Ok friends here is what has been happening to me the past 6 months..... My name is Michelle Cuff. I am a daughter, granddaughter, sister, Godmother, cousin, niece, friend, neighbor, mother, wife and a Teacher. Eight years ago we moved to Sykesville, MD. This is our home. My daughter is a senior at Liberty High School and my son is a senior at the University of Notre Dame. He comes home as often as he can due to the friendships he has formed over the past 8 years living here in Carroll County. We chose to live in Carroll County because we loved the school system and the community. I chose to live and teach in the same community. I started out as a guest teacher at Freedom Elementary, and then I became the permanent guest teacher. I taught first grade part time for a year and then moved to second grade where I have been for the past 6 years. I enjoy living in the same town where I teach because being part of my students’ lives, both inside and outside of school, is very important to me. I like to show my support of their activities outside of school. I enjoy going to my students’ first communions, sporting events, and the like. I have formed many long lasting friendships with parents, families, and fellow colleagues. On February 8th, 2013 all of that was taken away from me when the Human Resource representative asked for my badge and escorted me out of the school, per instructions from the Superintendent of the Carroll County Public School System, relieving me of my duties as a Freedom Elementary second grade teacher. The representative apprised me that my contract was to be terminated or I could resign on my own, also per the Superintendent’s instructions. There was no one present from the Carroll County Education Association, to represent me. I was completely devastated and shocked. My whole life and career had been taken away from me in a matter of 30 minutes. The school year 2012-2013 started out as a difficult one for me. I had missed the first two days of school due to an emergency situation with my parents in NJ. I was grateful for my team members as they helped me through a very difficult time, including the newest member of the team. We formed a friendship over the next few months, teaching Humanities and planning together often. The second grade team was strong, united, and always willing to help each other. I continued to have a difficult year as I was going through a divorce and I was having health issues of my own. I still always gave 110% to my students and team members and school. On January 2, 2013 when we returned from our winter break we had a faculty meeting that morning. My teammates and I sat at a table together as we always did. We began sharing stories of our break with each other. As I was describing a weekend with a friend, I described a neighborhood store in a derogatory manner. I knew as soon as that word came out of my mouth how wrong and offensive it was to my friend and teammate , who is African American. I immediately apologized and expressed my concern over hurting her feelings. As soon as we returned to the classroom, I sent an email with an apology and she sent back a smile face. When I reflect back about the morning, I have no idea what would make such an offensive word slip out. I never before have used that kind of language. I do not feel that way personally, and professionally I volunteered for the role as the Education That Is Multicultural liaison for two years, educating staff on multicultural education for all learners. I will have to live with the fact that I hurt a good friend and teammate’s feelings with my insensitivity. It was a mistake. We had several conversations in the weeks that followed where I continued to apologize and cry and ask for her forgiveness. She wanted a reason as to why I would say that word, and honestly, I didn’t have one. It just slipped out. I was under the impression that she forgave me because we hugged and cried and our planning and school year seemed to get back to normal. Through my private conversations with this teammate I was able to understand how I offended her. I deserved and expected to have some repercussions from my insensitivity. However, I do not think it was fair that I was terminated. I was not asked to tell my side of the story. The usual protocol in this type of situation calls for conflict resolution, of which neither of us were asked to participate. I asked to speak personally to the Superintendent and was refused. Carroll County Education Association was not supportive in helping me. My first concern was for my students. I was very worried about my class. I was not allowed to return to the classroom to make lesson plans for the new teacher or say good bye to my students. They were not permitted to write me letters which might have provided them with some closure. Families who knew me, who knew I would not abandon my students like that, came to the quick conclusion that something was not right when the letter went home stating I resigned. I immediately began receiving emails and texts of support. The children did write me letters and gave them to a parent who passed them along to me. I became a teacher because I care about children. I created a safe learning environment that promotes happiness, security and success. Taking me away only created uncertainty and sadness. Making the decision to terminate me affected so many lives. Not only the students in my class this year, but also the ones who came back to visit me each day from previous years. When I see children and their families around town, it is absolutely heart breaking. They run up and hug me and ask why I left. My life since February 8th has been extremely difficult. My pay and benefits were stopped on February 8th and I was denied unemployment for 15 weeks. I would wake up each morning thinking, what is my purpose in life today? I used to wake up knowing that I had students to teach and they were expecting me to be in school and counting on me to be there. I chose not to accept the settlement agreement offered to me, which was to give up my right to teach in Carroll County. This is where I want to teach. My life is more meaningful because I enjoy being a part of this community. I decided to hire a lawyer to help me to get my life back. I was stripped of my pride and dignity the day I was terminated. I worked very hard to get where I am today. I am a tenured teacher, certified and highly qualified, pre-k through 8th. The hearing took place on April 29th and 30th. It took the hearing examiner a long and grueling 11 weeks to come up with a recommendation. In his opinion, I should not have been terminated for the word I used, and he provided 25 pages of notes to back up his recommendation. I waited another 4 weeks until the Board of Education meeting on August 14th. To my dismay, the board went against the recommendation of the hearing examiner and chose to stand by the superintendent’s decision. It is disheartening that the people who judged me never took the time to meet me or to talk with me about what happened. I made one mistake during my 8 years teaching in Carroll County Public Schools. What about all the good things I did for the community and schools? That was never taken into account. Again, I admit I was wrong, but was termination necessary? After all that has happened I now know how that teacher felt that day. I too am being placed in an unfair situation. Were the proper steps taken? Does the punishment fit the “crime”? I am VERY grateful for the friends, families and colleagues who have showed me kindness, understanding and support through this difficult time.
Posted on: Sun, 25 Aug 2013 23:25:39 +0000