Following 16 yrs in the classroom, Tracy Riggs is going for walks absent. Riggs, who has a weak immune process, says the district isn’t accomplishing ample to guard versus the virus.
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Right after 16 yrs in the classroom, Tracy Riggs is going for walks away from her career as a instructor at Cedar Bluff Middle University. She would not want to move on, but said she has to resign for her have security because of to getting a weakened immune procedure as COVID-19 spreads in classrooms.
Riggs blames Knox County university leaders, expressing they failed to do additional to prevent the spread of the virus.
“I do not know what else I’m gonna do with my daily life. And which is what I am fearful about due to the fact I love instructing. But I do not feel I can arrive back to Knox County Schools,” Riggs reported.
The district, which has more than 60,000 college students and 8,000 staff members, has observed a report number of situations that started surging soon right after the get started of the semester. For Riggs, she’s leaving anything she’s poured her lifetime into, anything she enjoys to do.
“I appreciate what I do. I’ve taught visual art. And I can see youngsters gentle up when they come in the space,” she stated.
With Knox County Universities not following many COVID-19 guidelines — these as masking — to prevent bacterial infections in the classroom, she stated the determination boils down to existence or death.
“I shouldn’t have to be frightened to arrive to work. In this day and age… I should not be fearful since no one’s supporting me appropriate now,” Riggs claimed.
Her fears are not only for herself or her fellow educators — but her college students, as properly.
“In no circumstance should it be all right that our youngsters are obtaining unwell. No circumstance should this be okay,” she reported.
She calls the resignation one of the hardest points she’s ever experienced to do, but following an publicity just days in the past in the classroom — the line was drawn.
“He had been analyzed for COVID, the day in advance of arrived to college prior to his results came out. And uncovered out he was beneficial appropriate soon after my course,” she mentioned. “I am resigning mainly because nothing at all is happening to defend men and women like me, students or staff who have an immunocompromised program.”
Now she said she’ll combat for the ones trapped in faculties she stated usually are not safe and sound as new pandemic highs are recorded working day-following-day across East Tennessee.
“We need to have to go back to what we did past yr. It is not sophisticated,” Riggs said.
We achieved out to Knox County Educational institutions for updated numbers on trainer resignations and retirements and have still to hear again.
