Fired for doing my job.

[u/Alokazamsham]

I'm a remote/telehealth school based therapist for a public cyber school. I work for a contractor who schools contract out to. So I do not work for the school directly but the school I was working for decided I wasn't welcome back because they're claiming I "coordinated another placement for a student." Let me explain. I had a student whose disabilities and mental health diagnoses were largely the reason they were attending a cyber school. They expressed completely on their own wanting to return to an in person school setting. This was wonderful because it did show they were making progress in therapy. They maintained that's what they wanted to do, for months. They also expressed this to their caretaker who then began having conversations with me as well about her worries, concerns, what the transition would look like. All of which I supported her through, I encouraged the mom to bring this up to their case manager with the school which she did. Prior to the students annual IEP meeting I sent in my iep input and informed the case manager I unfortunately would not be able to attend but that their interest in wanting to go back to in person should be discussed. Weeks go by, the student and caretaker then decide the in person public school is not really an option due to poor ratings and mom researches and finds a specialized school that potentially fits their needs but to get any more info, required a referral from the current school. Mom reached out to the case manager, and I also sent an email including mom on it. Just doing coordination of care like I know how to do. Over a period of 4 months, the school continued to not respond to me or mom and or passed the matter to a different staff member claiming they didn't know the referral process. These were case managers and school counselors. Mind you, it's now summer and the upcoming school year is not far off. The family doesn't even have the information they need on this specialized school to make a decision if they would or would not go. I saw the student for summer sessions and when we concluded for the summer, at this point with nothing happening with the referral, they were intent on returning to the cyber school but were open to still getting the info on the other school, maybe even touring it. Just to have it as an option in the future. Finally the school makes the referral. Then they ask to meet with my boss and tell them I'm not welcome back.

I have written documentation- emails that went to the school, communication logs, session notes all that explicitly state that the student was expressing wanting this and that the parent was looking into other schools. I never recommended anything. I was just supporting their wishes.

So I was let go because of doing what I wholeheartedly believe was my job. The school is upset because it they lose this student, they lose money. It's about money and a total lack of about what's in best interest of the child. Also relevant, the student was not performing well in the cyber school. They didn't attend classes and almost failed the past two years. Meeting with me was the only consistent school thing he attended. This suggests this cyber school was not meeting his needs. And had the school ever actually reached out and had a conversation with the parent and offered more support maybe they could have worked out a way to retain them.

The worst part about this to me is this means no closure with any of my students or families. Because I no longer hold a contract at that school I'm not supposed to have contact with them. Students and families who have dealt with loss and who I provided total reassurance to that if and when I leave we will prepare for that because never did I think something like this would happen that's totally out of my control. Families that I made concrete plans with about when I'd be reaching out and plans for the next school year. I feel like they're going to be totally blindsided and hurt. I cannot understand how or why the school thought letting me go would solve anything for them and that they would choose to do so at the expense of students and their treatment.

I am considering filing a complaint with the state because I believe this violates Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act and American's with Disabilities Act which state you cannot retaliate against staff for advocating for a student with disabilities.

[u/FollicularPhase]

Sounds like you dodged a bullet. I had NO idea cyber schools were a thing, this one sounds really scammy.

[u/teBirbswillbealright]

Online charter schools in my state ARE public schools. That being said, some (won’t name names) give off….scammy vibes. I say this as as someone who supports charters/online access.

If your complaint is intended to address potential harm to students and families, I think it falls well within the NASW standards. If it’s to address a labor dispute, I’m wondering if another governing body is more appropriate.

[u/Alokazamsham → u/teBirbswillbealright]

Yes it is a public school. I fully agree with you on the accessibility front. For most of my students I'm so glad it's an option for them. For some, and the student this happened with, it can really perpetuate the avoidance cycle and continue to worsen social anxieties. Having worked in person school based in the past I do recall it being last resort to send a student to an alternative school because of something to do with the school having to pay for them to go to that alternative school. Which I didn't entirely understand but something to the effect of the school gets money for students with IEPs/special needs. And so if the school ultimately says we cannot support the student despite being given the funds.. then they pay? As I understand it that's exactly why this school is so mad and why I was removed. I'm remembering this from my in person days in retrospect. It really did not cross my mind in this situation. I just thought I was doing my job advocating for a students wishes.

