They Tried to Silence Me. But I’m Still Standing.

“They Tried to Silence Me. But I’m Still Standing.”

Help a Mother, Educator, and Advocate Rebuild After Retaliation

I never imagined my first year of teaching science would also be my last.

After years of preparation—earning my bachelor’s in microbiology, my master’s in pharmacology, and raising six beautiful children—I finally stepped into the classroom with purpose. I was called to teach. I was called to serve. And I did, with everything I had.

I taught 140 students with love, rigor, and hope. I didn’t just teach science—I taught resilience, curiosity, and truth. But behind the scenes, I was being undermined, isolated, and eventually punished for doing what others were praised for.

I was retaliated against for going live briefly on my YouTube channel to share my gratitude. Meanwhile, other staff posted students—including my own daughter—on their personal social media without consequence. I was pressured to focus only on 25% of my students to boost school metrics. I refused. I wanted all of them to succeed.

I was handed surprise assessments I’d never seen, locked out of my email, and removed from a teaching residency I had earned—without explanation. My daughter was targeted, mocked, and disciplined unfairly. I was labeled “unbecoming” for protecting students and speaking truth.

Now, I’m fighting to rebuild. To protect my children. To continue advocating for justice, transparency, and systemic change. But I need help.

This GoFundMe will support:

- Legal and advocacy efforts to expose retaliation and protect other educators

- Basic needs for my family as we recover from lost income and emotional trauma

- Continued documentation and storytelling to ensure this truth is never buried

If you believe in mothers who fight for their children…

If you believe in teachers who refuse to be silenced…

If you believe in truth, even when it’s inconvenient…

Please share. Please support. Please stand with me.

They tried to erase me. But I’m still here. And I’m not done.

With love,

Shauntaye Mayo

Mother. Educator. Advocate. Truth-teller.