Janelle Powell, Opinion Contributor
Over the past weeks, I have been collaborating closely with Nicole Georgas, the courageous mother who spoke out at the district 109 board meeting in Deerfield through our multiple conversations since the incident inception, and every time I think I’ve seen the worst of it, something even more outrageous happens, which compelled me to write the story detailing her experience. It started with middle school teachers and administrators ignoring the concerns of young girls. Then, it became about these same adults actively forcing young girls into an unsafe situation. And now? Now, it’s blatant lawbreaking with zero consequences.
A Timeline of Betrayal: Why Aren’t These Teachers Being Held Accountable?
Every parent, every educator, and every person who values the safety and dignity of children should be asking the same question right now: Why has no one been charged?
Deerfield Public Schools District 109 knowingly violated the rights of young girls, forcing them into an unsafe and deeply uncomfortable situation. These school officials were repeatedly warned, repeatedly protested, and repeatedly told that their actions were wrong—and yet, they doubled down.
This was not an accident. This was not an oversight. This was a calculated decision to ignore the voices of young girls, dismiss their concerns, and institutionalize the violation of their privacy. And still, despite all of this, not a single teacher or administrator has faced consequences.
How did we get here? Let’s break it down.
The Timeline That Exposes It All
This is the timeline of events at Deerfield Public Schools District 109—a sequence of decisions that has left many of us questioning the motives, the decision-makers, and most importantly, why these school officials are not being held accountable.
• February 5: Cate (13 yesrs old) was using the girls’ bathroom when she saw a male student exiting a stall. This was the first time she realized her privacy in a space meant exclusively for girls had been compromised.
• February 24: In response, the girls in Cate’s P.E. class staged a silent protest, refusing to change into their gym uniforms while the male student—whom they referred to as Fred—was present in their locker room. Their refusal to change was a clear and courageous stand against a situation they never agreed to.
• February 25: The school administration reacted quickly—but not to protect the girls or address their concerns. Instead, they questioned the students about their refusal to change. Several girls were brought into Assistant Principal Cathy Van Treese’s office for questioning. Cate, notably, was not questioned that morning.
• That same day, Joanna Ford (Assistant Superintendent of DPS 109), Cathy Van Treese, Robin Tortorella, Linda Van Vlissingen and 2 other teachers allowed the male student to remain in the locker room while girls were present. This was no longer just a rumor—it was a sanctioned policy by the school.
• February 26: Cate, who had a separate group activity during P.E. time that day, was absent from the locker room. However, she later learned that once again, the male student was present with the girls, as were the same school administrators and teachers who had ignored their concerns.
• February 27: The pattern continued. Joanna Ford, Cathy Van Treese, and three other teachers once again permitted the male student’s presence in the girls’ locker room—knowing full well that the girls were distressed and uncomfortable.
• March 3: Joanna Ford and Ginger Logerman (Director of Student Services for District 109) met regarding the issue—but instead of making changes to protect the girls, they chose to escalate the situation.
• March 4: The most egregious decision yet—school officials assigned the male student a locker inside the girls’ locker room. This wasn’t just permitting a violation of privacy—this was officially institutionalizing it. These girls were not just dismissed; they were completely stripped of their rights.
This wasn’t about inclusion or equity—this was about forcing young girls into an environment where they felt unsafe, unheard, and powerless.
This Is a Crime—So Why Hasn’t Anyone Been Charged?
Illinois law is crystal clear about what constitutes criminal behavior when it comes to exposing children to inappropriate situations and school officials responsible for this knew what they were doing. They knew it was wrong, they knew these girls were uncomfortable, and they did it anyway.
According to Illinois law, what happened at this school falls under multiple criminal offenses:
• Sexual Exploitation of a Child – It is illegal for an adult to knowingly expose a minor to nudity or a sexual situation. That’s exactly what happened when these teachers and administrators forced girls to undress in front of a male student.
• Criminal Sexual Assault & Indecent Solicitation – If an adult coerces or forces a minor into a situation where nudity or exposure occurs, it is a felony.
• Mandatory Reporting Violations – Every teacher and administrator involved had a legal duty to report this. Instead, they facilitated it.
If a random adult male had coerced 12-year-old girls into a situation where they were forced to undress in front of him, would we even hesitate before calling the police?
Of course not.
So why should teachers and administrators be treated any differently?
National Media Is Watching—But Where Are the Authorities?
This isn’t just a local controversy anymore. Major news outlets have picked up this story, and even Fox News ran a major piece on it. When a story gets this much national attention, it’s because people recognize how serious the situation is. So, for anyone still trying to brush this off as just one school’s policy decision, ask yourself:
Why is national media and so many other Hype profile accounts retweeting it?
In conclusion because we cannot, and will not, let this matter fade into obscurity. Illinois Review is committed to ensuring that student rights are protected. We will be closely monitoring the developments of this case and maintaining communication with the affected families to provide updates.
Collective action is essential to prevent such incidents from becoming the norm. We call upon our readers and the community to stand with us in this endeavor. Stay informed by following our updates on this case. Sign up for our email newsletter to receive the latest developments and find out how you can get involved. Together, we can assert that enough is enough and ensure the safety and rights of our students are upheld.
