Who are Isabella 'Izzy' Tichenor's parents? Utah school district to pay family of bullied autistic girl, 10, $2M after she killed herself
FARMINGTON, UTAH: The family of Isabella "Izzy" Tichenor, a 10-year-old Black student with autism who killed herself in 2021, will reportedly receive $2M from a school district in Farmington, Utah.
According to CNN, Izzy's family alleged she was bullied by her classmates due to her race and disability. Following her death, concerns were raised about the way the Davis School District handled allegations of bullying in its schools.
Who are Isabella 'Izzy' Tichenor's parents?
Izzy died on November 6, 2021. She was born to Brittany Tichenor and Diondre Jones on May 15, 2011, in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Izzy's mom Brittany claimed the bullying caused her daughter to fail her classes. In 2022, November reports stated that the grieving mom had planned to seek $14 million in damages.
In a notice of claim, lawyers for the family had said the school had violated state and federal laws, including those that require schools to ensure equal treatment, provide educational opportunities and protect students experiencing homelessness.
“As a result of this unchecked bullying and the school’s overall ‘deliberate indifference’ to minority students, Izzy failed nearly all her classes. At the time of her death, she could barely read or do math on a first-grade level,” the notice read.
What is Izzy's Village?
Earlier this year Brittany along with Preslie Bahr created 'Izzy's Village'. The nonprofit organization is dedicated to providing mental health resources to children and adults dealing with trauma.
Izzy's mom believes more Black children are experiencing racism and may be suffering in silence. Izzy's Village, she said, is intended to be a safe space for people of all backgrounds. "There should be no more deaths like this happening in the state of Utah,” she said.
“You know, if we have people here in support to come together to prevent it from happening, there should never be a 10-year-old contemplating taking her life."
Which school did Isabella Tichenor attend?
A district-commissioned independent investigation found that Izzy's school, Foxboro Elementary, failed to promptly look into bullying allegations. The report also found that the girl had been mistreated but was unable to say whether it was because of her race or her disability, as per reports.
The school district and Izzy's family released a joint statement in which they both referred to the arrangement as a "mutual resolution."
The statement read that Izzy's death "will always have an impact on our community and school." The district added that it was dedicated to ensuring that everyone felt safe at school and that reports of bullying would be "thoroughly documented, promptly addressed, and appropriate consequences will be administered."
The joint statement read, "The District is continually assessing and expanding its processes and efforts to better support every student who attends its schools, including implementing trauma-informed counseling and other resources for its students."
Additionally, the district has given a formal apology as well as $200,000 settlement involving three students who alleged they were discriminated against.
Davis Superintendent writes letter to parents of bullied children
Davis Superintendent Dan Linford wrote in a letter to the children's parents, "On behalf of the Davis School District, I would like to extend my sincerest apologies to you, and most especially, to your three children for the unwelcome experiences they had while attending school in our district. I am grateful to you for bringing your children's experiences to our attention."
In 2021, the Justice Department conducted an investigation into the Davis School District that led to a report and settlement agreement that described how officials had willfully disregarded complaints from parents and students about Black and Asian American students being harassed for years.
Who was Isabella Izzy Tichnor?
According to her obituary, 10-year-old Izzy was a " beautifully unique soul - full of love and kindness. She was bright and gifted. She touched the hearts of so many. She loved to sing, dance, and be the best sister to her siblings."
"She wanted to be a professional dancer in New York or a professional cheerleader when she grew up. She also enjoyed gymnastics, time with family and spending time in praise and worship to Jesus Christ, her Savior." Her brother Baby Zachariah preceded her in death.