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Over 40 former Miramonte Elementary School teachers and staff members rallied outside Augusta Hawkins High School yesterday, speaking publicly for the first time since being relocated in February.
The group was moved from Miramonte to Augusta Hawkins following the arrest of two of the school's teachers, Mark Berndt and Martin Springer, each on separate charges of sexual misconduct with students.
At the time of the relocation, some teachers spoke out about it, disagreeing with the way it was being handled. But since, then the group has had little to say.
That ended yesterday. Reading anonymous statements from their peers and co-workers, the teachers talked about what it's been like for them to leave their classrooms with very little information about what will happen to them next.
According to NBC Los Angeles, one such statement read: "I no longer tell people I am a teacher. Until very recently I was proud to be one. I still am sort of in my own quiet way."
The LA Times reports that another had this to say: "I recall feeling shocked and numb. Never did I imagine leaving Miramonte this way. I was expected to pack up ten years in two days."
The teachers, who the Times reports were joined by over 150 parents and students, spoke on behalf of the approximately 120 staff members who were moved out of Miramonte.
