Royal High cheer program draws heated public comments as students and parents allege mistreatment; coach urges policy review

At a Simi Valley Unified School District board meeting on April 15, a string of Royal High students and parents accused the district's sideline and stunt program of emotional mistreatment, safety lapses and discriminatory practices after the district placed head coach Becky Herrera on paid administrative leave.

Hayden Carapet, a Royal cheer athlete, told trustees she and teammates were pressured at a late-night "trust" circle to share traumatic experiences and that she was publicly humiliated when staff handed her a bright red envelope over a small ASB balance. "I was stared at by many of my teammates and felt truly humiliated," she said. Carapet also described canceled practices, missed coaching and sessions without mats, which she said raised concerns about whether the class would meet PE requirements for graduation.

Emma Minsky, a Royal High senior, said she was singled out and publicly yelled at by a coach and recounted multiple injuries she said were not reported or fully assessed: "I've had two concussions, two sprained ankles, a broken wrist, and a broken thumb," she said. Her mother, April Minsky, said the program scheduled practices on Jewish holidays and described Bible verses being used at practices and games; she urged the board to ensure extracurricular programs respect religious diversity and said her daughter had suffered both physically and emotionally.

Several other students and parents described loss of practice facilities and diminished preparation after the coach's leave. Student Emily Calello said the timing of the leave and loss of a professional practice venue left the stunt team "unprepared against our competitors," and that the team has struggled to maintain the same practice quality inside the high-school gym.

Defending her record, Becky Herrera, who identified herself as a coach in Simi Valley since 1997, said she supported accountability but described the administration's leave letter and immediate removal as vague and damaging. "I was banned from school property, stripped of communication, and erased from [the athletes'] lives without warning," Herrera said. She urged the board to revise the district's paid-administrative-leave policy to include a threshold for imminent risk so that coaches are not automatically suspended mid-season when there is no immediate danger to students.

Sean Herrera, who identified himself as Becky Herrera's husband, called for clarity and said the current practice risks "guilty until proven innocent" consequences for coaches. Other public commenters urged both a careful investigation of complaints and better protections for students who say they were harmed.

District staff confirmed an ongoing investigation and repeatedly framed the situation as requiring due process and student-safety protections; the board did not take a vote related to personnel at the meeting. Trustees and the superintendent offered condolences earlier in the evening on the death of Kathy Hinkle and later praised many district programs and volunteers.

The board did not announce a timeline for any personnel decisions in public session; several commenters asked for clearer communication from the district about the status and scope of the investigation and whether administrative-leave policy changes would be considered.

The contested issues raised at the meeting included allegations of: pressured personal disclosures in team settings; public shaming tied to ASB balances; inadequate reporting or response to injuries; privacy and hotel-room assignments at camps; scheduling that conflicted with religious observance; and the district's use of paid administrative leave pending investigation. The coach and supporters emphasized program-building achievements, while students and parents urged systemic changes and attention to safety and equity.

What happens next: commenters asked the board to publicly clarify whether the coach faces formal misconduct allegations, to consider reinstatement in the absence of imminent danger, and to review administrative-leave procedures. The board did not immediately change policy at the meeting; district staff indicated the matter remains under investigation.