"You really hurt my kid": Southside Elementary removes principal and assistant principal

MADISON, Wis. -- Principal Candace Terrell and Assistant Principal Annabel Torres have been removed from their positions at Madison Metropolitan School District's Southside Elementary.

It comes after months of parent-submitted complaints and a district investigation.

"You really hurt my kid, and I don't take kind to that," said parent Andrea Shorter-Amos.

Shorter-Amos is one of 66 parents who signed her name at the bottom of an 18-page complaint submitted to the school district in the spring, alleging Terrell and Torres created a chaotic, unsafe and untenable environment.

"It was like, they're not in jail. They're babies."

Shorter-Amos alleges that her daughter regressed academically during her time at the Southside.

"The whole three years she had been at the school, she went backwards," she said. "So now we're working on helping her move forward from all of that."

She says her fifth-grader was also denied the requirements of her IEP, endured long-term isolation as punishment and was humiliated in front of her peers, leading to severe bullying.

This week, the district announced the removal of both Terrell and Torres "until further notice."

"Good. You got them removed," said Shorter-Amos. "But the kids who've already gone through it at the end of the day, that lasts them for the rest of their life."

As of last school year, Southside serves 384 students, 75% of which are economically disadvantaged and approximately 80% of which are students of color.

Shorter-Amos says she hopes the newly-appointed interim principal is able to serve Southside students with compassion.

"When I give my kid to you, I'd like to get them back the way I gave them to you."

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