LBlue

I am an educator. I was working for Fairfax schools. However, I was grossly discriminated against during the open interview sessions that were held in July of 2024. At one point I was told by another principal that I was not getting any “interviews or interest in employment because the prospect teachers are being matched by the demographics of the schools student body.” I spoke with the head placement specialist and as a result he heals at me and humiliated me. He asked me if I even had a high school diploma, before I could get that answered he asked if I had a BA degree and before I could say yes to that he asked if I had ever worked in a public school and if I had a license.  I had worked in private religious schools for three years with one being in Fairfax. I was then told abruptly “ you will be a teacher trainee. I was then placed at a very low performing school that was riddled with all kinds of abuses from physical to verbal and harassment by the staff.  My dismissal letter contain lies. I was not treated the same as other staff and my work was sabotaged. There was a strong focus on me being Catholic or Seventh Day Adventist. At one point I was asked and pleaded with me during planning time to join in with the school wide and team fast. (The first day of my tenure at that school I was told sternly by a last year of working employee “ your certified teacher new team member wants to and has been praying to work with a believer in Christ.” “ I’m just letting you know!” I am not Seventh Day Adventist so so did not meet this particular employees religious standard). I said no and then next thing I knew I was told that I was a 6 month teacher trainee and it was not decided to keep me. I am now looking for a new teaching position and have graduated with an MA in Curriculum Instruction.  Arlington public schools will not higher me because of a women in the licensing department that told all of the principals not to interview me because I have a BA in Arts which is sped education and human relations. I have over 20 years in the educational field. I was told by another higher up specialist that “ I have too much education and all that I needed was the 4 classes that Arlington county VA provides and the Intro to Soed. I have been grossly discriminated against in the teaching field in the state of VA. I am needed to pay my rent and my other bills while I am seeking other employment. The  VA unemployment Commission has denied me unemployment with a hearing stating that I asked for unemployment when I had a full time job and was in school. Last year in the Summer I asked for unemployment but then was hired by a summer camp company so I stopped perusing unemployment immediately. I had no idea that I needed to call or that there was a process to close out my claim as I did not receive anything. That in itself self is discriminating. If there is anything that you can do to help that would be great.