Abby Zwerner Followed the Rules. The Rules Failed Her

Send us Fan MailIn this deeply personal and emotionally charged episode, Vanessa Jackson steps away from her usual format to examine the civil trial of Abby Zwerner, the first-grade teacher shot by a six-year-old student. This is not a story about politics—it’s a case study in ignored warnings, failed leadership, testing culture, and the trauma teachers are expected to survive in silence. If you’re an educator, this episode will feel painfully familiar. It’s a mirror held up to a broken system—and a call to stop accepting the unacceptable. 🧭 Timestamps for NavigationUse these timestamps in the episode description or show notes so listeners can jump to the parts that resonate most:0:00 – Introduction & Framing4:07 – The Pattern of Ignored Warnings10:05 – The Defense’s Strategy: Deflect, Distract, and Weaponize17:29 – The Test-Score Obsession22:51 – Authority, Safety, and the Functionally Absurd Gap28:47 – Leadership Accountability35:00 – The Human Cost40:50 – Broader Systemic Implications47:47 – In Closing: What Are We Willing to Accept?Please share this with anyone you feel needs to hear it.  And if you want to talk, - contact me. I’m here. 👋 Connect with Vanessa:📩 Email: [email protected]📞 Voicemail/Text: 512-640-9099🧭 Discovery Call: Book a session🌐 Website: TeachersInTransition.com🔵 Facebook: Follow here📸 Instagram + Threads: @teachers.in.transition🐦 Twitter (X): @EduExitStrategy💬 Bluesky: @beyondteaching.bsky.social The transcript to this podcast is found on the episode’s homepage at BuzzsproutSupport the show