As the final football game of the season unfolded at Sam Rayburn High School, Pasadena parent Rubi Trevino sat in the bleachers watching her daughter perform with the school’s Texanns dance team.
In a heartfelt Facebook post shared on Southeast HTX Neighborhood News, Trevino described sitting “with her heart full but also angry,” revealing an ongoing ordeal of bullying and indifference she says her daughter has faced from teammates and coaches alike.
Trevino said her daughter joined the Texanns because she believed in what the team represented: unity, pride, and leadership.
However, over the past two seasons, that belief has been put to the test. According to Trevino, her daughter once called close friends, who turned against her, becoming the very source of her pain. She wrote,
“They began bullying her, calling her ugly, mocking her, calling her a Naca, telling her she’s f***ing ugly to her face,” “They slammed doors in her face and laughed behind her back. These weren’t just teammates—they were team officers, girls who were supposed to lead by example.”
Rubi Trevino
Despite her efforts, she said communication with the team’s coach was almost nonexistent. Emails and ParentSquare messages reportedly went unanswered.
“Maybe once,” she noted, implying only a single response after multiple attempts. When her complaints were finally escalated, Trevino said the elective director did take the matter seriously, involving school counselors and arranging a mediation.
According to Trevino, one of the three girls accused of bullying attended the mediation and admitted her daughter had done nothing wrong. Trevino said,
“She realized she had been manipulated,” “This is all documented by the school.”
Rubi Trevino
However, the team officer accused of starting the bullying refused to participate.
While Trevino expressed gratitude toward the elective director, she said the coach never offered reassurance or support to her daughter. She wrote,
“The coach reached out to the girls who caused the harm, but never to my daughter, nor to the team as a whole,” “The coach has not reassured my child that she is supported. And yet, I’m the one being labeled ‘difficult’ for speaking up.”
Rubi Trevino
The situation escalated further after the final game.
Trevino said her daughter came up the bleachers in tears, devastated after overhearing both the former and new coach allegedly talking about her mother’s meetings and implying those meetings played a role in the former coach’s resignation. She asked,
“Why?” “Because I advocate for her. Because I ask for accountability.”
Rubi Trevino
Rubi said she was later told the new coach now refuses to speak with her, reportedly because she “threatened” to go to the school board. She clarified,
“That wasn’t a threat—it was a last resort after being ignored time and time again,”
Rubi Trevino
Her post quickly grabbed dozens of supportive comments from other Pasadena residents and parents.
Cat Cstll, identifying as a mother of another Pasadena ISD student, urged Trevino not to give up.
As a mom whose child was attacked by another pisd student.DONT STOP. This is your child that God gave you and you must defend them. I rather be labeled as a difficult parent than the one who lost their child at the hands of another student or to unaliving themselves over something like this. Do what you must to protect your child.
Cat Cstll
Another commenter, Linda Alarcon, encouraged Trevino to attend the next Pasadena ISD school board meeting scheduled for November 18 at 5:30 p.m. She said,
They hold monthly district school board meetings, I just checked the date and it’s on November 18th @ 5:30pm. I’d suggest you show up and speak 🗣️ all your concerns and what’s been occurring! You be the advocate your child needs. Never stop advocating!
Linda Alarcon
Arlene Perez told Trevino to “stand your ground,” while Colleen Woods advised that she file complaints with the Texas Education Agency and the Office of the Attorney General.
Supporter Ally Moreno expressed frustration at how bullying cases are often downplayed. She commented,
“I don’t know why they try to keep hush-hush when it comes to bullying at schools,” “They only care when it’s too late. Glad you’re advocating for your kid! I’d do the same.”
Ally Moreno
Toni Young suggested she take the issue directly to the school board, and Nelda Gonzales praised her persistence: “If we don’t advocate, who will? Good job, mom.”
Janie Vargas Zuniga wrote,
“Usually, people who bully others are unhappy about themselves. Keep advocating. Pray for those girls and the adults because they need it.”
Janie Vargas Zuniga
Nora Maciel encouraged Trevino to request a meeting with the Superintendent of Pasadena ISD to ensure the issue receives proper attention.
Despite the encouraging words, Trevino later commented, “So much for the outpouring support,” hinting that not everyone had stood by her publicly.
