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Special thanks to Amanda Selogie at Inclusive Education Project, Aldair Perez at Storm mma, and Michelle McDuffie at The Johnson Academy for their support.

When Tamme Smith’s son, Thomas, was bullied, excluded, and physically attacked in middle school, she refused to stay silent. Instead, she wrote a bold, emotional letter to the parents of the bullies—and posted it online. That letter went viral.

In this powerful episode of Making Maverick Moves, Tamme shares her family's journey through pain, advocacy, and healing. From a school system that failed her son to the unexpected hero—a boxing coach named Aldair—who helped Thomas regain his confidence, this story will inspire every parent, educator, and student who’s ever felt alone.

Timestamps:

00:00 – The letter that exposed the truth

01:50 – “I couldn’t get him to go to school”

04:36 – Excluded by his own friends

06:55 – School hears the reports—but does nothing

09:01 – Thomas’ neurodiversity: dyslexia and more

11:17 – A boxing coach offers Thomas his power back

17:58 – Beaten in the bathroom: the final straw

21:09 – Testing reveals academic failure

24:47 – Tamme’s viral open letter to the bullies’ parents

29:03 – Her message to parents everywhere

31:21 – Thomas’ bond with his mentor, Aldair