Despite multiple serious concerns raised by parents, staff, and community members, the Santee School District has failed to respond to a detailed inquiry submitted by East of 52 regarding the reassignment of Rio Seco junior high teacher Marc Robbins.
In the absence of a response, East of 52 has formally reached out to the San Diego County Office of Education for comment and oversight. The County was provided with a detailed summary of the issues and asked to provide comment, and answer some questions. A follow-up article will be published with their response, or next steps taken.
Several tips and firsthand reports sent to East of 52 allege a troubling series of events surrounding the removal of Mr. Robbins from Rio Seco. According to multiple parents and PTSA members:
Mr. Robbins had voiced repeated concerns about the performance and accountability of another teacher, including complaints about her disengagement with 8th-grade programming, absenteeism, and failure to complete key responsibilities such as the school yearbook.
According to one tip submitted to East of 52, the junior high yearbook had seen little progress throughout the school year, prompting a parent to take initiative and help complete the project. The tipster noted that yearbook class had experienced frequent teacher absences, and that minimal photo content had been uploaded. In the end, the volunteer is said to have spent 60–80 hours compiling the yearbook, even contributing their own images to ensure students received a completed book before the print deadline.
That same teacher is allegedly in a close personal relationship—and reportedly cohabitating—with Rio Seco’s principal, raising concerns about a serious conflict of interest.
After the teacher filed a complaint claiming a “hostile work environment,” Mr. Robbins was reassigned. The teacher remains at Rio Seco.
The teacher in question was previously reassigned to Rio Seco from another school, Pepper Drive Elementary, following the highly publicized “hot mic” incident where derogatory remarks were made about students and caught on an iPad recording.
In a twist that many are calling retaliatory, Mr. Robbins is now being reassigned to Pepper Drive—the same school the other teacher was removed from.
Several families report that after voicing complaints to the school, they were warned their children may not be able to return to Rio Seco next year. Parents describe this as a veiled threat and a form of gatekeeping.
Community Response
One parent wrote to East of 52:
“This is outrageous. Our kids deserve better, and the staff who advocate for them should be protected—not pushed out. The silence from the district is deafening.”
Another parent noted:
“the teacher in question was seen walking campus with the principal during the school day while a sub was in her classroom. If that’s not a conflict, what is? Why is Robbins the one being punished for trying to hold people accountable?”
A public rally is now planned at the next Santee School District board meeting on Tuesday, July 15 at 6:00 PM, at the district office. Organizers are calling on families and teachers—past and present—to speak up and show support for transparency and accountability. Community members are expected to arrive around 5:15–5:30 PM. A Zoom link is also available for those unable to attend in person, which can be found on the Santee School District website, along with the passcode for attendance.
What’s Next
East of 52 has formally requested comment from the San Diego County Office of Education. If no response is received by Friday, July 11 at 5:00 PM, a further inquiry will be sent to the California Department of Education.
We will continue to report on this story and encourage any staff, parents, or students with additional tips or documentation to contact us directly at [email protected].