Vancouver Public Schools reiterated its commitment to student safety after a woman alleged her niece, a transgender teenager, was punched at McLoughlin Middle School by a fellow student because of her gender identity.

According to a Facebook post by the girl’s aunt, Leslie Goodnight, 13-year-old Lindsey Smith has been the victim of ongoing harassment by fellow students throughout the year. On Wednesday, she said a boy punched Lindsey in the face several times after shouting “She is a boy” at her in the hallway. Goodnight also shared a photo showing a bruise forming on Lindsey’s cheek.

The post had been shared more than 7,700 times as of Thursday afternoon.

“She has been harassed relentlessly, almost daily, since the beginning of last school year and nothing is getting better,” Goodnight told The Columbian.

A Vancouver Public Schools spokeswoman, Amanda Richter, said the district is responding with “appropriate disciplinary action” against the aggressor.