Civil rights complaint filed by Veterans High School parents

On January 15, Cortese Walker and Antwishia Thomas, parents of two Veterans High School cheerleaders, filed a pair of civil rights complaints against tumbling coach Daniel Satterfield, owner of Tumblecheer Heroes in Perry, and husband of Veterans head cheerleading coach Katie Satterfield, as well as other cheerleading coaches at the high school. The complaint was filed with the Office of Civil Rights, Education Department, on the basis that Daniel directed a racial slur at Thomas’ daughter during cheer practice. 

The complaints stated that on October 24, 2019, Daniel used the N word while addressing Thomas’ daughter at a practice held at Tumblecheer.

“She was kind of shocked and taken aback,” Thomas said. “It’s like everything in the gym just froze.” Thomas said that her daughter, who had worked with Daniel for over three years, couldn’t believe the comment was made to her.

Walker said not only was the remark made to Thomas’ daughter, but it was said as a generalization about a whole group of people. “It actually came out of his mouth twice,” Walker said.

The incident was reported to Walker via a junior varsity cheer coach, over a social media messaging app, and Walker then relayed the information to Thomas. In later messages—on October 25—from the JV coach, whom Walker said has heard Daniel use the slur before, it was reported that the JV coach had confronted Daniel and that he “thanked her for calling him out as a friend.” The report also states that Daniel apologized to the JV coach, and acknowledged that the incident was inappropriate and claimed he did not know why he said the slur.

According to the complaints, Walker and Thomas reported the incident to VHS administration on October 25, and were told by an assistant principal that the incident would be handled the following Monday. Administration questioned all three school coaches—head coach Katie Satterfield as well as the JV coaches—separately, regarding the incident, to which all coaches claimed nothing inappropriate happened at the practice.

The complaints also say that there was retaliation taken against Thomas’ and Walker’s daughters, in the form of the girls being denied a spotter for their stunts for the rest of the year, which Thomas said is a safety issue. When questioned by Walker and Thomas, Katie became upset and defensive, kicking the girls off the squad. The girls were reinstated to the team after the incident was brought to the attention of the administration the following day. Thomas and Walker said the girls faced further harassment including changing Thomas’ daughter’s tumbling passes without the opportunity to practice, moving the girls’ spots in the routine, and being told they had to perform without their sports braces.

Thomas and Walker also said that they have reached out to the Board of Education multiple times and that those attempts were addressed by the principal or assistant principal instead of someone from the board.

To the understanding of Thomas and Walker, Daniel has been removed from the Veterans High School cheer program after being informed by administration that this measure would be taken, but might still be involved in other programs at schools in the county, and may be involved in other counties as well, citing a message by Daniel that was received on the parent information app used by the team. Satterfield, in this December 3 message, said that it was a rumor that he was not allowed to work with any Houston County schools, and that he had not been in contact due to the volunteer paperwork process with the Houston County Board of Education. In the message, Daniel also promotes tumbling classes for Veterans cheerleaders at Tumblecheer Heroes.

In December, Katie stepped down as head coach, citing health reasons. The position has since been filled by Taylor Way, with whom the mothers say there have been no issues.

The complaints seek to hold the responsible parties accountable for the behavior displayed toward the two cheerleaders during the past season, stating that the situation affected the girls mentally and emotionally.

Before the incident, the girls were subject to racially themed topics of conversation, the mothers said. “Are y’all ghetto? Are y’all from the hood? How many bundles do you have in your hair? Do you have tracks in your hair?” Walker said. Walker explained that these topics didn’t happen over one conversation; they were built over time.

Thomas added, “It was even stated that they [the team] couldn’t have weave in their hair, or they couldn’t have braids.”

Walker and Thomas also said that there were previous incidents of vulgar and derogatory comments made to the entire team by Satterfield, one of which instances the mothers said was reported to the school. “Something should have been done at that point,” Thomas said.

Walker added, “Had they stopped the way they talked to these girls, the [racial epithet] wouldn’t

have happened.” Walker also added that no matter which comment in question was made, it was wrong. “We missed it for all these girls, not just the two black girls.” Walker continued to explain that the high standard of behavior must start with the coaches and leadership they are exposed to. “Even those community coaches who don’t work directly for the school,” Walker added.

Thomas and Walker stated that there still has not been an apology made to the kids.

“Not even the coach. As a head coach, if something happens on your watch, I expect you [to address it],” Thomas said.

Walker said that the girls were scared for their mothers to say anything, fearing the type of treatment they may receive as a result, referring also to things they had seen happen to other athletes whose parents had approached coaches.

Walker said that there are other parents who have gone through similar situations and have not taken action for fear of the repercussions for their children. “I know a lot of parents feel like I thought my hands were tied because if we spoke out there was going to be some form of retaliation where my child would be taken off whatever sport that was, or the fact that I did tell and nobody did anything. I just feel like that’s not good enough,” Walker explained, “We are an advocate for them [the kids], we are their voice, and you [the school] are supposed to be the people that we trust to look after them when they are not in our care.” Walker and Thomas said that they did not want to send the message to their children that they cannot go to an authority figure when something inappropriate happens because they feel like the teacher will be protected rather than their voice being heard. “That is why we are not going to let this be swept under the rug,” Walker explained.

The mothers also said that they didn’t want things only to be fair for their daughters, but for all kids. “Veterans is a good school system, but everyone needs to know that it’s an even playing field no matter what color you are,” Walker said.

“I feel like all teachers and coaches are key to the success of our kids, so something that you’re issuing out to our kids affects them if it’s not positive,” Thomas added. Thomas further explained that it shouldn’t matter who gets mad, that if things of this nature happen, they need to tell their parents.

“Speak up,” Walker said. “It’s not worth it to be silent. We have to teach these kids what their values are. It doesn’t matter what race you are. Any race, any injustice, any violation, whatever that is, you have speak up and know your truth and stand by your truth,” Walker said.

Director of Community and School Affairs, Beth McLaughlin said that the situation was investigated.

“We did get a report about a person who, as we looked into it, was not a school employee. When we get any type of report we take them seriously, and we investigate thoroughly, as we did in this case.” McLaughlin said that the board of education felt that the investigation by the school was dealt with appropriately. “This was specific to a school, and he is no longer assisting with that team,” McLaughlin explained.

An attempt was made to reach Daniel Satterfield for comment, and as of deadline, Tuesday morning, Satterfield had yet to respond.