On December 19, I started working at Frenchburg, Kentucky Job Corps. The students arrived the week after New Years 2012. The problems began when I told the students that I did not allow music, cursing, racial slurs, or public display of affection in the classroom. The students did not have an instructor for several months before my arrival. The Office Administration classroom was a place to eat, sleep, and cuddle with couples. I had to stop students from other trades from coming in to socialize and use the restroom. Being cursed out and disrespected by students occurred daily. Students uploaded a screensaver on a computer that stated "I hate you, do your
Job". Another derogatory screensaver stated "WTF, you will never find me". I had not, in my eight years in academia, been disrespected to that level. Working at Frenchburg Job Corps was a living hell!
On Friday, April 20, my manager called me to speak with the Center Director (CD). The CD placed me on administration leave with pay for concerns related to the behavior and treatment towards students for three weeks. I called the Forest Service's Employee Relations Representative (ERR), who received a report that I threw a computer against the wall but no evidence was presented. After several several unanswered telephone messages, the ERR told me that a decision about my employment would be based on video footage and statements submitted by students. The ERR admitted that students should not be using videos in the classroom. On Friday, May 11, my manager asked me to visit Frenchburg Job Corps to speak with the CD. The CD presented me with a termination letter. Based on video footage and statements from students, I was terminated as the Office Administration Instructor of Frenchburg Job Corps. I was never asked to share what occurred from my perspective. I was wrongfully terminated from Frenchburg Job Corps.
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