Elementary School Teacher Placed on Administrative Leave; Accused of Making An Outlandish Threat

Now Feels Persecuted, Harassed, Abandoned, Unwanted by a District That Needs and Heavily Recruiting Teachers Of His Qualifications

The other day I asked, “How can you persecute a man that is truly wants to be at an inner-city school, nestled in the southeast neighborhoods, that  usually is not the first choice for teachers would choose?” I did put the question out there with intentions of getting my story out of what I have been going through these past few years, trying to be an effective teacher, in these turbulent times in our world. I thought it would be a good hook to begin a  discussion about the events that have occurred and other important issues. I also feel guilty and selfish tooting my own horn, or should say crying out loud in public. But, it didn’t matter, because I did not get any responses except for two loyal friends and one loyal reader of my sporadic writing, (got lots of ideas, but not much in the ganas area of my life, therefore no follow through on those ideas,).

One other thing, before I get started here on the main topic of this blog post, I don’t  know where to start, how to begin, and am unsure of myself as a writer. But I do feel the calling to write, to journal, to speak out, to be heard, and to have a willing audience. So, here I sit, stuck, and looking at a pretty pathetic excuse of a blog. Is it a metaphor of my life as it exists right now, if your home or house is a metaphor of your life, then is website or blog also a reflection of you, so here I sit, in front of my laptop, which has in itself, every kind of bell and whistle to keep me distracted, if I want to be. So that is why, you see the my spaces in the world wide web, unkempt, and unwanted.

So, back to the scheduled program or topic, the ongoing persecution of a teacher, teaching in a very volatile, one of the lowest  performing schools in one of the lowest performing districts  of one of the lowest states. I love being here despite,  a  high suspension rate, high poverty rate, almost all are either English language learners, migrants, children of immigrants, children born in poverty, drugs or gangs. All that comes with those concerns of society, become concerns of their neighborhood schools. I love it so much that in 16 years, I had only one sick day used, other absences include bereavement leave for my parents, her parents, and a brother.  I love working with the families that live in this area, the students overall  are great and deserve a staff that is stable, in a lives, that might be as stable.

I always considered my school as an extension of myself and is my home. I have always done the extras so that our students had activities, like after school sports, field trips, academic competitions, and other many fun stuff a teacher does. In my classroom , after the annual normal shakedown, students that need to be moved, due to personality clashes among the three Important parties if a student is to be successful in school. I understand that I am not going be liked by everybody, and that I might be a little abrasive, or loud, outgoing, or have to high of expectations of my students. I love to cultivate a true community of learners, respecting everybody, saluting their  culture, taste, viewpoints by learning more about each than just a name.

Everything I do, say, or create during the year, goes to supporting my career as a successful, effective, professional, even giving up my family member’s time and energy at times. I have always stayed abreast with trends, news, or new teaching methods, that will help me reach and educate my students. I am always willing to try new things, actually just about anything to  accomplish that important goal I have every year: to educate, mentor, and support my students for the rest of their lives. This I do, to the best of my abilities, nothing I do is done to intentionally hurt a student, or for a child to feel threatened.

I do get serious, real quick,  with a stern face and a loud voice, mannerisms that are times boorish, I know I can scare lots of kids. My intentions, when it comes to discipline, is stop the bad, or unwanted behavior, without wasting to much precious instructional time or to make sure it is not repeated. If I have done something wrong, I should be judged knowing my true motives or intentions were to help my students, and in my heart I did what ever I did with that in mind.

I have been to the principal’s office around thirty times this year, and it is only half gone. Thirty times, I have been accused of various unprofessional behaviors, of which two letters of concern, both filled with various accusations were generated, read to me, and placed in my personal file.  At no time was I believed, when I explained the true facts of some of the most outlandish lies and slanderous accusations I have been charged or accused of. Some of which comes from people who  in passing thought they heard what they heard, without the benefit of knowing the whole picture, only the vignette, they heard. Thirty times, despite coming into the year ready to improve, be more cooperative, more of a team player, more of a grade level  partner with my grade level peers. Thirty times to the principal then without warning, asked not to come in at all. Three weeks of being accused, and no one wants to hear the defense’s side,  or communicate with me regularly, so I know what is currently happening to my case and where I stand. Three weeks later, I am still not working, still not teaching, still  not doing what this country needs me and trained me to do; teach.

In conclusion, I know I am using the word persecution loosely, but the constant harassment from my superiors, has left me very rattled, unconfident, looking over my shoulder at all times, distrusting everybody, reaffirming those I can trust, virtually a bumbling idiot. I feel very unwanted in a situation where everybody is looking for people to be there. People like me in fact, male, a minority, a member of the largest culture group  in the school, bilingual, a U. S. Navy veteran honorably discharged, family man, college grad, all the other credentials,  16 years experienced, and willing to do anything the district wants me to do. So, I ask, why am I being persecuted, when all that is at stake is my unblemished career, and the education of my students?