A message from heather
Some of you may be wondering, "Why'd she wait so long?" Some of you may be wondering what my motivation was for coming forward about this issue.
I waited so long because of shame. I waited so long because this was a secret never to be spoken about. It was "our" little secret (our meaning Tina Maddox and me).
And then I had children enter into school. And I thought to myself, "If the principal (or any other teacher/staff member) had a relationship with a student, I'd want to know about it and I would not want them in a position of power over my children.
Tina Maddox abused her power. She did so intentionally. And I was not the only student with whom she abused that power.
If you are reading this and have had an experience similar to mine, please know that it wasn't your fault. Know that it is possible to confront the experience and move past it a stronger and more confident person. And know that people will do something to stop the person from continuing to abuse their power and taking advantage of children/adults.
I waited so long because of shame. I waited so long because this was a secret never to be spoken about. It was "our" little secret (our meaning Tina Maddox and me).
And then I had children enter into school. And I thought to myself, "If the principal (or any other teacher/staff member) had a relationship with a student, I'd want to know about it and I would not want them in a position of power over my children.
Tina Maddox abused her power. She did so intentionally. And I was not the only student with whom she abused that power.
If you are reading this and have had an experience similar to mine, please know that it wasn't your fault. Know that it is possible to confront the experience and move past it a stronger and more confident person. And know that people will do something to stop the person from continuing to abuse their power and taking advantage of children/adults.
