North Carolina Substitute Teacher Says He Was Sent Home After Reporting Colleague Who Stood Behind Him in Staff Restroom
GREENVILLE, N.C. – A substitute teacher at J.H. Rose High School says he was stunned after administrators sent him home and blamed him for “causing a disruption” when he reported a deeply uncomfortable restroom incident involving a full-time teacher.
The substitute, who had been using the school’s staff restroom, said another teacher — later identified as Mr. Herring — entered the restroom and stood directly behind him while he was actively urinating. According to the substitute, the teacher questioned who he was and why he was using the staff facility, creating what he described as a “humiliating and uncomfortable invasion of privacy.”
The substitute says he immediately reported the incident, expecting support from administration. Instead, he says he was shocked by what happened next.
School Meetings Leave Substitute Feeling Blamed
In a follow-up meeting with the principal, assistant principal, and Mr. Herring, the substitute said staff members defended Herring’s actions, arguing the teacher was following “protocol” to verify the substitute’s identity. They claimed the school had issues with students trying to access staff restrooms and that the substitute was not wearing an ID badge at the time.
The substitute disputed that explanation, saying the situation was inappropriate, intimidating, and had nothing to do with identity verification. He says he expected the administration to take the privacy violation seriously, especially since it occurred while he was using the restroom.
Substitute Told He Was ‘Causing a Disruption’
Instead of investigating his complaint, the substitute said the administration sided with Mr. Herring and sent him home, telling him he was at fault for “causing a disruption.” He was also informed that his assignment at J.H. Rose High School would not continue.
The decision left him feeling punished for reporting behavior that made him feel unsafe and embarrassed.
Ongoing Questions About School Response
The substitute maintains that he did nothing wrong and believes the school mishandled the situation.
He says the original incident felt like a violation of privacy, and the administration’s reaction only reinforced that feeling, raising concerns about how complaints from substitutes — who lack the protection and job security of full-time staff — are handled within the school system.
Parents and other staff members have expressed confusion online, asking why the substitute was disciplined after reporting something that would likely violate workplace norms in almost any professional setting.
The school district has not released a public statement regarding the incident, and it remains unclear whether further action will be taken.
If additional information becomes available, this report will be updated.
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