Episode 133 (Part 2): The Fear Teachers Carry — When One Decision Can End a Career

Teachers carry more than lesson plans.

They carry the knowledge that one moment—one decision, one sentence, one misunderstood action—can change everything.

They carry the quiet awareness that the work they love can also make them vulnerable.

In Part 2 of this special two-episode series on the unseen burdens teachers carry, we speak with educator and former principal Toby Price, whose career was abruptly ended after reading a children’s book to students.

No parents complained.
No students were harmed.
But within hours, he was suspended. Days later, he was terminated.

Toby’s story is not just about a book.

It is about fear.

Fear of making a mistake.
Fear of being misunderstood.
Fear that the trust once placed in educators is no longer guaranteed.

As Toby explains, this fear doesn’t just affect one teacher. It shapes the decisions educators make every day—what they say, what they teach, and how willing they are to take the risks necessary to truly reach students.

And yet, even after losing his position, Toby remains clear about one thing:

If given the chance again, he would still choose to do what he believed was right for students.

Because teaching has never been about safety.

It has always been about courage.

This conversation explores the emotional and professional reality of what it means to teach in a time when educators must navigate not only the needs of students—but the fear of consequences beyond their control.

This is Part 2 of a special two-episode release exploring the burdens teachers carry that the world rarely sees.

Listen now:
👉 https://www.schurtzandties.com

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