Hi everyone,

I have been teaching for 7 years and at this high school for 5.

My state is very white, and the city I work in is very conservative aside from the fact that it’s a sanctuary city and has a huge somali population. During my five years I have rocked the boat a bit, I run the black student union, and advocate for students who have been voiceless. This past year I won an award through the YWCA for my work with students and social justice.

Yesterday I received an email from HR that I needed to come to a meeting (scary!!)

it turns out that a student who I had trusted was recording private conversations between me and other students during lunch or prep time (specifically non instructional times) and sending them to admin.

the problem with the conversations according to HR was that I was talking with students about other teachers and their behaviors with kids. HR said I should have immediately shut down any conversation about a coworker and that it was unprofessional to be talking with students like they were “equals”.

I was put on a one day suspension, and admin agreed that would be this friday.

this morning I woke up and just couldn’t stop throwing up and panicking about having to go back. I love what I do. and I love the kids I work with.

I don’t know how to move forward at the school without feeling like i’m not wanted there. I only have a month left before summer and I’m considering moving on even though my heart hurts for the kids.

any advice about how to go back after this? thank you for reading.

edited to add: the conversations with the students were about other teachers using the n-word and “slave role play”. I have evidence from google classrooms and all those complaints were escalated to admin by myself and I encourage students to go on their own.