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September 17, 2017 Ask a Teacher

My Coming Out As A Conservative Teacher

  • About the Author
  • Latest Posts

About Tracie Happel

Ms. Happel has been teaching for 25 years, specializing in special education/deaf and hard of hearing students and students with specific learning disabilities. She has also worked with regular education students at the elementary level. Ms. Happel worked for three years as a governor-appointed education commissioner, bringing the most pressing and recent research in national education to state stakeholders. When not working hard to inspire and educate her students, or collaborate closely with colleagues, Ms. Happel trains for and races in Ironman triathlons. She has two beautiful children who are beginning their lives as young adults in college, and in mission work. Ms. Happel is available for consultation services and presentations on a variety of educational topics. She can be contacted at traciehappel@gmail.com.
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The phone rang, and on the other end was the principal of the elementary school I had interviewed at just a few days prior. The middle school where I had worked until the end of that school year had to lay me off due to low numbers in my special education specialty area. But, my administrators assured me, there were plenty of other classroom jobs coming open with the upcoming year. They encouraged me to apply and interview, confident I would secure a new teaching position before the summer ended and they were right. The principal was offering me a fourth-grade position in the elementary school where I had done my student teaching almost fifteen years prior. I was thrilled and accepted immediately.

Within a few days, I was building my new classroom, anxiously anticipating my room being filled with cute little nine-year-olds, ready to have some fun in learning. I was also excited to be running a regular education classroom, instead of a special education classroom. There was nothing wrong with special education, mind you, but I was just ready for a professional and personal change.  In my middle school, I was slowly becoming known as a conservative teacher. Being in a highly purple state, and a deep red county and city, conservative teachers were not welcomed. In my new school, I would shut my mouth about my political views and not say anything. Caveat: Unless of course I was asked.

In my new school, I would shut my mouth about my political views and not say anything. Click To Tweet

The first day back with teachers, I walked the halls, greeting my new colleagues. With a highly charged political environment in Wisconsin, Scott Walker who was running for governor and his proposed Budget Deficit bill, “Act 10,” was a major source of discussion. Teachers were convinced Walker would oust experienced teachers and take all their retirement monies. The discussion was so hot and heavy, I decided to call Walker’s campaign office to get the real scoop. Listening to emotional threats, misinformation, misrepresentation, and guesses was just too annoying for me for as a conservative teacher. Besides, if anyone actually did ask me what I thought, I wanted to be able to respond with an educated and informed answer, rather than with my emotions.

When I spoke to a campaign worker, the person wasn’t able to answer my question so I was connected directly to Scott Walker. I asked him my questions directly and got answers that made sense. Of course, I probed and asked further questions, wanting to make sure I understood, as I knew the subject would come up and I would be feeding the wolves. I had to unequivocally know what I was talking about. And I did. I hung up satisfied with my discussion.

As the environment would have it, a few days later, my colleague was asking about retirement. She was wondering how much would be taken and how she would live if she everything she had worked for the last 25 years was gone? I listened, just silently shaking my head. Finally, she asked, “Do you know about this? What have you heard?”

My chance.

My chance to shut my mouth.

My chance to not let my new co-workers know I was a conservative teacher.

My chance to carefully navigate this social conundrum.

So I answered her carefully, “When I talked to Scott Walker the other day, this is what he said.” Their mouths dropped. How did I have the clout to talk to someone running for governor?

“I called his campaign office,” I told them. “He’s running to work for us. He’d better be around to talk to his constituents.”

They were amazed, but they listened. For many days after, a lot of my colleagues asked me to ask Walker this or that. To call his office and ask. Many times, I did. A few times I told them to call up the office themselves. To my knowledge, no one ever took me up on it. I was their connection, I was the one who talked to Scott Walker and their amazement with it likened that I was talking to God, himself.

Keeping my promise, I only spoke when asked. I did not offer my opinion or thoughts unless someone directly asked me. Regardless, my colleagues slowly put two and two together and realized I supported Scott Walker for governor. I supported this heathen who was, according to the left side of politics, preparing to dismantle public education as we knew it, make poor kids poorer, get rid of teachers but not before lowering their pay to an unlivable wage.  Of course, none of that was true, regardless of what the left, media, teacher unions, or bloggers say. But, I was out of the closet. My coworkers figured out I am a conservative teacher. I am on the right. I was a Walker supporter. And that is when my career as a stellar teacher began to spiral out of control. But that’s a story for another time.

My new label was “conservative teacher, therefore not capable of teaching our children or serving our schools.” Life got hard. Not just for me, but for my kids, too. But was I  going to do? Stop doing what I loved because of peer pressure? No. Absolutely not. That would be a terrible message to send to my children, my students, the families I served, and my community. No. Our world needs more people who think, and don’t just go along with mob mentality.

