Special Ed in Connecticut has SPECIAL Ethics for EDUCRAT$

I am a special Ed teacher of 7 years now recently forced to leave a teaching position in an urban district. I've been there 3 1/2 years. Before that I taught in the suburbs but wanted to make a difference with disadvantaged children. In the three + years at this school, I have been at the front lines of assisting the administrators and staff with the inclusion model (from previous experience) and have trained teachers and staff techniques from the ABA method to work with the autistic children at this school. I was on the school improvement team and crises intervention team (was a crises worker for 7 years before teaching) and in my heart I know I have made a tremendous difference in the lives of the children and staff that I worked with.

The principal and I did not see eye to eye because he didn't follow spec. ed. ethically and I was told not to modify spec. ed. students reading lessons according to their IEP's. I was asked to alter IEP minutes (pg. 2) paperwork and I refused all these unethical, illegal practices. So I was harassed for the past 2 years, put on 45-day intensive review designed to dispose of me. Mastered all the objectives on that and still placed on another 45 day, just because my administrator in his words "felt like it." He has also shouted at me in the hallway in front of other staff members with degrading comments, constantly in my class observing me, and many times caught by other teachers peeking through my opened door between the hinges and the door to watch me teach, looking for anything to get me on. While on 45 days (which lasted this entire school year, I was blocked from transferring to another school in the district. When the second 45 days ended, he never met with me to tell me of his decision. I was teaching a small reading group and asked by the VP to stop what I was doing and come to her office. When I did, the Human Resource director was there and told me to sign my resign letter. I was scared because she told me if I didn't a letter would go into my file and I would never teach again anywhere. I couldn't find a union rep anywhere, and then I signed because I was so scared. My last day was yesterday at this school. It has truly been a devastating experience. I worked with my teacher's union and they did nothing to protect me. What I need now is to build my confidence back, because I am so well qualified I know I have much to offer another school district.

NAPTA RESPONDED TO HER AND SHE WROTE THE FOLLOWING:

I can't tell you how comforting it was to read your e-mail in response to my story. For so long I felt it was me, how could I change to please these people more, staying to 8:00 p.m. most nights, making glowing lesson plans, etc. It almost felt like being in an abusive relationship where the woman tries to please the controlling husband. Nothing worked. Friday was my last day and I feel very lost right now. I only told a very small part of my story. What was done to me was criminal. I thought about getting a lawyer.

I also called the State Dept. of Education. He seemed interested and told me to send my story to him in writing, then they would have to investigate the school and the administrators. Should I trust this? What do you think?

I have so much of the "truth" to be told. I have always stood up for what's right, my parents instilled that in me. I am a first generation Italian brought up with good values and morals and I am appalled at the way these administrators want us to teach children values and morals through the 7 pillars of "character traits", but they themselves are excused from having to uphold these traits when interacting with staff. How can that be? What example does that portray to the children.....because many children this year and last witnessed this administrator yelling and belittling teachers in the hallways and lunch room. How safe is that for our children? Parents should know about this kind of stuff. Thank you again for caring...I don't feel so alone now. Have a great day!

TEACHER DEBATING WHETHER TO REMAIN IN TEACHING

SHE WAS SMART TO QUESTION THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION SINCE EVERYONE OF THE ABUSED TEACHERS WHO HAVE JOINED NAPTA HAVE FOUND THEM TO BE ACCOMPLICES IN DISPOSING OF ABUSED TEACHERS AND WHATEVER SHE MIGHT HAVE WRITTEN THEM WOULD HAVE BEEN USED AGAINST HER. THESE OFFICIALS FEIGN HELP SO THEY CAN ARM THEMSELVES WITH THE INFORMATION THEY NEED TO PREVAIL OVER QUALITY TEACHERS. IT TRULY IS A TOXIC SYSTEM WITH NO ONE WATCHING THE INNOCENT VICTIMS EXPOSED TO THIS ABUSE. NAPTA

Top

BACKGROUND