Take Action Where There Is None: Students and Parents Stand Up Against Abuse at Fenton High School

On March 11, students at Fenton High School, located only a few miles from Elmhurst University’s campus in Bensenville, Illinois held a protest to see a staff member removed from the high school. 

Senior Hannah Ceaser, who graduated from Fenton in 2020, stated that she heard rumors about a teacher abusing a student, but she only knew the student who had come forward. 

“Her name was never officially released; however, the rumors were proven to be true due to her last name not being hidden in a part of the police report,” Ceaser said. 

That 42-page police report was leaked online, which caused tensions to boil over in March, exposing the staff member’s abuse. This led to students and parents calling for this staffer to be removed. 

Parents and current and former students spoke up about their disgust and lack of trust in the school board. 

“I was a little surprised, as I would assume everyone would be,” Ceaser said. “However, the more I read the police report, the more I remembered the rumors about the student involved, and I became more frustrated due to how long this has been an issue and no action has been taken in regards to this situation.” 

Senior Nathan Fonseca, another Fenton alumni, stated that he was “fully aware of the allegations at the time they were happening” and that students of his grade were aware. 

“It was all anyone would talk about,” said Fonseca. 

Reports of sexual misconduct from this former staff member, who was a teacher and track coach, go back as far as 2011. The first complaint made in 2011 was due to the staff member sending inappropriate text messages to a female student. It was reported, and the staff member was issued a disciplinary letter. 

More reports were made in 2012 and 2016, with the Department of Child and Family Services becoming involved. However, their investigations each time ended with findings of “insufficient evidence,” until this current investigation began in September 2023. 

A former student reached out to a teacher at Fenton, which led to another report being made. This time, the accused staff member was immediately placed on administrative leave. In October of the same year, the student filed a police report. 

“Every K-12 and higher education institution nationwide implements a tailor-made process to serve their campuses in compliance with the Title IX federal regulations,” said EU Title IX Coordinator, Natalie Brouwer-Potts. 

Parents and students were disappointed at a school board meeting held on March 20, and were again disappointed at the March 27 meeting with the Bensenville Board of Trustees. Comments were made condemning the inaction by the board. Others also called for outside investigators to become involved, as they no longer trust the school board or DCFS. 

Village President Frank DeSimone wrote a letter on March 20 calling for the removal of District 100 Superintendent James Ongtengco. 

This followed the school board meeting, where a former student came forward about her experiences. Xochitl Quinones told the school board, “You failed to support me and other young girls who were assaulted.”  Quinones refers to the fact that after these initial allegations, this staff member was promoted to administration, rather than fired. 

Ceaser, as well as many other students and parents, were “really angry to hear that [the

school board] still decided he should be promoted to administrator.” 

Fonseca stated that students at Fenton “all had the same reaction,” in that they were “appalled by how the school board tried to handle it.” 

Ceaser informed The Leader that the position this staff member was promoted to “is the one that oversees diversity, equity, and inclusion, which is a very sensitive topic where students could be very vulnerable.” 

Many Fenton High School students feel unsafe at school. Ceaser, who still has close ties to current Fenton students, stated that some feel unsafe, while others are “unphased by what’s going on.” 

As of March 29, Ongtengco was put on leave. The staff member “should not have been promoted to a position like that, let alone still be employed in a school with these allegations,” said Ceaser. 

The staff member involved with the abuse has since been fired but has not been charged with any crime as of April 1. There is another school board meeting slated to be held on April 24.

Brouwer-Potts reminds students that, “The University’s Counseling Center provides a safe space for these discussions and is an excellent resource for any student in crisis, as is the U-Will online platform.” 

If you or anyone you know is experiencing sexual abuse, contact EU Title IX coordinator, Natalie Brouwer-Potts at natalie.brouwer-potts@elmhurst.edu or (630)-617-3341 or the DuPage County YWCA Sexual Violence Support Service at (630)-790-660.