Recently, Niagara Action began publishing a series of stories illustrating a culture of bullying, assaults, and harassment at North Tonawanda City Schools.
Click Headlines to Read Prior Stories
North Tonawanda Schools Face Backlash Over Failure to Protect Students from Bullying
A Culture of Unreported Violence: North Tonawanda Schools Part 1 (videos of physical altercations included)
Former Assistant Principal Rachel Ross Protects Bullies: North Tonawanda Schools Part 2 (audio recording of Ross yelling at student included)
Student Beaten after Principal Rowles Fails to Act: North Tonawanda Schools Part 3 (video of physical altercation included)
Special Education Student Locked in Bathroom and Beaten: North Tonawanda Schools Part 4
Assault Victim Punished Instead of Bully: North Tonawanda Schools Part 5
Victim of Explicit Photo Dissemination Suspended: North Tonawanda Schools Part 6
Special Education Student Bullied by Teachers: North Tonawanda Schools Part 7
After the articles circulated throughout the community, several parents, current and former students submitted their experiences via email to us. Their stories amounted to a simple conclusion: there is a refusal to protect students in North Tonawanda.
This series is based on a combination of first-hand narratives and investigative reporting. Narratives/allegations from those who experienced it will be posted without any redaction and/or modifications. That is their truth, and we are not here to take that away from them. We do not post them as fact, but rather as what these individuals experienced.
If you would like to share your own experience with North Tonawanda Schools and any of the issues raised throughout this article, please email us at niagaraaction@gmail.com.
EMAIL FROM FEMALE STUDENT WHO LEFT NORTH TONAWANDA HIGH SCHOOL DURING FRESHMAN YEAR IN 2022
I am reaching out to share more information about the problems faced by students in the North Tonawanda School District. Before I share my terrible experience at North Tonawanda High School, I would like to say I truly appreciate your team speaking up about this issue.
That school was so bad I had to drop out due to safety concerns. I've thought about writing articles to expose the awful behaviors of teachers, staff and administrators several times, but did not have the courage. Seeing others come forward has helped me feel confident enough to do so now.
My freshman year at North Tonawanda High School was in 2022. I had no idea how terrible it was and how different the kids are here compared to my hometown. Even the teachers and administrators were absolutely horrible.
Specifically, I had a terrible experience with Principal Bradley Rowles, Assistant Principal Rachel Wagner, and Ryan Mountain (gym teacher for grades 9 and 10).
Bullying
There was a group of 8 or 9 girls, all athletes and cheerleaders, who decided to spread a rumor around the school that I said a slur solely because they didn't like my friends. They would trip me down stairs, they would scream names at me in the hallways, they would yell and say "you're f**king dead" and repeatedly threaten violence. They would also post about me online, which I showed to Principal Rowles and Assistant Principal Wagner.
Each day they would try to make my life hell, and it worked. I begged every person of authority to change my class schedule and do something about it, but nobody did anything. I was distracted and behind on work in my classes because of the stress. Fortunately, I started to stay after school to do my work with the one teacher who cared about my success and well-being.
The bullying then followed me to those after school sessions. For some unknown reason, these girls started hanging around the halls after dismissal and began following me to my after-school class. One ran up behind me and tripped me down the stairs. I had to run to my class just to get away from them.
Then they started walking by the classroom in a group that got bigger and bigger each time they passed. I finally said something to the teacher and she sent out an email to the principals. They said the most they could do was “escort me out of the school.”
Principal Rowles later told my mom that they couldn't discipline the female students for their behavior and would not tell them to leave the building, despite the fact it was after school hours. The fact that they were literally threatening to kill me – IN WRITING – was not enough for administration to act.
After this, my mom pulled me out and put me in homeschooling. I never went back.
Predatory and Inappropriate Behavior
Worse than the bullying were the teachers and staff that exhibited worrisome and despicable behavior. While attending the high school, I would constantly see the gym teacher Ryan Mountain go in and out of the girl's locker room after female students went in there to change.
I didn't think anything weird about it until my friend went in to change her clothes and I saw him go in after her. My friend told me immediately after that he just stood there and watched as she took her hoodie and shirt off, exposing her breasts, before putting on new clothes.
The gym and other areas of the school either have no cameras or very low-quality cameras. If you look at their security footage you can literally count each pixel. Behavior like this is not seen or caught and goes unnoticed by administrators. Even when told of these events, they seldom take action. If they do, it’s inadequate.
I went and told my counselor who was super sweet/supportive what I witnessed and what my friend told me. I think she truly did everything possible to help.
There was a small investigation done by Principal Rowles. Afterward, Mr. Mountain was gone for 2 weeks and then returned.
I wasn’t surprised, Mr. Mountain is their golden child for his sports accolades.
If you would like to share your own experience with North Tonawanda Schools and any of the issues raised throughout this article, please email us at niagaraaction@gmail.com.
Gym Teacher Ryan Mountain Watching Girls Change: North Tonawanda Schools Part 8