Hi,
I really don't even know where to begin, but I was hoping that you could give me some guidance and point me in the right direction. This is a long story, but I will try and shorten it... I am a school teacher currently on extended maternity leave. and I am returning in Feb. Long story short when I left last year they put a first year sub in my classroom. Since she had no prior experience or materials I left everything for her. The Superintendent switched my assignment and placed another teacher my old room. I spoke to my principal in May and informed him that I was returning in Feb. Iin muy district you can only return in Sept. or Feb. and since I was having surgury in Oct - due to pregnancy related complication I was retruning in Feb). I was never told that my assingment was switched. The other teacher proceeded to go through all of my things and selectively kept the things she wanted and got rid of everything else (she gave some away to other teachers and through out everything else). I have emailed and called the Principal repeatedly and it has been a month and he has neglected to respond to me. It seems like all of my teaching supplies for the last 9 years are all gone. I feel completely violated. You can't just throw away someone else’s private property while they are maternity leave without even telling them. I had no idea that they had switched my assignment, if someone would have gave me the courtesy of contacting me, I would have gladly removed my things. I don't even know what to do; this is over nine years worth of materials, worth several thousands of dollars. I worked in Brooklyn for three years and we needed to buy everything, including paper. So over the years I have really accumulated a lot of materials. Can you give me some guidance? I finally called the union president and we went to school today and for the second time me and my 2 year old and 10 month old searched through the school basement to find my missing supplies. Should I report it stolen? It seems like everyone just expects me to except this, but I can't, what am I supposed to teach with? Although I do feel completely violated that my things are gone I think I feel more disrespected by the administration in the fact that they never gave me the courtesy of a response. I feel like I am being pushed out of my job since I had back to back pregnancies ( I was pregnant within a month of returning to work with my first son). I truly believe the behavior towards me is a punishment for that. I have been trying to go through all the right channels but since its been over 2 months and there is still no response should I seek counsel. How so they expect me to return to work with out any supplies or do they not want me back? Before my pregnancies I was well regarded and recognized as a great teacher of students with disabilities but now I don't even receive a returned phone call. Thank you so much for listening and I look forward to hearing from you.




Megan Marlovits

You stated: "Long story short when I left last year they put a first year sub in my classroom. Since she had no prior experience or materials I left everything for her."

You should have taken your things with you...

Did you specifically tell her that those items were to be returned or to notify you if she left? Who else did you tell that these items would be reclaimed?

The other teacher proceeded to go through all of my things and selectively kept the things she wanted and got rid of everything else (she gave some away to other teachers and through out everything else). It seems to me that your issue is with this teacher who took it upon herself to "claim" what she wanted of yours and give/throw away the rest. This might well be something to pursue in small claims court against the teacher who stole and disposed of your stuff.

I spoke directly to the principal and he know I was returning. The sub had no experience or supplies of her own. I work with students with autism and they need specific ABA materials. I let her borrow them. When I left from my 1st childbirth they put a sub in my room until I returned. Since I am the only one ABA certified there wasn't anyone who was eleigible to replace me permantely.
I did take the very valuable things like my portfolio. Although I didn't leave valuable items all togehter it was valuable. How could I have taken all the books, supplies, radio, fridge,etc when I left when I was returning? What would she have used and more importanly what would the children have used? Plus I left unexpectedly on a highrisk pregnancy and 10 years of teaching supplies would be more than just a few boxes. The sub packed up all my things and when school was over I went to the room and packed up more. Then a different teacher was placed in the room went through boxes with my name on it and kept things she like, gave things away and through everything else. When I found out from other teachers that my assignment had changed, I contacted the teacher and asked if she wanted to use my things or if she needed the room I would come get them. She had a few stories from putting them in storage, putting them in the hallway, then finally that she got rid of them. So if she needed the room the custodians could have put them in storage where supplies are kept from one teacher who retired three years ago, and supplies form teachers who are teaching in other schools in the town. I feel completely violated. what gave her the right to open taped up labeled boxes and go through them? And the adminstration knows that other teachers also have some of my supplies. Is there anyone I can turn to for help. Besides having my things stolen from me, how do I return in Feb without on books, workbooks,manipulatives,etc?
Thank you

I think Beth's small claims court idea may be your route since she opened boxes that were labeled as belonging to you.

Again, since this one person decided to take it upon herself to go through and dispose of your things, your issue is with her.

You can file a police report for theft and/or sue her for the return of the items or the value of those that cannot be returned.

I do feel violated from my school since the teacher went through my things, other teachers then went through them as well, the custodians through everthing out ( eventhough they told the principal they would never through books out - it is against school policy) and the administration has not even talk to or reprimanded the other teacher. My question is if I wasn;t on maternity leave would it have been handed differenly. If they teacher went in to the room over a weekend and had gotten rid of everyting, I feel like the administration would have had to tacke measeures against her. Since I am on maternity leave and not there everyday they are trying to ignore it and expect me to forget about it. How can I take her to court and still return in Feb. Won't my job be in jeopardy?

Why would your job be in jeopardy because you sue her for stealing and discarding your belongings? Think about it...wouldn't HER job be in jeopardy? After all, she is a teacher charged with the responsibility of shaping young, impressionable minds. Every teacher I know has a "morality clause" in their contract. I tend to think that theft would fall short of the morals expected to be upheld by a teacher.

We have no way to know what the school would do if this had happened over a weekend. Neither do you. They are not required to tell you what form of discipline they have taken against this teacher, nor do they have to tell you if they have taken any action at all.

At this point, you can either drum up the money to replace your things (because the school is not responsible for your belongings) or you can sue the person that took them.

what gave her the right to open taped up labeled boxes and go through them? Nothing. Your issue is with the teacher who did this. Whether she kept it herself or gave it away, she stole your stuff.

Speaking as a former long-term substitute, I see this slightly differently.

jmmarlo, when I was subbing for someone out on maternity leave, the teacher in whose classroom I was working kept in close touch with me. She knew everything that was going on; what I was doing; what materials I was using. I knew what she wanted me to return and what I was free to discard. We spoke no less often than weekly, and often more frequently than that.

Did you keep in any kind of touch with her? When you left the materials for her to use, did you make it clear that you wanted them returned? Is it possible she didn't realize these had not been handed off to her on a permanent basis but that you were looking for them to be returned to you when you came back to work?

You keep mentioning feeling violated that she would throw out your materials. I sympathize, I truly do. I have taught and work with students in an extracurricular activity and would be very upset if someone tossed all my materials. However, it s not your school district or principal's place to fight this battle for you. If the teacher threw out things that belonged to the district or school, then the principal could address it. As your beef is with this one teacher, it really isn't the principal's place to discipline her for what she did with your personal property, whether you were on leave or not.

It isn't any different than if she dinged your car in the parking lot. It is a civil matter between you and this other person. While you can contact those who may have been given the materials by this one teacher, explain the situation and ask for them back, it is not the principal's place to do this for you.