Recently, our beloved teacher, Steven Pocze, has been seemingly removed or forced to resign from his teaching position at Butler High School. His account appears as deleted his Google classes have been transferred to other teachers, and the staff are searching for a "more permanent substitute" (a.k.a. someone they can pay less). This decision followed an incident in which a student allegedly pulled out a beer in the back of Mr. Pocze's classroom and consumed some of it, filming the event while he was occupied with teaching a lesson on the board. Mr. Pocze was unaware of the student's actions until he was shown the video at a later date.

This situation is deeply troubling for us as students and community members who know Mr. Pocze as a dedicated and passionate teacher. His focus has always been to provide the best education possible, and he should not be unjustly held responsible for the actions of a single student who managed to evade school security measures and carry alcohol into the school.

The administration's decision to penalize Mr. Pocze for a situation that was beyond his control is not only unfair but also sets a concerning precedent. How can we uphold a fair educational environment if teachers live in fear of being reprimanded for the unforeseen actions of students? On top of that, they have certain teachers that have been reported for allegedly being very creepy to some of their female students. Little action has been taken on this, yet within 3 days of Mr Pocze's incident, his Google account has been wiped. This makes many students and parents wonder: What are the administration's priorities at Butler High School, protecting their students or deflecting blame off themselves?

Mr. Pocze has been an integral part of our learning experiences and has continuously supported us, both academically and personally. Removing him from his position does a disservice to the school and its students. It’s critical that we support our teachers who work tirelessly to create a safe and productive learning environment. It is unfair that he should be treated like this likely only due to him being a relatively new teacher at the school.

We urge the administration of Butler High School to reconsider their decision. Investigate the incident thoroughly and recognize that laying unjust blame on a committed educator is not the solution. Instead, focus on improving school security measures to prevent such incidents from occurring in the future.

Let us rally together to support Mr. Pocze and ensure the integrity of our school’s values by reinstating him to his rightful position. Please sign this petition to bring Mr. Pocze back to Butler High School, where he makes a difference in the lives of students every day. Any potential disciplinary actions taken against students exercising their first amendment right to freely speak, petition, and protest, in relation to this petition, will be publicly noted here if pursued.