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After nearly two decades of serving in the Austin Public School district as an educator, mentor, advocate, and community member, I made the incredibly difficult decision last year to leave. I am writing this not with anger, but with deep sadness, a heavy heart, and a sincere hope that my words might be heard and not just read.

When I started nearly two decades ago, I was filled with hope. I believed in the mission of public education, in the transformative power of relationships, and in the promise of a school system that would support both its students and its educators. And for many years, that belief was sustained by my students, my colleagues, and the families I worked with.

But over time, something changed.

The climate in the district had become increasingly demoralizing. Teachers, staff, and students were asked to do more with less—less support, less respect, and less trust. Decisions were often made without the voices of those who are on the front lines: the educators who show up every day, who know their students by name, by need, by story.

There is a growing disconnect between leadership and lived experience, and that gap is costing the district our best people—and ultimately, our children. I didn’t leave because I stopped loving teaching. I left because I could no longer ignore the cumulative weight of being unheard, unsupported, and undervalued.

I left because data became more important than people.

Because compliance was prioritized over creativity.

Because fear started replacing trust in our buildings.

I want to be clear: this is not about one policy, one administrator, or one board decision. It’s about a pattern—a climate—that has grown over time. A climate where open dialogue feels risky, where burnout is normalized, and where doing what’s right for kids often feels like swimming upstream.

And yet, I still believe in what this district could be. I believe in the power of good leadership, the brilliance of our students, and the dedication of my colleagues who continue to give their all, day after day, often without recognition or support. So, I am writing this to offer a plea: listen to your educators. Not just in surveys or committees but truly listen. Trust them. Protect their well-being with the same urgency you protect test scores and performance metrics. Remember that every initiative, every decision, every policy—affects a real person trying to do a good job in a system that makes it harder and harder. I may have left the district, but I will never stop advocating for the kind of schools our students and teachers deserve. Please don’t let more voices like mine walk away unheard.

Thank you.

Tammy Wiste

Adams, MN