Students, parents, alumni allege favoritism in high school music department; others voice support
By Lauren Young
Staff Writer
After the suicide last month of Blake Lucas, a 2018 Jamesville-DeWitt High School graduate and theater performer, the community was left shocked and looking for answers. In the weeks since, a video allegedly recorded by Lucas before his death, in which he singled out a particular teacher for her treatment of him, has circulated the district. On Monday, Aug. 27, numerous students, parents and previous teachers said they were provoked by the video to come forward to the board of education with accounts of bullying within the music department — in particular, from the choral director named by Lucas.
In a meeting attended by nearly 60 students, parents and other district members, over 15 students and parents accused high school Choral Director Beth Quackenbush of multiple offenses, including “lying” to students and the administration, “inappropriate standards of perfection” and “ostracizing” students.
After an alleged text spread between students, parents and other members of the district urging people to voice concerns against Quackenbush at the meeting, a Change.org petition was posted in support of the teacher, stating, “We, the undersigned, have never experienced anything but professional, supportive and caring treatment from Mrs. Quackenbush,” and encouraging those with positive experiences to come forward as well.
According to this petition, Lucas’ video singled out Quackenbush, and the text sent around the district “insinuates that Mrs. Quackenbush is in some way responsible for Blake’s death, based on what it also implies to be her widespread practice of treating students unfairly.”
As of, Sept. 10, 109 people have signed the petition.
In the midst of this blame and defense of Quackenbush, numerous district residents have voiced concerns that this issue goes beyond Lucas or the choral director, and instead indicates that modern teenagers are experiencing a “mental health crisis.”
So far, J-D district officials and board of education members are not commenting on the issue, nor is Quackenbush.
Blake Lucas’ mother, however, has commented on the matter.
“I have come to understand that my son was a voice for those who felt powerless to speak up or whose voices were not heard,” said Lisa Lucas. “My hope is that we move forward in a respectful and responsible way to appropriately address any and all unprofessional or unethical teacher conduct, and do the right thing, so that all current and future students are supported and protected.”
The accusations
Lucas, 18, passed away Aug. 15, just a few days before starting his freshman year at Binghamton University. According to investigators, he intentionally crashed his car into the Community Library of DeWitt and Jamesville.
The suicide shocked the community, especially those within the Jamesville-DeWitt district, but notably those within its music department.
According to his obituary, Lucas was a select member of Chamber Choir and SPARK show choir, both led by Quackenbush, choral director of Jamesville-DeWitt High School for more than 20 years. Lucas participated in several musicals and drama productions, from Dauntless in “Once Upon a Mattress” to Jim Haller in “All Shook Up.”
According to his obituary, “music activities were the focal point of his life and resulted in forming an extensive ‘musical family’ through his participation in the J-D musicals and drama productions.”
In the video Lucas recorded prior to his death, which has circulated through the Jamesville-DeWitt community, he insinuated Quackenbush mistreated him and played favorites. This accusation has prompted other JDHS students and alumni to come forward and voice their experiences following his death, particularly at the Aug. 27 school board meeting.
One former student said she left the school district after experiencing “anxiety-provoking” and “bullying” by Quackenbush and other students within the music department.
“For me, like many of my peers, including Blake Lucas, music has been my passion since I was young,” said Samantha Burton, an incoming senior at Bishop Grimes Junior/Senior High School. “In my time in the music department, I saw unrelenting nepotism that dimmed the light of not only myself, but other students around me as well. Ambition and drive are seemingly pointless if you are not among the favorite few. The music department is all a clique itself — and if its leader is displeased with you, the students feel obligated to follow suit.”
After reaching out to the administration and counseling office for help, Burton was rejected, she said.
“My intention isn’t to cause any further issues, my intention is only to shed light on the issues that are, and have been present, for years,” said Burton.
Favoritism was common in Quackenbush’s classes, said Jack Harrington, a J-D alum who graduated four years ago.
Her “abuse” was exhibited by “nasty looks, rude and degrading comments behind your back and to your face and blatant humiliation in front of the whole chorus,” said Harrington. Standing up for yourself, said Harrington, made it “worse.”
“[Quackenbush] can make the brightest and most talented among us feel worthless,” he said.
Harrington said he even skipped his high school graduation to avoid her, and the negative effect she had on him continues today.
“The only difference between [Blake] and I, in those moments, was that my panic attack did not happen behind the wheel,” he said.
“[Teachers are] absolutely, 100 percent, bullying our kids”
A few parents and teachers called upon the school board on Aug. 27 to launch an “independent investigation” on the issue of bullying — one of those people being a former district music teacher.
Shawn Forster, a teacher in the Jamesville-DeWitt music department for 10 years, agreed that an investigation would serve the district’s best interests, but did not single out Quackenbush by name.
Forster said he approached the administration last November, with three accounts of children who were being bullied by teachers — but his reports were ignored. He did not state the names of the teachers during his comments to the board. Those children, he said, experienced “bullying behavior,” including having their “characters assassinated” and being lied to. But bullying, he said, was tolerated while speaking out against it was punished.
Forster said that when these students and families came forward with the accusations, they were asked to leave the department or district itself, and he was asked to resign. Forster is now teaching in another district.
“This is not about not getting a role [in a play] — this is about children that were being [badly] treated by an adult,” he said.
