Teacher raises concerns about safety in the wake of school shooting — ends up getting fined $750

For educators, the safety of their students is paramount, especially amid rising gun violence at educational institutions. Despite being underpaid for the crucial role they play, teachers often put their own well-being at risk in tough times. A former Florida instructor recently claimed she paid the price for voicing these concerns, receiving a hefty fine from the administration. The educator, who goes by @galacticbeez on TikTok and describes herself as "Lil Ham," shared how she was placed on year-long probation through no fault of her own, leaving her disgruntled with the profession.

A widely circulating video showed the woman expressing her disappointment over Florida’s Education Practices Commission (EPC)’s decision to impose a $750 penalty on her. “Hang out with me while I find out what my punishment from the Department of Education is,” the ex-teacher said while unboxing the punishment papers in front of her 15,000 followers on social media. The educator was in disbelief, learning that the quasi-judicial board, made up of teachers and experts, found her guilty of violating the code of ethics. “There are literal educators who have put their hands on students and received the exact same punishments that I’m receiving,” remarked the educator, calling the experience of receiving the manila envelope “crazy.”

The heartbroken teacher added, “I didn’t do that. I would never do that. What I did, your mind will be blown if I choose to share that with you.” She emphasized feeling unfairly targeted by the administration for allegedly revealing confidential details about active shooter protocols on social media. The incident occurred after a March 2023 school shooting, during which the former teacher raised concerns about student safety by posting a video. This did not sit well with the school. The educator went on to explain how the punishment from the EPC became a “traumatizing” experience for her. “It sucked the life out of me. You could pay me a billion dollars, and I would say, ‘No.’ I will not go back to the education system,” she added. In a follow-up video, she shared more details about her punishment, suggesting that her probation was unjustified.

While criticizing the $750 fine, the educator said, “That would be more than half of a paycheck if I were still a teacher.” She revealed that she had done her homework before going public, noting that the safety protocols she mentioned in the original video that had sparked the controversy were already listed on the school district’s website. She later took down the contentious clip. “A few days before I posted the video, the national shooting took place. I was really concerned about the students’ safety. It’s still a huge concern for educators,” the former teacher said, calling for public discussions on the issue. "I think what they’re (the EPC) doing in punishing me is making an example of me because they know that I’m right. They punish me because they either don’t want to hear the concerns I’ve raised, or they don’t want to be challenged over the money it would cost to provide more protection in schools," she explained further.

The ex-teacher was unsure about challenging the Department of Education’s decision due to her financial constraints and inability to hire a lawyer. She also claimed to have reached out to the teachers’ union for help but couldn’t find a solution since she wasn’t a member at the time. “I don’t know if the decision can be appealed, and I don’t necessarily have the money to hire a lawyer to appeal it,” she said, suspecting that the administration was trying to make an example of her case for other professionals. The former teacher was supported by her 5.2 million viewers for speaking out about the issue that affected their lives and the lives of their children. Among them, another ex-educator, @shelbyleu wrote, “I just know that whatever you did is minuscule in comparison to this punishment. I feel the same way as you, they couldn’t pay me to go back to teaching.” “I'm so sorry this happened to you,” @melissalynne842 added. @lizzy_reeder​ shared, "I got written up for not 'pivoting' a lesson when my students were not cooperating with a lesson I got two hours earlier. My principal told me he had 'never been more embarrassed."' @oliviainoxford revealed, "I got written up in my first school for insubordination because I maintained eye contact with the principal."

You can follow “Lil Ham” (@galacticbeez) on TikTok for more educational and lifestyle content.