We want to keep women and teachers safe.

I was battered by a kid. In my fourth year of teaching, after finally clearing my credential and feeling proud of how far I’d come, I was battered and violently attacked by a student; a known violent offender inside a classroom that was supposed to be a safe space.

That day changed everything. What should have been a space for learning and safety became a place of pain and fear. I was left physically injured, unable to do the things I loved for months. The bruises and trauma kept me from moving, coaching, or even feeling like myself. I was diagnosed with PTSD, amongst other things, and to this day I still struggle with the flashbacks, anxiety, and the constant fear that it could happen again.

I wasn’t just a teacher; I was also a coach, a mentor, and a listening ear for any and everybody. I loved helping my students build confidence, teamwork, and pride. But after the attack, I couldn’t coach anymore, I couldn’t be in my classroom or even a school site. I couldn’t move the same, I didn’t look the same, and I couldn’t stand for long hours like I used to. Losing that part of my life, that connection to my students and to the energy of coaching, truly broke my heart.

I hope this never happens to anyone let alone another teacher. Violence against us is more common than you’d think but it’s not talked about. In all, truly I wish I could go back and miss work that one day,

But in the middle of that pain, I realized something: What happened to me cannot keep happening to others.

That’s why I created The EmpowerED Project: Shield Her — a movement to protect, heal, and empower women and teachers. Our mission is simple but critical:

We want to keep women and teachers safe.

This project will sponsor 40 women and educators to attend certified self-defense classes (about $280 per person) while also building a network of healing and empowerment for teachers, coaches, and staff. Funds will also go toward mental wellness resources, positive reminders, and outreach on school sites to help uplift educators who have experienced trauma, burnout, or violence at work.

I want to use my story to remind others that they’re not alone, and that healing, safety, and empowerment are possible.

I’m still recovering both mentally and physically months later, and there are days I struggle physically and emotionally. I have a new purpose now, to help others find the strength I had to rebuild, and to make sure no one else feels unprotected or forgotten.

Together, we can protect those who protect others. Together, we can Shield Her.

This is for every teacher, coach, and woman who’s been hurt, silenced, or scared in the classroom and beyond and is still showing up. For every colleague who keeps going, and for every survivor who deserves to feel safe again.