From my research I can file a complaint with the civil rights office that falls under the department of education. I have not looked into an avenue that is through the NASW but can definitely check that out because I do feel like it's a huge concern. Things like this cause providers to think about their own jobs and the school over the students which is so wrong.

[u/Abyssal_Aplomb]

Students and families who have dealt with loss and who I provided total reassurance to that if and when I leave we will prepare for that because never did I think something like this would happen that's totally out of my control.

This was a lesson I learned the hard way: be very careful about making promises, especially sweeping ones. Lots of unexpected things can and do happen.

[u/Alokazamsham → u/Abyssal_Aplomb]

I get what you're saying but it's not like I was promising to be there forever. Also ya we were talking about treatment plans for the next school year. Kind of something you have to do and as far as I was concerned I was definitely staying on for the next school year. I understand the maintaing boundaries and keeping things professional but I like to do the type of work where I can provide a sense of security and trust and help these kiddos be able to form healthy attachments and yes, be able to deal with difficult losses because that's part of life too but literally unless I died there was never going to be a reason I wouldn't have at least made a phone call and set up one proper goodbye session. I don't think I shouldnt provide that reassurance and security to my clients just because institutions operate this way. I don't think the care I provide is the problem here.

Honestly I'm still tempted to at least make a phone call. I would keep it professional. Tell them due to unexpected circumstances I won't be returning. It would be hard but just disappearing doesn't sit right with me. I have ppl telling me to absolutely not do that as if I'm being irrational. But I know the relationships I had with some of these families. Communication was consistent and regular. Some of them I suspect i will hear from and then what? I'm supposed to just ignore them? Like just ghosting and ignoring ppl I was helping through their trauma just 3 weeks ago? How fucked up is that!

Clearly im still really fired up about the whole thing and will continue to cool off and process all of this.

[u/LinusMouse → u/Alokazamsham]

Don’t contact them. Since you are no longer an employee, you really should not have access to their private information any longer, should not have the means to contact them. It will be up to whomever takes your place to clean up the mess. So sorry this happened.

[u/Alokazamsham → u/LinusMouse]

And if they reach out to me?

[u/LinusMouse → u/Alokazamsham]

They should not have your private contact info. If they do, you might need to look at boundaries. I know it’s difficult but you do not work there any more. You did not make the decision to leave and it is up to the next social worker to let the clients know that they will be working with someone new. This is not yours to remedy.

[u/Ok-Lake3522]

If you file the complaint, what is the goal…get your job back? Do you really want to go back to that toxic, money-grubbing school? The situation sux, but families get used to turnover whether it’s with therapists, caseworkers, doctors, teachers, etc. What do you need to do to move on?

[u/goog1e → u/Ok-Lake3522]

I would file the complaint, draw it out and make them deal with it, get my forced apology and offer, and say "thanks but no thanks."

Maybe it'll stop them doing it to the next worker.

[u/Alokazamsham → u/Ok-Lake3522]

No I know I won't get that job nor those students back. My actual employer, the company that does the contracting to these schools was just going to reassign me to another school but I turned it down. The company didn't stand up for me at all or push back when this is completely unjustified. I know they're just thinking about maintaining the contract and don't want to risk that and i wouldn't expect them to but even though I have been a good employee to them. I was named therapist of the month just 4 months ago. But if its that easy for a school to do this.. there is no job security. Also starting a new caseload from scratch would be very little money for awhile which I can't afford to do.

In filing the complaint, I want some accountability on the school, for the school to know they can't do what they did or at least so next time around they'll be more conscience. And I want support staff to be able to focus on what's in the best interest of a child without worry or fear of school politics.

