&fref=mentions&__xts__%5B0%5D=68.ARDcyTURtghFTwVtIitGnCS80B0w4ZiExLxQuQDdQeUAdWUbx62Eo4iRyqpmFkG8kWCn_cuRGD_q5rvT1-g1q2iruczC03nKStzHagSZOwf7M4I3zJOxdgQFRMj99QLNKkBluUVFuba82bXsfCvWNbA-QIiqzy18J9chwGNhzmVEeK0_x7w59WRICHn_0ekD2jWb4xjsf3suqFVKjLu0t0EY4RttekAyUml1gypLW1TkrYn7xV0zWyYCfhLdQ ..
Read moreI Had To Find Out My Son Was Being Abused From Facebook
I Had To Find Out My Son Was Being Abused From Facebook My Name Is Kasey Murphy and I am from Berkeley County, West Virginia. My son Owen is seven years old. When he was 8 months old, he was diagnosed with Mitochondrial Disease and last summer, diagnosed with autism. As a parent you always hope for a healthy child, but like many parents, I have been blessed with a very special child who has special needs. All parents celebrate milestones and for me, it was when Owen’s doctors t ..
Read moreDear West Virginia State Superintendent,
I know you have heard about Berkeley Heights Elementary, but I have talked to the mamas. On October 4th, Amber Pack, placed a recording device in her special need’s child’s hair and sent her to school. That night, she heard, “I ought to backhand you right in the teeth,” Ms. Yurish scream at her child. On October 5th, Amber’s husband contacted police who met with the principal of Berkeley Heights Elementary in Martinsburg, West Virginia. By October 11th, Principal Amber ..
Read moreTimeline of Evil
Timeline of Evil at Berkeley Heights Elementary Martinsburg, West Virginia October 4: A child’s mother put a hidden recorder in her hair when her non-verbal daughter began acting not like herself. Recording shared three teachers torturing children with special needs- teachers Christina Lester, June Yurish, and Kristin Douty. I listened to the recording provided by Owen’s mother. Miss Lester comments: Owen, are you gonna jerk off in the chair? Adriana, gonna vomit on m ..
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