I Could Use Some Kind Words
Back in January a parent of one of my students wrote this to the Deputy Superintendent, Dr. Jennifer Cupid McCoy in a text message. So, this was someone who had her phone number.1
“Hey, I know you’re busy, and I hate to bother you , but … just
got home from work, and we were talking about school. She has a new
class, economics and I have a HUGE problem with her teacher, and I
need you to talk me off a ledge because I’m level 10 mad. This “teacher”
started the class today by offering to use whatever pronouns the students
wanted , and he made point to tell them that he doesn’t care what the
governor says. He also has two bookshelves in his classroom , a green for
District approved books and a red for BANNED books, he told them to
choose from any bookshelf they want. And to top it off, he stressed the
importance of voting because they’re all going to be 18 if not already, so
one can only imagine the political garbage he’s going to be force feeding
them all semester. This is blatant insubordination, and I am beyond livid .”
This text message almost immediately became a formal complaint against me. My principal received the following instructions from the Director of Professional Standards:
You may have noticed that nowhere in these directions did the director suggest that someone should get my side of the story. Indeed, of all the communications in the packet I received from public records2 not a single person from the Superintendent on down to any of my school administrators suggest that someone should talk to me about what happened that day. At least they didn’t put it in writing. If it was suggested, it’s not in the recorded.
Regardless, this text message became, within twenty-four hours, a formal investigation by the District. This investigation was also immediately forwarded to the State DoE. The District investigation ended, near as I can tell, from my resignation. The State Investigation continues.
I have been in contact with my lawyer and I informed him that it is my intention to fight the nature of this investigation to the fullest extent possible. Look, the bottom line is that I’m being investigated for two reasons.
- I am accused of treating my trans and gender nonconforming students with basic human dignity.
- I am accused of letting students have access to books.
That’s it. I’m not being accused of hurting kids. I wasn’t drunk on the job. What I’m being accused of is stuff that under any other regime would not even merit a second look. These things I’m accused of would have been such basic expectations that they wouldn’t have even been worthy of merit. If it can happen to me, it can happen to every teacher in Florida. So, my goal is to fight as much as I can.
Since then I received this letter from the state:
Notice the part where it specifies that I have two weeks to provide evidentiary witnesses or documents. Um…I have yet to be informed as to what I’m being investigated for. I can only infer from the public record. This is a tactic. It is used to intimidate teachers into sending all kinds of evidentiary material to the state that can then be used against us.
I’m not planning on doing that.
However, my lawyer did say that any character witnesses and testimony from my peers and my former students could be valuable in fighting these accusations. I’m sending this post out as a request for any of my former peers, and my former students, who would like to send a letter testifying to my character and/or my professionalism to my lawyer.
My intent is not specifically to get testimony in my defense. From my perspective, I don’t need to defend myself. I do, however, want to fight this trespass against academic freedom and the teaching profession. So, I would like to expand this request to any Florida teacher or student who has been impacted by these bigoted and myopic laws.
You can send “evidentiary witness materials” to my lawyer, Martin Powell at the following email. Type “Andoscia Witness” in the subject box
If you wish to share them with me, you can use the message form on the Ask Mr. Andoscia page. Please type Andoscia Witness in the subject box.
Thank you ahead of time for all of your help!
- Yes, I know who this is. No I will not divulge that information. The daughter is still a student and I continue to feel an ethical obligation to protect her. ↩︎
- The district and the state have never shared any information with me except for letters telling me I’m under investigation. Everything else I have I received through a public records request. ↩︎
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