My story begins in a place where I devoted my life to shaping young minds - my classroom. A location that, until recently, stood as a sanctuary of learning, became a crime scene due to an incident outside of my control. My entire identity was stolen from my classroom. On a day I was not feeling well, I made the fatal mistake of leaving my teacher planner behind which housed many important documents.  Like all teacher I juggle personal, class, and adjunct commitments that leave little room for those extra things to get completed, except from the desk where we spend no less than 12-15 hours on most days. 

An off-putting response- symbolic of a larger problem where teachers are victimized by fellow employees. Revictimized for attempts to advocate and find answers.

I am facing financial terrorism, a breech of privacy on an unexplainable level, and constant mental torment. I am searching under every rock for answers and protection. I will be looking over my shoulder for the rest of my life. I am afraid to walk out of my home because the criminal has my home address, full name, social security number, identification number, and birthdate. This is no small matter.  This was a data breech that should not have occurred. An employee terrorizing an employee. There is no solidarity in this. A crime perpetrated upon me unprovoked and unnecessarily. I will not be silent. I will not rest until I am assured that someone has been made to answer for this egregious act.  I am humiliated because I am walking the campus with the invisible perpetrator that lurks,  smiling victoriously, with my identity knowing that there will be no reprocuasions for their act of financial and privacy terrorism.  

The National Center for Education Statistics found in a survey that nearly 10% of public school teachers reported being threatened with injury by a student from their school. The statistics on victimization from fellow employees, however, are harder to find - a testament to the silence surrounding this issue. 

It is time we break the silence. Our teachers deserve a safe and supportive workspace. We must act now to advocate for their wellbeing.

Demand that school leadership take immediate, assertive, and thorough action to address the victimization of teachers in the workplace. Let us support the teachers, the very individuals who build the foundations of education and thereby our future. Please sign this petition today.