GARY, Indiana — An Indiana family is upset after their son was given a "Most Annoying" award at school.
Eleven-year-old Akalis Castejon is autistic and non-verbal and works with special education teachers at Bailey Preparatory Academy in Gary, Indiana. Because he is non-verbal, he will often rock back and forth as he struggles to express himself.
At the end-of-the-year lunch, his parents were shocked when a teacher handed the fifth-grader an award trophy labeled "Most Annoying Male." Other awards that were given out at the event had much more positive connotations, such as "Best Student" and "Most Improved."
The boy's father, Rick Castejon, says he's grateful his son did not understand what was going on but wants an apology from the teacher.
"When they called him up, he was just excited to get a gold star because it was shiny," Castejon said.
The Gary Community School Corporation released a statement saying they do not condone this type of behavior and will continue to put the well-being of their students first.
