- Zoey was expelled from the school in Chino Hills after videoing a brawl
- The former student was accused of violating education codes in doing so
- The 17-year-old is unable to attend her prom, despite already buying her dress
A high school senior has spoken out against a California school district after she was expelled for livestreaming a fight.
Zoey, who had been a student at Ayala High School in Chino Hills, said she played no role in the encounter and had simply started filming it.
The former student was accused of violating education codes including cyberbullying, intimidation, harassment and attempting to cause injury.
The 17-year-old is unable to attend her prom, despite already purchasing her dress, and is also banned from her walk in commencement.
She told CBS: ‘In our generation, you go live to do makeup, to do everything, so it was just going live just to go live. It wasn’t my intent to purposely or try to cause harm to anyone.’
Zoey, who had been a student at Ayala High School in Chino Hills, said she played no role in the encounter and had simply started filming it
The former student was accused of violating education codes including cyberbullying, intimidation, harassment and attempting to cause injury
In an attempt to be allowed back into the school she apologized to the board and hoped they would reconsider, which says felt like it didn’t matter
The teenager continued: ‘It was more of an impulsive thing. It was just bad judgment on my part.’
The school board wrote in her expulsion letter that her presence on the school campus would present a continued danger.
Her mother, who remains unnamed, said: ‘It’s very hurtful to me to hear these things said about her, knowing who she is and the integrity that she has.’
She did concede that she knows the district’s student/parent handbook does mention the possibility of disciplinary actions that could lead to expulsion.
Her mom added: ‘We did sign the document but so did the other student who got in a fight and he gets to walk.’
Zoey added: ‘I got a substantial academic scholarship — a $19,000 scholarship — to go to a university. I’ll be practicing law after I graduate.’
The school board wrote in her expulsion letter that her presence on the school campus would present a continued danger
The 17-year-old is unable to attend her prom, despite already purchasing her dress, seen here, and is also banned from her walk in commencement
In an attempt to be allowed back into the school she apologized to the board and hoped they would reconsider, which says felt like it didn’t matter.
She continued: ‘Everyone was working against me — the whole Chino Valley Unified School District.
‘They knew they wanted to make an example out of me and that’s what they did.’
While her family can appeal the decision with the San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools she will have to finish her education elsewhere.
