Lizeth Villanueva, 13, will never forget the award she got from her 7th-grade teacher. "She said most likely to become a terrorist and she said my name and she gave me this."
It was a paper with words that would haunt her. Just underneath was her teacher's signature.
"It was supposed to be a joke," Villanueva said.
"Was it a joke to you?" she was asked. "No," she answered.
Channelview Independent School District officials say it was all part of a "fake mock awards" led by the teacher. The district didn't know.
Villanueva's mother Ena Hernandez demanded answers. "I asked her, what is this? Why is she giving this to you?"
She demanded a meeting with the principal saying the advanced Avid teacher should have known better.
"Being a teacher--giving this to a 13-year-old. How is she going to feel when she grows up later on?" Hernandez asked.
The district sent a statement apologizing for the "insensitive and offensive fake mock awards..." saying "these awards are not representative of the district's vision."
Villanueva says her teacher has her own lessons to learn. "A terrorist is a really big thing. Just what happened 2-3 days ago with Ariana Grande and her concert, and they're joking around about this; that's not something to joke around with."
Will you ever forget this? her mother was asked. "I don't think so. I don't think so," she replied.
