I was assaulted at my job and ready to resign. But because of the UFT’s support, I’m ready to reenter the classroom this September.
I’ve been a teacher for 14 years, and in my recent role as a peer collaborative teacher, I supported and coached my fellow teachers in a Brooklyn middle school. I’ve always been able to develop a rapport and a great friendship and respect with students.
On Dec. 19, 2017, I was in a classroom modeling a math lesson for a new teacher when a student got very rude and nasty. I can’t even repeat the things he said to me. I asked him to leave the classroom, but he refused. School safety officers came to the classroom and also couldn’t get him out of class. That’s when he assaulted me. He struck me in the left side of my face with a garbage can.
The trauma of the entire thing was awful. I was ready to give up my job in education. I was out on medical leave, and at my first appointment with the DOE’s medical bureau, I said, “Tell me what I need to do to resign.” The DOE’s leaves specialist said, “Hold on — did you contact the UFT?”
That’s when I met the UFT’s special representative for medical leaves, and he was my true champion. He took the time to work with me step by step about what I was going to do. He made an extra effort to communicate with me. He kept checking up on me to make sure I didn’t resign.
I couldn’t sleep and I had terrible dreams about returning to school. My commute involved a 15-minute walk to my school from the subway, with the student who assaulted me living in close proximity. When my medical leave was up in February, the DOE denied my application for an extension. But my therapist said, “If you go back now, you’re going to be an ineffective teacher because you’re not ready to manage a classroom.”
I hadn’t known there is a place at the UFT where you can go to get help, but I was referred to the Member Assistance Program for support. My UFT representative helped me apply for Line of Duty Injury (LODI) and worked with the DOE and me. I filed for medical arbitration, but then the DOE in consultation with the UFT representative agreed to extend my LODI to June 30 and I was paid from February to June.
The UFT went above and beyond to ensure the situation was resolved in an amicable way. I am hopeful that in September I’ll be able to reenter the classroom at a new school as a loving, kind, confident teacher.
Stephanie Givans-Chambers is a math teacher and a peer collaborative teacher.
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