Tiffani Eaton, the Detroit Pershing High teacher who used a broom to try and break up a fight in class between two students on April 30, says she's too traumatized to return to class, the Detroit Free Press reports.
Her attorney Jim Rasor says that Eaton has filed a workers compensation claim and is seeking compensation from the state's Education Achievement Authority, which oversaw the operation of her school, the Freep reports.
“Mental health care professionals have restricted her from returning to work in that environment because it would exacerbate her acute stress disorder and potential post-traumatic stress disorder,” Rasor said, according to the Freep.
The paper also noted that there seemed to be a discrepancy over whether Eaton was fired and then offered her job back. Eatons says she was fired.
A district spokesman said Wednesday that Eaton was never actually terminated.
“She’s still considered an EAA employee. ... We want her to return to work,” spokesman Mario Morrow said, according to the Freep.
On May 1, the day after the incident, an EAA official sent a letter telling Eaton that the district was recommending her termination to the district’s board, the Freep reported. It also said her actions left “the district no choice but to terminate your employment effective immediately.”
Later, the district said she could return to work, but she didn't.