Even Broken Crayons Can Color

There is a huge volume of background information that I will not be able to explain due to the format of this platform about my story. I will provide as much information as possible to help you visualize my story.

My goal is two-fold. I hope that I can give another individual hope and faith that if they are in a situation like mine, they will have the strength to come out the other side of their own story. I am also hoping that I can get legal assistance for my story.

Mental illness issues run in my family. My father was diagnosed with bipolar disorder. My sisters take meds to help them with different diagnoses. I remember at a very early age visiting my father’s cousin in a mental institution. However, mental disorders were never, ever discussed in my family.

My first experience with depression was in college. I was a junior, running cross country and track. It was the beginning of my father unraveling his life. Lots of booze, behavior changes all over the place. To the point, he divorced my mother and had to resign from his job as a math teacher at Casper College. I fell into a major depression and did not go to classes or practice for two weeks. This was in 1983, and it was the first time I heard the word depression.

Fast forward. It is 1987, and I’m starting my teaching career in Las Vegas. I would get married, due to my son being born. I have 5 years of teaching under my belt before my behavior started to spiral out of control. Booze and stress were my best friends.

I began to spend money like I had money to spend. My ex-wife and I placed me in a mental hospital, Monte Vista was the place. I was diagnosed with bipolar disorder, and I self-discharged after five days.

During this time, I was prescribed several different “current and new” meds. My body did not agree with any of them. I finally discovered that lithium carbonate agreed with my system, and I was on my way back to my life.

Now, during all this, my union representatives encouraged me to resign and not quit or get fired. This was during my “manic” phase. No one knew how to deal with someone like me at that time. As much as they were kinda looking out for me, they were looking out for themselves.

The long of the short of this, I resigned. I was laid off from my contract, which was $30,000. Such a bad, horrible decision considering my condition.
Now there are way more things that have taken place from that time until now. So, I am going to give small chunks of my history from 1992-ish until the present.

• I went through the Clark County adult mental health process to get on my meds.
• I got back into teaching.

Private school is not backed by the CCSD. Due to the fact that I met with the CCSD superintendent at that time. I will find her name; however, between her and Mr.Goodwin, I was told by four CCSD lawyers that I should teach in the private sector. Then I could come back in a few years and gain employment with CCSD.
I lay down this groundwork to explain to you what I dealt with back then, some 20 years ago. I went to several different lawyers to see if my situation had been mishandled.
I was told, “You have a mental disorder that can’t be seen or understood by a jury. If you had a physical disability or were dealing with cancer treatments, then we could prove to a jury what you are dealing with.”

• I got a job at The Hebrew Academy in Vegas.
• I got hired at Shilo Christian School as an Athletic Director and teacher.
• Due to Shiloh closing down, I got hired at Faith Lutheran Jr./Sr. High School as a middle school Athlete director and teacher.
• After 5 years at Faith, I stopped taking my meds. An aspect of being bipolar is that one doesn’t think they need their meds.
• I had a horrific next 9 months. I went to two high-profile parents at Faith Lutheran. I coached both of their daughters in basketball. I had “quit” my position at Faith under very tremulous conditions.
• I found myself back in jail after several misdemeanor charges. None with students or parents. Just stupid stuff.
• Upon being released in February of 2007 ( I think ) I was homeless and alone in Vegas.
• Due to the dedication of a great friend from Faith Lutheran, I got employment back into the education system.
• I taught for 9 years at St. Viator School.
• During all this time, I stayed on my meds and took care of myself.
• With a new principal and very scratchy circumstances, my teaching contract was not renewed in 2017.
• I then moved to a charter school for about 2 years.
• During my second year at Coral Academy, I went off my meds again. I was fixated on the non-renewal of my St. Viator contract. I went off my meds again. After telling myself for years I would never place myself in that situation again.
• After several stupid phone calls demanding I speak to the principal of St. Viator, I found myself back in jail again. My whole intention was to get to the bottom of why my contract had not been renewed.
• This attempt to get my questions answered landed me back in jail for 8 months.
• Please note, I was given my meds this time while incarcerated. In my previous times, I wasn’t.
• Fast forward to today. If not for my daughter, I’d be on the streets of Vegas right now. Hopeless.
• I had to wait from 2019 to 2024 to get my records sealed. This was in hopes of going back to teaching. My stability.
• In between, I have landscaped, assembled slot machines, and been a cashier at Funnies, a gas station, assembled slot machines, and cashiered for Travel America in Colorado.
• I was hired at Annenbrooke Charter School in Jefferson County. I’ve had that position
  rescinded. I’ve been hired for subbing at Adams County and Jefferson County. Only to be rescinded.
• These positions were lost mainly to these institutions gaining access to my sealed records and images that are present on the internet. These images are from my past experiences off my meds.
• I have sent correspondents to the news outlets to please remove them. Remove them due to my sealing of my court records.
• I have my Colorado substitute license. I lost three potential positions due to my issues being googled.
• I have left out so much of what I experienced from then to now. I can not quantify for SS disability. I’m too functional. If I don’t work for 6 months, become homeless, I may qualify then.
• I am truly a person who does not fit into any governmental agenda.
• I have survived. Not fulfilled or happy with what I do for a living. And can not afford a civil lawsuit lawyer to fight back.
• There is much more to share.

I appreciate your tolerance with the little I shared. Is there anyone who can help? Help me so I can color again in my chosen profession. I want to share my story to help others.

Thanks for listening.