Hope in Times of Trouble
Parents may be left wondering how they can protect their children; the Hope Scholarship provides answers.
By Cassie Moran
Date: March 29, 2021
Recently, the unthinkable happened in Collier County: an Immokalee High School teacher was arrested for inappropriate contact with students. Travis Westberry, a math teacher and basketball coach, touched students inappropriately and shared naked photos of himself. Westberry was fired and arrested, and the investigation is ongoing.
Parents and students were shocked by this heinous act. Schools are supposed to be a safe place for students, and teachers are expected to be trusted adults who protect students. Sadly, this is not always the case – and this is not the first incident of its type in Collier County. In 2020, Parkside Elementary School teacher, Hector Manley, was charged with 20 counts of lewd and lascivious molestation and three counts of sexual battery for his actions in 2018. Evidently, schools are not always as safe as we believe.
Parents may be left wondering how they can protect their children; the Hope Scholarship provides answers. The Hope Scholarship applies to students who encounter a wide range of problems, from bullying, threats, and sexual offense and more, whether it is from other students, staff, or teachers. A single instance immediately qualifies a student for this assistance. Using this scholarship, students may receive transportation stipends to attend another public school or a scholarship towards private school attendance.
Florida parents: if your child has been affected by this incident or a similar incident, they qualify for the Hope Scholarship. Our students deserve their basic safety needs to be met. They deserve the best possible education. In tragic times, choose Hope.
Click here for more information on the Hope Scholarship.
