As I have recently found this site and read through your posts, my
feelings became churned.
I felt for each of you wrongly accused and I was also reminded of my
own experience. I was accused about 5 yrs ago of groping a female
student. I was always a teacher who gave high fives, a squeeze on a
shoulder and an occasional hug but only if it was initated by the
student. Nothing was behind closed doors or was in a sexual way.
One day I was checking on a group project and was congratulating the
students on their success, and I squeezed this girls shoulder. I
remember standing there talking to her table of peers (4 or 5 other
students). The squeeze and the congratulatory words were meant to
encourage since this girl was a tad shy and reclusive.
The next day, at the end of the day, i found myself on the other side
of my principals desk as he informed me that i was accused of
fondeling a student. I was dumbfounded. Whe he told me who the
student was, I immediately remembered what had happened and explained
my side of things. Over the next few days, I was interviewed not
only by DFS but also the city police department. I explained my
story and they informed me of the accusations. I was accused of
rubbing the students back and shoulders and then sliding my hand down
into her shirt....all of this in the class, in front of the students!
Well needless to say I was shocked, numb, angry, embarrased, and
saddened. I told only a coupple of my closest collegues. They were
dumbfounded as well.
I remained on the job and the student was removed from my class. The
principal assured me that everything would be fine and we will let it
play out. I immedately contacted my professional teacher
organization for advise. No lawyer was provided at that time but one
was offered if it went to court.
In the next few days, more students were interviewed and it was
determined that I did not grope the student nor did i do ANY of the
things that i was accused of. However the dameage had already been
done.
I another week or so, the teacher contracts were renewed and mine was
not. As I was not tenured, it was decided that I would not be
returning. My contract was not renewed. The principal said that
even though I did not grope the student, I admitted that I did TOUCH
the student. This district could not have teachers touching
students. Thus I was let go. My termination came on a Friday and i
had a choice to make. i could agree to the dismissal and the school
would write good letters of recomendation for me in my persuit of
another teaching job OR i could fight it and they would not have
anything nice to say about me and the fact that I touched a student,
by my own account, would be released to any school district that
inquired about me. I had to let them know by Monday when we returned
from the weekend.
Meanwhile, the students in the school found out that I was fired and
it soon became the town gossip.
Stuck in a position, I agreed to leave, i didn't sign any paperwork
stating that I agreed to their descision and I left at the end of the
year.
I still live in this same town but found a new job just 1/2 hr away.
I remained in that town as I married a wonderful woman from there and
she already had a home and her family was just 5 miles away. We
decided not to move, but to endure. It was the best job move I could
have made. However, I still run into former teachers from the old
district and students. I feel like i have a scarlet letter on my
chest. I have to look straight forward and ignore the whispers and
crap.
There is a light at the end of the tunnel for some. I was lucky in a
way. I found a good job, was ALLOWED to get a new teaching job and
am so happy where I'm at. Others are not as lucky.
What this is worth to any others.... I don't know. This was very
carthadic for me to get off my chest.
Thank you for allowing me to share

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