So here I am. Out of the closet. It’s not a fun, safe, or successful place to be. But as the quote by Laurel Thatcher Ulrich said, “Well-behaved women seldom make history.”

I hope to never be a well-behaved woman.

Instead as a conservative teacher, I will stand up for what I believe in, especially when it comes to children.

 

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Termastea says

    September 18, 2017 at 7:00 am

    Interesting. As a liberal teacher in a highly and rigidly conservative area I choose to keep my mouth shut. After hearing threats and violent rhetoric daily I am certain even a hint of my godless ways would mean a midyear release of contract and blackballing.

    Reply
    • Jacqueline Coleman says

      July 31, 2019 at 12:29 am

      Would they burn your car, break your windows, or go to the school board to get you fired?? If it's a conservative area - doubtful. If it's progressive, like Portland, 100%. You may however, be hounded with gifts of religious literature and dinner invites. Antifa definitely makes an impact on free speech.

      Reply
  2. Jacqueline Coleman says

    July 31, 2019 at 12:24 am

    Tracie!!! So wonderful to hear your story. I, too, am a conservative teacher working in a ridiculously 'pro'gressive suburb of Portland. Your post gave me strength. I hope all is well for you!!!!! XOXO

    Reply
  3. Sydney says

    March 05, 2020 at 6:00 pm

    I'm going to school to become a teacher and, being a conservative in a nearby city to Portland, I am a bit apprehensive about going into this field. Reading your article not only gives me advice, but also a heads up on what to expect if I'm ever outed. It also tells me I'm not alone. Thank you!

    Reply
  4. Laura Stark says

    July 10, 2020 at 6:36 pm

    I have recently come out as a conservative teacher in the Allentown School District in PA. I represent a rare few. Most of my students are black or brown and I love them as if they were my own. I teach special ed. with a passion. I go above and beyond and students come to me for a lot more than academics. However, I have recently been attacked for having a different political background than my colleagues. I started applying elsewhere, but your story made me realize that staying is important to my students, their families, and to me. Thank you for helping me realize that I am not alone.

    Reply
    • Chandra Tuttle says

      March 10, 2021 at 5:19 pm

      Hi, Im trying to get some assistance with getting teachers to acknowledge how critical it is to choose VIDEO's (which sooooo many teachers are using now to teach their subjects) that are not Propaganda Style of a certain opinion shaping design. My 7th grade daughter's science teacher had her class watch these two video below, discussing Genetic Modification of Food & Body- Transhuman- Super Baby aspects and all, and right up the line to the Principal so far- not a single teacher has addressed the fact that the style of these video's is PROPAGANDA - of a 16 minute video - there are over 20 100% OPINION SHAPING FOR THE SUPPORT OF THE LIFE SAVING/EARTH SAVING GOODNESS OF GENETIC MODIFICATION. How can I speak to these teachers and the administration and help them to see this very real influence this choice of video has on the youth? I'm at a loss that I am getting soooo much resistance.
      https://youtu.be/jAhjPd4uNFY

      https://youtu.be/7TmcXYp8xu4

      Reply
  5. Kay says

    July 25, 2020 at 1:32 am

    Thank you for your story. I, too, am a mostly conservative teacher in a very very leftist area in the Midwest and I keep my mouth shut. Don’t know how much longer I can do it. Your story give me some strength.

    Reply
  6. Lynda Gruen says

    November 29, 2020 at 7:00 pm

    If you are a Conservative teacher, stay away from Loudoun County Public Schools in Virginia. They don't seem to like whites or Conservatives these days. Other nearby districts - or districts in Virginia - may be headed in a similar direction.

    What's been especially problematic from a teacher perspective is that LCPS tried to implement a policy banning free speech by staff members outside of school: https://westnovanews.com/stories/557020024-loudoun-county-public-schools-backing-off-anti-free-speech-policy-after-parent-union-pushback

    Anyway, good luck finding a school district that works for you, wherever that be - or keeping your teaching job if you have one! = )

    Reply
  7. Kimi says

    January 12, 2021 at 3:57 pm

    I would LOVE to have you as my kids teacher!!! The stuff infiltrating the schools is sickening and deeply saddening. It will be a long hard road, but don't lose faith friends♡

    Godspeed.

    Reply
  8. Lanne says

    March 17, 2021 at 7:57 am

    I read this in shame, I have been in hiding all of my 10 years in public education. I work in a large city just outside of Boston and don't think I could survive "coming out". I would need to leave teaching altogether and that terrifies me at this point of my life...so incredibly sad.

    Reply
  9. James Brady says

    August 21, 2022 at 6:20 pm

    Hi Tracie,

    Have you been put in a position where you were able to successfully recuse yourself from teaching a subject or a lesson plan pushed by the school or district which you could not in good conscience teach your students?

    ~James

    Reply

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