This past week charges against a high school teacher for sexual misconduct were dropped because there was simply no case against him.

That supposed misconduct happened almost five years ago.

It seems the word of a student holding the fate of a man and his family (even a school and in some regards a whole profession) within the palm of her hands for well over four years held more sway than a teacher’s word or those who vouch for him still needs to explored.

Because if that is the case of this innocent man, then no wonder so many people who are teachers in North Carolina mull over leaving the profession and so many great candidates never consider the classroom.

Brian Weavil has not released an official statement regarding the dropped charges.

One accusation and a career destroyed, a reputation tarnished, and a family injured. And it took almost five years to clear this man’s name.

This is what happens when teachers are not given proper due-process in a job where professionals are constantly under a microscope and the first instance of a possible misinterpretation of action automatically puts a teacher’s career in jeopardy. Politicians are running on platforms to demonize public educators, vocal parents are bombarding school boards over gaslit culture wars, and AI seems to be writing many of the papers being turned for assignments.

And in a state that has literally created a shortage of educators for our schools, diverted more money to private vouchers, and ramrodded through a nebulous and erroneously named “Parents’ Bill of Rights,” it still is a wonder that a teacher can be subjected to false accusations but it take so long to clear his name.

In that time, the “story” of the supposed victim has been able to be narrated openly within multiple courts of opinion, but there must now be the time for this man’s side to be told without any fear of redacting or silencing. He has lost enough.

If the accuser knowingly presented a false story, then the law must work for this former teacher. The money he spent just trying to defend himself is just the beginning of the damages that should be paid back to him.

What this instance has proven is that one false accusation is all that it takes to derail an educator’s career and undermine an underfunded and under-supported public institution. North Carolina removed due-process rights for teachers hired after 2014 and remains one of the only states to outlaw collective bargaining for public employees. Add to that the growing disrespect for public educators that the NC General Assembly has fostered and some baseless culture wars and what we get is a situation like this.

This man’s side of the story should be broadcast loudly and the reasons explained why such a journey to clear his name was so arduous. He should receive recompense for damages, lost wages, lost years in retirement funding, and the chance to reenter education if he chooses.

And I will not blame him if he does not choose to go back into schools.

What has happened to him has shown why a lot of people do not go into the classroom in North Carolina now.

Or stay.