Aftermath

I always said that teaching chose me. I didn't choose it. I had always loved numbers, but I didn't especially want to be an accountant.

My mom, who taught second grade, said, "Mark, you should consider teaching math."

It wasn't an absurd idea. The pay wasn't great, but I'd get decent benefits and summers off. It was worth a try.

After college, I landed in an Arizona town of mediums. Medium size, medium traffic, medium weather. We got a little snow, but it was never too cold, nor too hot (like Phoenix.)

I became Mr. Carranza, or Mr. C. I was to teach math to seventh and eighth graders. That first year was rough, but with the help of my co-workers, I grew to appreciate the profession.

My youth had its advantages and disadvantages. Those early years, I could still relate to students' tastes in music, clothing, and gaming. Students found me likable. That also meant I had to work to become an authority figure. They thought they could get away with minor infractions just because I was friendly.

I took pride in my work. I was shaping young minds to understand something I had always enjoyed, often when they came to me with little understanding or interest in the subject.

My 10th year, I was nominated as Teach of the Year in my district. I was flying high.

The following year, 2018-2019, changed everything. After COVID-19, teaching became more difficult. I had to fight for students' attention. They had lost the desire or even the ability to socialize. They didn't respond to methods that had previously worked, and suddenly, where I had once had a challenging student or two, they all seemed to have lousy attitudes and big egos.

Slowly, things began to improve. Then, last year, let's just say that we had more than our share of button-pushing seventh graders.

The ringleaders were Marcus and his buddy, James. My plan was to charm them to my side, hoping the other students would then fall in line. I started every day with a fist bump and personal greetings. Those two boys ignored me like they were too cool for school. They were fond of back-talking.

On March 16th, the Monday after our spring break, I caught Marcus with his cellphone. I said, "Hand it over, Marcus. You know you're supposed to turn your phone in."

"Hang on. I'm almost done."

He was playing a game in my room. The audacity!

I reached over and grabbed his phone from his hands. A bunch of students made oohing and ahhing sounds, but I was through with the attitude.

Marcus stood up in my face and yelled, "What the hell? I said to give me a minute."

I didn't back down, "And I told YOU that you're supposed to turn in your cellphone."

Marcus grabbed his backpack and started for the door. Before leaving, he turned and said, "Fuck you, Mr. C."

I mumbled, "Too late."

The other students started whispering and carrying on.

"All right," I said, "Back to that worksheet while I call the office."

I reported that Marcus had walked out of my room. They said he had gone to the office. I sighed. At least he hadn't left the building.

Later, after dropping my students off for lunch, one of my fellow teachers told me I was to see Principal Braxton. I always appreciated her no-nonsense approach to leadership, so I wasn't too worried by her stern expression, but what she said floored me. "Mark, I've had a number of allegations against you today. I've called in a sub to take over your classroom this afternoon."

I stood up. "What allegations? I've done nothing wrong."

"If that's the case, you have nothing to fear.

I sighed and sat down. "Was it Marcus? He wouldn't turn in his phone, and he does seem like the type to carry a grudge."

"I'm not at liberty to say anything. Officer Rosario is here to take your statement." She opened the back door of her office, which led to a small conference room.

Officer Rosario smiled faintly as he saw me enter. "Good afternoon, Mark." I nodded. He added, "This conversation will be recorded."

I sat and kept my hands on my lap, trying to look casual.

He began, "I'd first like to hear from you what happened with Marcus before he left."

I was relieved to have a chance to speak. I didn't hold back anything, not even the "Fuck you Mr. C" and my mumbling, "Too late."

Officer Rosario said, "Those last two words are why we're here. James claimed that you instigated a personal, sexual relationship with him after school last week."

I yelled, "What? No, NEVER! I wouldn't..."

"You understand when a student says, 'FU' and you say, 'too late,' how that can be misconstrued?"

"I was implying that his behavior made me feel F'd."

"Two others came forward with allegations as well."

"That's preposterous! I haven't done anything sexual with ANY student EVER."

"When there are multiple claims to the contrary, we have to take them seriously."

"This is a nightmare. Those students have it in for me. I didn't do anything to any of them. They're probably suggesting that I'm gay just because I'm not married."

I was placed on paid leave, pending the investigation. They confiscated my school laptop. I wasn't worried about that, because there was nothing incriminating on it.

I did have a few students speak up on my behalf. They were tired of Marcus and James stirring up problems. By the end of the school year, I was finally cleared of all charges. I did not sign my contract for the following year.

I guess I'll try my hand at accounting.