Fellow Teachers,

If the last school year has taught us anything, it’s that all we really have is each other. To enhance our support of one another as professionals, we need a centralized resource going forward. The TEACHER PROTECTION GROUP was started by teachers, for teachers. Teachers in all 50 states understand the importance of finally banding together. We do not lobby or affiliate with any political party or politician(s). Simply put, we are a supplemental resource that teachers from all walks of life and perspectives can use. Our one goal is to PROTECT & SUPPORT TEACHERS. That is one objective that all educators can agree upon! This organization is a way for everyone to come together and provide strength, support, and protection through our collective wisdom and experiences. We also believe that teachers should be part of their local unions. We will continue to help teachers make sure their unions (if they have one) are properly representing/supporting teachers. 

With the help of teachers from around the country, we have put together a national organization where teachers can:

1. Document bullying, harassment, discrimination, retaliation or other workplace violations on a national scale so teachers in the same districts and schools can connect, cross-reference administrators or district personnel for similar past acts. (Currently this critical information is not available to teachers from their district or unions.)
2. Document and cross-reference COVID-19 violations and other health concerns on a national scale so teachers in the same district or schools can cross-reference violations and individuals involved.
3. Use our network to get support from current teachers, retired teachers, pro-teacher retired administrators and attorneys around the nation. If you have a problem, it is likely many others have faced something similar and have priceless advice to share.
4. Get workshops, support resources and know that you are not alone!

ABOUT THE FOUNDERS OF THE TEACHER PROTECTION GROUP

Chris Bianchi has been an educator for the past 28 years. He has worked with rural, suburban and urban school districts. Chris began his teaching career in the Pittsford Central School District which is ranked in the top 1% of school districts in the United States. During his 8 years working in Pittsford he was a team leader, coach and selected for interview and leadership committees. Chris has also won several teaching awards such as New York State Lottery Teacher of the Week and is a two-time recipient of the Rochester Outstanding Heart Award. In 2003, he became a NCAA head coach at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville where his men’s and women’s soccer teams had unprecedented success breaking 54 university records and gained the first national rankings in a combined 70 years. Chris also was a professor in the School of Education during his time at the university.  After retiring from college teaching and coaching in 2007, Chris started an education company that assists high school students and their parents through the college search and selection process. That same year he was recruited by the lowest ranked school district in New York State (Rochester City School District). He was asked by administration to head up the AVID College Prep program as the Coordinator. Chris supervised teachers and over 100 college tutors during his years in this position. His college prep program was the most successful in the entire district. As a result, the district gave him additional leadership responsibilities. Chris eventually provided AVID professional development workshops for teachers in the Rochester City School District along with training the incoming college prep tutors.  He received only the highest evaluations and observations from his supervisors in Pittsford, UW-Platteville School of Education and the Rochester City School District and had won multiple teaching awards at this point in his career.

After the district dropped the successful AVID program, Chris personally experienced the high level of workplace corruption, bullying, retaliation, harassment and discrimination that takes place in the Rochester City School District (and other districts nationally). In 2011, he encountered an incompetent administrator (Joyce Dunn) that was part of illegally reducing seat time for students in core classes. Chris brought the scheduling error to her attention. When she did nothing he reported it to the district and the entire school schedule was changed. As a result, he was targeted by Dunn and school administration as they unsuccessfully attempted to harass and discipline him for the first time in his distinguished teaching career.  This is when Chris decided to start learning more about teacher’s rights and how to fight back.  For the past decade Chris has stood up to the many unethical actions of administrators and staff in the RCSD and refuses to back down. He even became a union rep in an attempt to further help his colleagues and understand additional avenues to protect teachers.

Because of his knowledge of private legal options, federal laws, state laws and workplace rights, Chris has stopped the district from numerous attempts to retaliate against him. He has their “playbook” and has been ahead of them at every turn. Chris has given hundreds of teachers advice over the past 10 years and wants to unite the collective knowledge of all teachers who have faced workplace issues. He was able to take on the district even with very little union support. What motivates Chris? He knows that for decades teachers have had their careers and/or personal lives ruined through by illegal workplace bullying, retaliation, harassment and discrimination. When asked how he did it he says “I will NEVER allow anyone to try to taint my professional career. My parents were both teachers and were the first ones in my family to attend college. The sacrifices they made along with my grandparents were huge and that allowed me the chance at a career (not a job).  What I discovered was that you can take on these people and institutions if you know your rights and know their moves. You also must realize that you are not alone.  I will always fight for myself and others if asked. Teachers are intentionally isolated and we must all band together to share critical information that can truly lead to change. This is why the Teacher Protection Group is a game changer. We must and will take back our profession and stand up for each other.” Chris is cancer survivor of 27 years.

A former colleague said the following about Chris - “What the Rochester City School District has learned is that they finally retaliated against the wrong teacher. He exposed the internal corruption and caught administration in lie after lie. Eventually a bully picks on the wrong person on the playground and this is basically what happened in Chris’s situation.  He scares them and now they just leave him alone. What he has done is inspiring. This is someone every teacher should have in their corner!”

Michael Hull is a social studies teacher from San Antonio, Texas and creator of the national educators' group Teachers Against Dying. Michael has supported thousands of teachers during the toughest time educators have faced in over a century. Coming from a dysfunctional and challenging upbringing, Michael understands what it means to face adversity head on.

While he overcame a battle with childhood cancer, he lost his father to that terrible disease. His family was always plagued with poverty and addiction, which prompted him to drop out of high school and leave home. After spending nearly a decade working in low paying jobs and living in poverty, he eventually worked his way up. As an effective restaurant and retail manager, Michael gained audiences with corporate leaders and owners to fight for higher employee wages (with success). He eventually enrolled at San Antonio College knowing that he was capable of academic excellence. He received an Associate Degree in Business Administration and Business Foundations Certificate. He was then accepted to the University of Texas at Austin where he earned a Bachelor's Degree in History and Political Science (all with honors).

Despite his triumphs, Michael faced a major tragedy when his sister suffered a brain injury, rendering her mentally and physically incapacitated. Michael decided to become her caretaker and her legal Guardian. In that capacity, he has fought for proper care in several nursing homes with the help of Human Rights Watch, hitting negligent providers with several complaints, resulting in substantial fines. This is where Michael learned to navigate the mountains of administrative “red tape” and use laws to protect his sister.

Michael ultimately decided that he wanted to use his own life experiences to help disadvantaged kids see the value of education. He became a teacher at a Title One middle school in San Antonio. He taught successfully until the Covid-19 pandemic forced him to choose between life and livelihood. As a cancer survivor, a doctor advised against in-person instruction. But, like so many other teachers with underlying health conditions, his district forced him to return anyway. In protest, Michael resigned and formed the group Teachers Against Dying. Michael is a member of the Texas Educators’ Rank-And-File Safety Committee.  Because of his national reach helping teachers, Michael had a Zoom interview with American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten on March 16th 2021. He asked difficult questions about the protection and rights of teachers. Please click here to see the interview.

In the midst of this unprecedented crisis, Michael Hull met Chris Bianchi. Through their mutual respect, desire to protect fellow teachers, and enthusiasm for advancing the teaching profession, they founded the Teacher Protection Group on Labor Day of 2021.