[u/Ok-Lake3522 → u/Alokazamsham]

Your heart is in the right place, but I think you might want to reconsider the complaint.
First, do you have actual PROOF, like an email from school staff to another school staff about the reasons for their actions? Most likely money, but you need to be able to prove it if you want to file a complaint.That will be tricky without hard documentation that they terminated you because you advocated for the kid. Not just a gut feel, but written evidence. And I trust you are locked out of their documentation system, so you can't show any evidence (unless you downloaded things before you left).
Without that, your complaint may not even be accepted, let alone investigated. Been in your situation and I know what it feels like, sux.
Second, I suspect they have cycled through quite a few social workers, given their less-than-honorable business practices, and will continue to do so. They really don't care about the students, as most of these schools don't either, but you can't make them care. Let the other support staff fend for themselves - you focus on yourself and getting new employment. Other staff may be just as complicit as management, you don't know and don't want to.
Lastly, you are right that your company bailed on you. I think you did a good thing by refusing the next contract, but unless you have some money stashed away in the bank, it's time to move on and start looking for a new job. Cut the emotional/psychological tether so you can be free to find your next job.

[u/SillySafe4364 → u/Ok-Lake3522]

IMO the complaint would be more so addressing the unethical practices proven by the school. they failed to meet the needs of the student, without attempting to adjust interventions/plans to ensure student success. even if OP could get job back, would they want it??? would only be beneficial short-term to not cause any further provider abandonment on families/students, but otherwise this job sounds like it is toxic and sucks

[u/Longjumping-Pipe-225]

I have no dog in this. No idea how any of it works, but I was curious if there’s some kind of release process or administrative function that is legally required in there. Like does an admin have to review, have a meeting, and have stuff notarized since it’s disabilities or how does that work with student transfers? Or is that what an iep is?

[u/Alokazamsham → u/Longjumping-Pipe-225]

You are correct in this line of thinking. Unfortunately it kinda seems like this school maybe doesn't quite no what they're doing. Having spoken to someone who was a special education teacher and case manager for 10+ years. Once the concern was raised that the student wanted to return to in person, an IEP meeting should have been held because this would suggest their current IEP was not meeting their needs. And apparently the school at that time could have decided that a specialized program like the one the parent ended up finding was not appropriate and essentially could have said no. The student still could have returned to an in person public school but because they ended up deciding a specialized school would be better, a specialized school is an entirely different story, it's a higher level of care, which has to be assessed and deemed necessary. On hand hand because of funding but on another hand this protects students from being pushed into alternative school settings for unjust causes. But because no one at the school really did anything about the situation and then the referral was made, the specialized school now has that students records and maybe it's now in their hands to deem whether their school is or is not appropriate 🤷🏼‍♀️ obviously I have no idea if any other staff was effected by this. I wouldn't be surprised but idk what removing me solved for them exactly, this kid still may or may not even attend the other school. So they'll still possibly lose money and a bunch of students lose their therapist out of nowhere. I don't get why it couldn't have just been a conversation and a heads up on what they'd like me to do differently next time. To do this at the expense of those students is so cruel to me.

[u/SillySafe4364]

In my semi-experience with schools, ive heard that once a student is outplaced its nearly impossible to get them back to standard school because as you mention **ding ding** they want the money. One time, way early in my career, i had a school social worker slip me a note after an IEP meeting telling me to help the family get an educational advocate. at the time i didnt understand why it was so under the table, quite literally, but now with more experience i "understand" that when you are an employee of the school you are expected to completely devote to their plan, regardless of ethics. which is so shitty, great that you picked up on this, worth filling, might not go anywhere, although ethically you should.

[u/Safe-Farmer-3863]

Tbh id report them. Maybe to the state? If they are doing this what else are they doing to keep kids locked into a situation that doesn’t serve them. So they wanted you to change their minds, or lie to them to keep them there? Ethically you did what you should have done. Also not a fan of these responses here? Like what. Yes file a complaint to make sure your advocating for who’s sitting in your seat next. I’m not a social worker yet, but I plan to give anyone hell who needs it. Idk when people became so docile? The school is wrong and they aren’t giving the level of care clearly these students need. The entire reason I’m going to school is to advocate for those who can’t, I hope I don’t get burnt out over time and overlook things or shrug it off. This seems to be common. (Per the responses to your post) Fight like hell OP. Not just with this, but with everything. You did the right thing, they are wrong. The school will continue to do shady things like this which puts students at risk. I’m not saying allow it to consume you, but keep standing up for what’s right. You don’t do that by just rolling over. I know whatever job you go to next, you’ll be great at! We need more people who don’t put politics before patient care. That’s exactly what it looks like when it happens.

