I left that meeting with the certainty that I would not have a job at Hartford Public Schools for the next school year. For context, Hartford Public Schools’ deficit alone amounts to $89 million. Relatedly, Townsel was not responsible for Mayor Arunan Arulampalam’s several-months-long refusal to dedicate any part of Hartford’s sizable $48 million reserve toward local public schools. Against the harmful stereotypes of Hartford, teachers here knew better. I have not received a call from Hartford Public Schools, and I do not expect to receive any.