I was a teacher falsely accused of sexual assault, and while proved innocent my career and life were left in shambles.

511 points•241 comments•submitted by Theartistcu to r/casualiama

I spent my whole life wanting to be only 2 things in life... Superman and later when I realized that I had the wrong hair color An Art Teacher. At the age of 32 I decided to live that dream and took a job as a middle school Art Teacher... and it was the best 4.5 years of my life. Teaching is truly a glorious fulfilling job.

Around a year ago a student made allegations (seemingly out of the blue) against myself and another male teacher in the same building. She initially claimed a relationship of some sort with both teachers, before retracting the statements explaining she was just trying to get attention from a boy she liked. She later again altered the story to just one teacher, which I was the lucky winner of. She then retracted that statement and added to it insisting it was true several times. When all was said and done she and her family picked up and moved halfway across the country, refusing to cooperate with the police or district going forward. I had cooperated to the level my lawyer would allow and having my electronics "dumped and searched" and later returned.

I was forced to resign, even after the Police let the district know that the evidence did not support the statement (it took them 10 months to make that clear). The Super of my district informed me that he intended to take me before a public board to request my dismissal anyway, he also reminded me that all such hearings were a searchable public record. He was very clear my options were the public shame and an end to ANY chance of any future career or a resignation and the slimmest chance of any career future.

sorry if my grammar and spelling are shit.

What can I answer for you?

EDIT: I am going to get some things done tonight and will check in tomorrow and follow up as needed.

Edit 2: Thank you all for the kind words and questions. It was very therapeutic to do this, so thank you for real! I will answer any questions that trickle in going forward until they don't come anymore, but just so often. Much love to everyone.

Edit 3: Thank you to the kind gentleperson who sent me some bucks to buy some cider, I will do so and thank you again. I didn't want to put your name because you may not want to be called out but you know you are the hero you are.