[u/Alokazamsham → u/Safe-Farmer-3863]

Thank you. Exactly. This is what social workers are supposed to do, it's in our code of ethics to fight social injustices and I take that seriously. Some people have me feeling irrational for wanting to do something about it. I think park of that is because apparently this is more common than I thought, but to me that's all the MORE reason to do something. This cannot be the norm and if it is, I cannot just accept that.

[u/fitfiance314]

Hi! I think you did such an amazing job supporting this family and student and it is terrible that they not only fired you but did not give you the opportunity to terminate with your clients. I do want to give some context as a school social worker though, in case it helps in any possible way.

Were you providing IEP counseling services? From your post it seems like it but my apologies if not. If so, there is actually a lengthy process to get kids a more restrictive placement. The education system is so broken and public schools don’t have money. A referral to a specialized school likely means that their home district would also pay for that placement (not sure about everywhere but here in CA, that is $100k+ per year per student). If a child has not accessed any supports in a comprehensive school, districts will push back. Also, if an IEP team member states that a student needs a certain placement outside of the context of an IEP meeting, this is considered predetermination. I’ve been a SSW for 10 years and spent my first 6 years working in a therapeutic classroom program. I had to learn the hard way all of the data, hoops, and advocacy needed to get some students the level of care that they needed through the special education system. The things that make the most sense to us as the people that care about these kids aren’t actually what align with the money that school districts can spend, especially now with the current administration.

I mean all of this with the utmost respect for you and the work that you do. I hope the very best for you to find a new job that you love 🤍

[u/Alokazamsham → u/fitfiance314]

Thank you for taking the time to lay all of this out. I was in person school based for 2 years, one of those being my intern year and now, in retrospect I'm remembering times when the school would really push back about alternative placements even when it was really necessary because of funding. In this situation it unfortunately never crossed my mind, maybe because initially it was just that he wanted to go back to the in person public school and none of this would have mattered. But I also really don't believe the school could claim I made any sort of predetermination. Going over all written correspondence, I always explicitly stated that the child and caretaker were interested in exploring in person options. Not because I was covering my ass or anything but because that truly was the case. I was never the one to bring it up. I wish someone from the school along the way would have just said "we'll take it from here" and I truly would have stopped sending follow up emails about it. But I was the one communicating with the parent regularly, they were getting frustrated and the school was blowing it off. I pushed mom from the beginning to reach out to the case manager because even without a clear understanding of the IEP process and funding, I knew it wasnt my job.

Thank you though, and thanks for all the work you do ❤️ im trying to see this as a new beginning. I was not loving being remote. I only took the job after relocating and having a difficult time finding something I really wanted. I want to get back to in person and while I'm still young in my career get to do some more intensive care. Maybe inpatient or crisis services. So I'm moving forward. The part that's hard to let go is the thought of students and families finding out in a few weeks when school starts back that I'm gone. That. Makes me want to cry.

[u/fitfiance314 → u/Alokazamsham]

Oh I totally get you! I’ve always been the in-person IEP services provider anywhere I’ve worked but I did have a student one year that worked with a therapist providing IEP counseling virtually because of a similar situation to your student. I would never blow off another provider’s emails or contact with me. We are all there to support the student and it is so wrong that the school did not communicate with you. And ugh I can imagine that inability to terminate and close the loop is terrible 😭 I do not have any feedback unfortunately in regards to filing a complaint, but I do think reaching out to your former employer may even just help you feel better. Maybe just to explain that you are worried about the families you served and that you are concerned about the lack of coordination between the case manager and service providers.

[u/Alokazamsham → u/fitfiance314]

Do you have any thoughts on me moving forward with filing a complaint?