Mother Speaks Out Against Bullying After Daughter's Death

BRENTWOOD, NY — A Brentwood mother is speaking out against bullying after her daughter died just a few months ago.

Bernice Simmons, 16, died July 19 from a pulmonary embolism.

Bernice attended the Brentwood School District since kindergarten. When she started middle school, things started to change, according to her mother, Sheree Sibilly-Simmons.

In videos her mother, Bernice describing bullying she endured since middle school and how it left her feeling "dead inside."

Sheree said she knew at a very early age that her daughter was a part of the LGBTQ community, which became more apparent when she started "coming into her own," starting in sixth grade. Since then, Bernice said teachers discriminated against her, asking her if she was really a girl or if she was a boy.

"The teachers were bullying her to the point where she tried to take her life," Sheree said. "She started getting suspended for no reason.

"Sometimes her presence was a problem. One teacher had a tantrum in the hallway that she did not want to be in the cafeteria with Bernice."

Sheree learned her daughter was engaging in self-harm and took her to the hospital. When she asked Bernice about it, she responded that she was always being judged and asked if she's a boy or a girl.

There were several signs of bullying, Sheree said. Bernice would say she was sick to avoid school and when she did go to school, she was constantly calling her mother. She started to spend more time by herself. Sheree said it was odd because she told her daughter she could come to her with any problems.

"Even when you are an involved parent, you can miss the signs because teachers, they intimidate children," she said. "So they're not going to come home and say what is going on. Sometimes parents don't believe their children, but I knew Bernice wasn't lying."

Bernice started calling the school and complaining about the bullying. Superintendent Richard Loeschner called and told her that school officials were going to do something about it, according to her mother.

However, Sheree said the teachers received no consequences, causing Bernice to start a petition for action.

"She told me 'I don't understand because if we do stuff we get consequences but if the teachers do stuff they don't get anything,'" Sheree said.

Patch left a message for Loeschner that was not returned as of Monday.

When she started tenth grade, Bernice was in school for just one day when she was taken out due to depression and her anxiety about school.

"She didn't trust any teacher and believed they were all out to get her," Sheree said. "I've never seen daughter relax, I only saw my daughter relax for the first time in her coffin."

After listening to the videos her daughter left, Sheree said she is calling for change.

"This was supposed to be my daughter's senior year and I had to go in her phone and listen to recordings of how her teachers destroyed her and self-harm videos," she said. "That's why I'm fighting for change. I need the students to know that their voices can make a difference. They need to stand up and let it be known how it feels to be a student in Brentwood."

According to Sheree, she believed some teachers are out of touch with the Brentwood community, going back to their "$600,000 homes." She praised one teacher who she said was kind to Simmons and even spent time at the hospital when she was sick.

"That's the teacher that we want, that's the teacher we should praise," Sheree said. "I think that something has to change. There should not have to be another Bernice."

On Oct. 19, the three-month anniversary of her daughter's death, a protest was held to call for changes at the school in her honor. Sheree said she wished school officials listened to her daughter's cries and held the teachers accountable.

"We have to be involved that means administration, teacher, parents and someone from mental health needs to be there to speak to our children," she said. "We need to learn from Bernice and know that it's okay to take a stand and fight back. That's the only way we can make a difference."

Sheree said the school district needs someone independent of the district available to review complaints without fear of retaliation.

"I always told Bernice that I'm your mom and my job is to move mountains and Earth for you," she said. "So if it takes me forever to make change, not just in that district, but everywhere, I will make change for Bernice."

All photos courtesy Sheree Sibilly-Simmons