Another parent who called for an independent investigation included a friend of Lucas’ family.
“[The district] needs to expect professionalism from teachers … I’m a professional in my work. It is my job to take responsibility if people are not well-served,” said Paul Otteson. “It is my job to adjust, adapt and modify my behavior to improve the quality of my work — so too with teaching.”
Due to the amount of students and families feeling poorly served by Quackenbush, Otteson said, “it is incumbent upon the administration and board to expect improvements.”
As a parent who used to be in the J-D music department, Jennifer Guard said this issue is not about students feeling slighted for not getting roles in the school play. “This is about the fact that I moved back to this district because I went to school here, and I knew that this was an excellent school district to raise my daughter … and I come to find out that these children are being bullied, and people are brushing it under the rug,” said Guard. “The administration is saying nothing … [kids] are not being taught what’s right and what’s wrong — we’re the adults. Why don’t we be the adults and show them what’s right and what’s wrong, and stop this behavior?”
Eboni Britt, also a parent, said her heart “goes out to both the parents of Blake Lucas and Mrs. Quackenbush,” but said that bullying, especially by teachers, is a problem within the district itself.
“I’m struggling right now because I’m hearing all these wonderful things about Mrs. Quackenbush and it’s almost like its discrediting this young man’s experience, because for all the good that’s done by teachers, if there’s one student that’s harmed by that — that matters too,” said Britt. “We need change … and absolutely, the students need counseling, but we need to address these teachers — they’re interacting with our children, and they’re absolutely, 100 percent, bullying our kids.”
“She’s not perfect, but she’s not the problem”
Despite these allegations, other students and parents spoke highly of Quackenbush and defended her, speaking up for her disciplined teaching and explaining how some may be looking for someone to blame during a time of crisis. Reasons like missing out on a role in a musical, some said, should not be a reason to punish or defame her.
Libby Blair, who used to be friends with Lucas and performed in a number of shows with him, said Quackenbush has been “a lifesaver and a lifeline” for her. “During one of the most difficult times in my life, she was the one person I could go to for guidance, security, love and understanding,” said Blair.
She said Quackenbush does have high standards for her students, but that is what makes the district’s music department as successful at it is.
“Mrs. Quackenbush inspires and is inspiring, and I’m honored to be one her students,” said Blair.
“She’s one of the strongest and most inspirational women I know,” said Quinn Butler, a student. “She’s so supportive of every single student.”
Michael Chapel, a 2002 J-D graduate, said he had “nothing but positive experiences with Beth,” and she inspired him to serve others and volunteer as an adult.
“[In] the outside world … you’re not gonna get whatever you want, all the time. You need to have standards in order to be professional,” said Chapel. “And I think that’s kind of what Beth was trying to prepare us for … she’s not perfect, but she’s not the problem.”
Nancy Romano said her son, who has been involved with the music department for several years, has had “only positive experiences with the teacher.” While not getting roles in plays or musicals can be “devastating,” it shouldn’t be a reason to blame her, said Romano.
“I don’t want someone like Beth Quackenbush to be railroaded into a bad guy because a certain percentage of people have been unhappy, when there’s also equally a certain percentage, if not more, who are happy,” she said. “Beth has done very good by my son, and we have had a wonderful experience in the music department.”
Sung Lee, a parent, said Quackenbush exhibits all the characteristics he values in teachers, such as “passion,” “dedication” and “discipline.”
At least three other parents detailed how their children had similar experiences, complimenting Quackenbush on her dedication to the music program and the success of her students.
One of Quackenbush’s friends of 40 years spoke up, stating she’s, “never seen a person more caring, more open to people of different cultures, religions, socioeconomic backgrounds, and to hear all this … my heart bleeds for every person in this room,” she said. “But we can’t sit here and pick on one teacher for one situation.”
Tina Morgan said when her daughter transferred to the district, she was welcomed by Quackenbush, who “went above and beyond to make her feel comfortable.”
Morgan said she works at a professional theatre, and “it’s a tough field.”
“It’s the nature of what it is,” she said. “I just wish we would spend more time talking about mental health and what we as parents can do.”
Other parents echoed this concern, one even stating that there is a “crisis.”
“Our children are experiencing a mental health crisis,” said one parent. “One in 10 [teens] each year have suicidal ideations … my request for the school board is that we spend an equal amount of time talking as a community about what we can do to provide mental health services, suicide awareness and suicide prevention to our kids.”
“We [need to] care about children’s social and emotional needs, and not just achievements,” said parent Rachel Gilchrest.
“This issue is bigger than every individual in this room,” said Alex Yoo, a former friend of Lucas’ and a student involved in the music department. “I strongly believe that Mrs. Quackenbush [is not to blame], and again, this is bigger than Mrs. Quackenbush — it’s bigger than anyone here.”
From here
District officials have not disclosed the status of Quackenbush’s position with the school at this time.
Board of Education President Mark Schulman refused to comment on the accusations against Quackenbush and instead referred questions to district Superintendent Alice Kendrick, who stated, “The district cannot provide any information on a specific personnel matter.”
Quackenbush did not respond to requests for comment.
The next Jamesville-DeWitt Board of Education meeting will be held at 7 p.m. Monday, Sept. 17, at Tecumseh Elementary School.
