First, I don't want ANYONE telling me that I couldn't have known at the moment. I know that now. I feel like it's time to tell my story about this and have it be on my terms.

To begin with, let's start our story in August of last year, the start of the new school year. (I'm an Instructional Assistant in middle school Sped) I got paired with a teacher trainee who was... a strange person. But me being me, I approached her with kindness.

As the weeks went on and she basically abused my kindness by not coming in... or coming in sporadically and being mean to me when I made mistakes (some I knew about -- some were straight-up honest mistakes) in front of our students... and then being pissed off when I went to lead the class while she was gone... It put me in people-pleasing mode. (All this happened (silver lining) thankfully while our admin was gone)

But then things got worse... She was sending me threatening emails about how the classes were three weeks behind when I couldn't even access the work they needed to do. I responded respectfully but she didn't hear it, still sending those emails and cc'ing our admin until they came to tell me to ignore her. I'm glad that they told me that.

Then right before winter break the teacher got fired due to job abandonment (with a lot of consequences)

But now that she's officially gone... I realize that this experience has made me a better educator -- and has pushed me to start my bachelor's degree in education at our local four-year university.

Looking back at what happened... I doubt I would have made that decision if she stayed... I'm proud of myself and what I've accomplished.

I hope my story makes sense and I'm not rambling... I just needed to put this out there.

Have a good day everyone. #toxiccoworker #supportiveschooladmins #ThisIsMyStory