“Everyone knows what happens when people actually do speak up.” That’s a direct quote from an anonymous letter written by a concerned student member involved in the Island Board of Governing Students. The letter raising serious concerns about leadership and conduct, including a perceived fear of retaliation, as well as reports of bullying behavior and intimidation linked to a member of the Guam Education Board.

It’s an issue that’s been at the center of recent discussions between the Guam Education Board And island leaders: allegations of mistreatment of Guam Department of Education employees by some GEB members. Senator Vince Borja, who chairs the Guam Legislature’s Education Oversight Committee, says there’s widespread fear among employees

“A lot of them are scared to speak — that’s the thing. Most employees are scared to speak to the board," the senator said.

Those concerns recently underscored by an independent audit that placed the board at the center of ethics complaints. Still, lawmakers and employees say these issues are nothing new — and have persisted long before the report’s release. Senator Chris Barnett said, “The board chair seems to think that no board member has ever berated or harassed an employee, and you’ve provided evidence it has happened. More importantly, the chair and I attended GDOE Headquarters, where we heard from multiple employees who said that this is reality.”

Retired GDOE staffer Doris Bukikosa shared, “Chairman Borja, Dr. [Ron] McNinch, you stated openly about not to fear retaliation. I’m sorry, but maybe about 75% of the people right here fear retaliation, and it’s not from our management, it’s not from our principals, it’s from respective board members.”

Now, those allegations appear to be extending beyond employees — and into the student community. A student involved in the island board of governing students speaking out anonymously, citing fear of retaliation.

The student claiming that the same pattern of behavior has reached the student level, pointing to one board member in particular who they say has a history of bullying conduct. In a letter, the student writes, “We have personally experienced being yelled at, spoken down to, and threatened. These interactions are not isolated incidents—they are part of a pattern that creates a hostile and intimidating environment.”

They also note that attempts to meaningfully participate in GEB meetings are often met with intimidation instead of support. Now, they’re calling on both the Legislature and the Guam Education Board to take action — pushing for stronger accountability and safeguards to ensure a safe and respectful environment for students.

This comes as senator borja continues pressing board members to implement immediate changes to address employee concerns, alongside the introduction of legislation that would shift the GEB to a fully appointed body.