Why Whistle-Blowers Hesitate

<p>As I entered the administration building early on the morning of August 10 1999 the long narrow hallway was empty. I could hear the click of my heels on the red tile floor as I walked along. When I glanced down the hallway I noticed a district security guard walking toward me. There was nothing unusual about the morning as we exchanged greetings.</p><p>I had arrived around seven thirty that morning. As I was unlocking the outer door to my office the security guard approached me and said something. As I recall it was basically "I have a message for you from the superintendent."</p><p>He then asked me to please remove all of my personal items from my office give him my office keys and leave the school district property immediately.</p><p>Later that evening at my home a district security guard hand-delivered a memo to me. It began by stating "Effective immediately you are suspended with pay pending a determination by the Board of Trustees whether or not you should be given notice of termination for cause..."</p><p>I did not need to read any further than the first line of the memo to know that my life was about to change. I cannot say I was surprised but I did not expect the twists and turns of the journey I was about to begin.</p>