Speak Out!

Public Awareness of Educator Sexual Abuse Must Be a Continuing Priority!

School related sexual exploitation has unique challenges in both its recovery issues and its essential of increased public awareness. The political and societal ploys to hush it up, increasing the riskiness of victim and survivor disclosures, and decreasing the odds of survivors recognition of their exploitation (and therefore of getting much needed treatment) literally screams for a forum such as SESAME. Our members consistently report legal and administrative loophole and restrictions of time and age that are used as excuses for non-action on their cases. Survivors with current and pending cases speak of their outrage and frustration with systems and institutions that are neither compassionate nor accountable.

 It is vital that SESAME's message get out to recent victims and adult survivors who do not recognize that their past sexualized relationship with a school staff employee was exploitative. These folks have not as yet connected difficulties that they may be experiencing in life with fallout from their childhood/teenage manipulation. They flounder untreated and not counted in statistics for needed research.

It is critical that our voices be heard before any laws are drafted, policies implemented, or budgets decided. SESAME folks know how their perpetrator/educator seduced them, know how the schools ignored them, and know how the system continues to dismiss them.

Your Voice Deserves to be Heard!

The more voices we have, the stronger our collective voice will become for justice and protecting today's and tomorrow's schoolchildren.

 If you choose to tell us your story, SESAME would like to know: How were you groomed by your teacher/perpetrator? If you chose to report, how the school responded to your privacy and emotional needs? Did the school report to criminal and state educational authorities? Was the alleged offender suspended? Where is your perpetrator now? In jail? Still teaching? In another state? Does your district have teacher applicant screening including fingerprinting and criminal checks? What are the consequences in your school district for staff who fail to report a colleague? If you reported crimes committed years ago, did the school initiate an all out investigation for other victims, hopefully finding some within a statute of limitations? How do you handle the on-going conflict between your right to protect your own reputation, your job and your family, against your need to speak out for justice?

 Remember, you need not answer all of these specific questions. They are meant to be used as a guideline. If you have never reported your teacher/perp, that is okay. SESAME recognizes the importance of confidentiality for some survivors. If you do not wish to be identified, SESAME will honor your right to remain anonymous.

 You can either send your stories to SESAME via "snail"-mail or via e-mail. Visit our Survivor Stories page and read what others have written.

Contact: SESAME, Inc.

S.E.S.A.M.E.
Terri Miller Board President
PO Box 94601
Las Vegas, Nevada 89193 - 4601
Phone: 702-371-1290
E-mail:

Thank You For Supporting SESAME