Emotional Teacher Stands Up For Herself And Bids Farewell To Students In Powerful Resignation Speech

Nov 01, 2022 by apost team

Teachers serve as an added parent to every child, educating them not just with knowledge but also instilling in them invaluable lessons they will carry for the rest of their lives. That’s why teachers deserve to have an equal amount of respect from school administrators or members of a board of trustees when shaping educational policies for the welfare of children. But it seemed it wasn’t the case for one teacher who stood up to members of the board during a live-streamed meeting where an important issue was tackled.

In February 2020, a teacher at the Indian Woods Middle School in Kansas City named Amanda Coffman delivered a powerful and gut-wrenching message in front of the Shawnee Mission School District following a failed negotiation with the teachers union, imposing a three-year unilateral contract.

According to the Kansas City Star, teachers have been attending school board meetings to share their own experiences managing 150 to 180 students a day. Based on a survey conducted by the National Education Association, massive staff shortages in schools lead to burnout in educators.

Some teachers wanted to have a raise in compensation beyond the 11% increase stated in the contract and to divide into parts the workload of the teachers. But that didn’t happen. So, Coffman knew she had to do what she needed to do: stand up to the school board.

“Several years ago, a good friend decided to leave education, and she said to me, ‘Amanda, teaching is like a bad marriage,'” Coffman began her speech. “‘You never get your needs met, but you stay in it for the kids.’ I didn’t fully understand what she meant until this past month. Just like a bad relationship, our communication has broken down. You aren’t listening,” she said.

While Coffman thought they could settle the issue without any legal intervention. So she knew they had a bigger problem brewing when the board didn’t take the time to sit down with them and sent their lawyers instead.

Coffman also took the opportunity to address her students and impart an important lesson.

“You all know that the most important lesson I want you to take away from your time with me is: just because you can, doesn’t mean you should,” she said.

Toward the end of her speech, Coffman started tearing up as she knew she would no longer get to see her students.

“I don’t know what I’ll be doing when the bell rings at 8:40 tomorrow morning, but I won’t be greeting you in the hallways. Please don’t see my empty doorways as a sign that I’ve abandoned you or that I don’t care. That empty doorway is my sign that you are still my favorite humans and that I will always be your biggest advocate,” she said.  

While Coffman’s message inspired thousands of users on the internet, it didn’t sit well with some users. So, she took to Facebook to address those who came after her.

“Internet fame, which many of you crave, is hollow. One million people *think* that they know exactly one thing about me. And they all have very strong opinions about that one thing! Write your life like you would a good story. Be a round, full character in your own future. I am more than the day I quit. You are more than your favorite video game,” she wrote.

Then again, Coffman had the support of her students."It was kind of like saying goodbye to a family member," Gia Glackin, one of her students, told KSHB in an interview.

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What can you say about the teacher’s emotional speech? Do you think she was right for speaking up for herself? Let us know what you think, and pass this on to anyone who might be interested to read this story!