Writing for The Rampage isn’t my first rodeo in the world of journalism, so I’d like to take a moment to reflect on why it’s important for me to sharpen my skills as a reporter while I finish my degree, and explain why I plan to cover education as a specialty.

Like politics, the realm of public and private education is very daunting, cut-throat, and complex.

I learned that the hard way as a staff writer for a family-owned weekly newspaper, called The Mariposa Gazette.

At the Gazette, I was assigned to cover sports, the outdoors and education. Part of my job was attending the local sports events, and diving into happenings at Yosemite National Park once or twice a month.

The biggest part of my job was about diving into the school system in Mariposa, California. I quickly tuned into what the Mariposa County Unified School District (MCUSD) was allegedly doing to address dysfunction and bullying as I began reporting.

For an entire year of my life, my “investigative” nose began to hone in on words that were being said during the monthly public school board meetings, and the grandiose gestures that were often being performed and made known to the public.

Everything seemed so wonderful, and I found myself wanting to distinguish between fact and fiction. At the same time, I tried to gain an understanding of what was really happening around this institution designed to educate our youth.

After speaking to a number of people involved within the community, and the MCUSD school system, I wrote a series of articles unpacking what the school district and community groups were supposedly doing.

The term “teacher shortage crisis” and “bus driver shortage” had been tossed around a lot as I was reporting, both nationwide and locally at the time.

But, did MCUSD really want to address this dysfunction?

Does the “district” truly recognize the meat and potatoes of the reported bullying, the teacher shortage, substitute burnout – plus the high turnover rate for both students and staff?

Could tackling these issues actually be accomplished? If so, how?

In 2022, I was being told a “national crisis” was taking place in our public school system, so I decided I needed to know more.

Because of what I was reporting to the public at the Gazette, I decided to resign my position as a staff writer and disconnect myself from the publication entirely. I chose to operate as a freelance investigative reporter.

I switched gears, and looked for entry-level work within MCUSD. I did this with the mindset to learn, understand, uncover truth and to ​​stare at dysfunction dead in the eye.

So, I was employed with MCUSD for 100 days, and boy do those teachers deserve their flowers. They’re lucky if they even get to use the bathroom while they work. As for the students with classes up in the main building of the high school, they unfortunately have to fight over the use of one toilet seat.

It’s interesting how thousands upon thousands of dollars are allegedly being spent on repairing a school district, but the historic high school only had one usable toilet for the students to use in the main building.

My entry-level position alone was a literal nightmare of an experience because the on-boarding process used was pretty much null and void.

It was the most abusive work relationship I have ever been in. I considered seeking therapy once the dust of my departure eventually settled.

The turnover of classified staff in the counseling office alone was worth looking into or how much unemployment the school district has to pay because of the way they cut ties with their employees.

What are the number of labor law violations I wonder? Those questions alone can give you a heads start about where the dysfunction begins to exist.

The youth of our society are deeply affected by this dysfunction, and I have no sympathy for those in charge of any school district, anywhere, and in any shape or form.

It’s an endless game of racquetball or kick the can.

I did what I did because I can see that the dysfunction in the school system has taken root because it’s operating and functioning like a business.

The money flow is wash, rinse and repeat, and I just get this ick vibe every time I think about it. I also don’t believe that perspective is being recognized by the public, or understood, and it isn’t being brought to light at all.

This is very important to me, because statistics by Mental Health America indicates that we’re also going through a mental health crisis all across the United States.

The entire concept behind educating our youth has been declining rapidly since COVID-19. Behavior issues are on the rise and the working conditions within school districts don’t seem to be helping.

I’m in full support of the teachers and classified staff working within any school district getting another hefty pay raise.

They deserve it, and they also deserve real and genuine leadership, accountability and the opportunity to have new staff come in without having to deal with such a vicious and cutthroat on-boarding process.

Going forward, I will continue reporting on what’s happening within local school districts at the ground level, with the experience at MCUSD forever in mind.

It empowered me to seek the truth and hold power accountable more than anything I’ve ever been through.

I also wish every public school district all the best when it comes down to them retaining some actual staff, because students all across the country desperately need it.