- Jessica Konen said her daughter Alicia, 11, was told by Buena Vista Middle School that she was upset because she didn’t know who she ‘truly was inside’
- Single mom Konen accused teachers of encouraging her daughter to think she was a trans boy when she was at the school in 2019
By CLAUDIA AORAHA, SENIOR REPORTER FOR DAILYMAIL.COM
UPDATED: 21:20 EDT, 29 August 2023
A California mother who said her daughter was ‘socially transitioned’ into a trans boy by her middle school has won a landmark legal victory against the district – who settled the suit for $100,000.
Jessica Konen’s daughter Alicia, 11, was allegedly told by Buena Vista Middle School in Spreckels that she was upset because she didn’t know who she ‘truly was inside.’
The school allowed the child to use the boy’s bathroom and male pronouns in class without her mom’s consent.
Single mom Konen accused teachers of encouraging her daughter to think she was a trans boy when she was at the school in 2019 – only for the child to return to her female persona while learning remotely during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Despite not admitting fault, the Spreckels Union School District’s settlement marks an important moment in the debate across the US about how parental rights fit in with children’s decisions in school settings.
Jessica Konen said her daughter Alicia, 11, was told by Buena Vista Middle School in Spreckels that she was upset because she didn’t know who she ‘truly was inside.’ The school allowed the child to use the boy’s bathroom and male pronouns in school
Jessica with her daughter, Alicia
Konen launched the legal claim against the school and two seventh-grade teachers in 2021 – claiming they kept her daughter’s phony trans identity secret from her and hid that she had been having suicidal thoughts.
The child is now attending high school in another district – and has re-identified as a girl.
In her court papers, Koren says her daughter, identified by her initials, A.G., found distance learning difficult ‘but there was a silver lining — because A.G. was at home throughout the school day, she was no longer in the clutches of Ms Caldiera (sic) and Ms Baraki. Freed from their influence A.G. began to return to her old self.’
Once Konen found out that her daughter was being identified as a male and socially transitioning without her knowledge, she sued the district.
Following the landmark settlement, Jessica Konen told Fox News Digital: ‘They need to understand their place, and they need to stay in their place. And schools nowadays, they’re awful.
‘So, I’m going to fight this fight and keep fighting this fight. I am not going to allow this to keep happening to children. I feel that the fight, it has to continue.’
Speaking about her current relationship with her daughter, Konen said they’re doing great and working together to be more open with one another. 
Once Konen found out that her daughter was being identified as a male and socially transitioning without her knowledge, she sued the district
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The mom added: ‘I think it took a lot of guts for both of us to be able to open up publicly and explain what is happening.
‘We definitely are going to be at peace and be able to try to move on from this. But parents, pay attention, ask the questions that are offered.
‘Put yourself in uncomfortable situations because you don’t know what someone’s going through. You don’t know what they’re teaching in schools anymore.
‘Just be active in your kid’s lives and don’t be scared to speak up.’
Mark Trammell, Executive Director of the Center for American Liberty, said: ‘At its core, this case is about upholding the sacred bond between parents and their children.
‘Parents have an inherent right to be involved in pivotal decisions concerning their children’s lives.’
The victory for the mother comes just days after California’s Attorney General sued a school district regarding a new policy that requires teachers to notify parents if their child changes their identity or pronouns.
Parent Jessica Konen speaks out against the two teachers during public comment at the school board meeting. Konen has filed a legal case against the school district
Jessica Konen, left, with her attorney, CEO of the conservative Center for American Liberty, Harmeet Dhillon, filed a legal claim against Spreckels Union School District alleging that two teachers ‘planted a seed’ in her 11-year-old daughter’s head that she was bisexual, then tried to convince her that she was a transgender boy
Attorney General Rob Bonta announced the lawsuit on Monday against the Chino Valley Unified School District in southern California, alleging that its ‘parental notification’ policy (5020.1) is discriminatory and violates both civil rights and privacy laws.
He alleged that the policy puts transgender and gender-nonconforming students in ‘danger of imminent, irreparable harm,’ by risking they’ll be outed in their household ‘before they’re ready.’
In July, the district school board held a public meeting on whether to adopt the policy, which requires in part school personnel to ‘out’ transgender and gender nonconforming students to their parents or guardians without their consent and even against their express wishes, as per the lawsuit.
More than 80 members of the community – holding up signs and flags – were in attendance and spoke out against the forced disclosure policy.