When a school shooting happens, the media shows up. When a viral video captures a fight in a classroom, it spreads in seconds. But when a teacher quietly resigns after months of verbal threats? Or when they take unpaid leave for anxiety and PTSD? That story rarely makes it past the staff room. Every day across America, teachers endure stress, aggression, emotional strain, and institutional...
You’ve seen the headlines: “Teacher Injured After Student Attack.” “Educator Resigns After Classroom Incident.” But what you don’t see—what rarely makes the front page—are the invisible wounds teachers carry long after the incident is over. Behind every viral video or short news clip, there are untold stories of anxiety, depression, insomnia, PTSD, and emotional isolation. These wounds don’t show...
When a student lashes out in a classroom, what do we call it? Some say “a tough day.” Others call it “behavioral disruption.” But for many teachers, it’s something else entirely: it’s violence. It’s trauma. It’s assault. These are the stories that don’t make the news. They aren’t dramatic enough for primetime. There are no flashing lights or press conferences. But they are real, and they are...
My name is Ms. Thompson. I teach 10th grade English on the South Side of Chicago. I’ve been a public school educator for 12 years. I’ve taught students who have gone on to Ivy League universities, and students who struggled to make it through each day. I’ve written thousands of lesson plans. I’ve broken up fights. I’ve bought notebooks with my own paycheck. I’ve laughed and cried in this...
