We are saddened and disheartened to hear news of yet another situation of a failure of a school to protect its children. The news today that Tajreed E. Rich, a hall monitor and coach at Robbinsdale Cooper High School, who had also worked as a volunteer cheerleading coach at North High School, was charged with third degree criminal sexual assault of a minor is alarming and tragically familiar.
School districts and their employees need to be better trained in child protection and prevention of abuse to ensure the safety of our kids at school. We urge Cooper High School, North High School, and the School Districts to conduct outreach to families of other children who may have suffered at the hands of Tajreed Rich.
Sarah Odegaard is an attorney and advocate working with survivors of clergy sexual abuse at Jeff Anderson & Associates.