Karis Anne Ross, 37 -year old teacher at the Milwaukee German Immersion School took her own life after she was bullied by other staff at the school. According to her suicide note, the transgender teacher said she had gone through been bullied by other staff members for 10 years.
Ross committed suicide in November 2010, and she mentioned some names of people that bullied her in her suicide note.
According to her mother, Jill Greinke, she said :
Before her transition she was being bullied. After her transition she was being bullied.
Friends of Anne Ross and family members have blamed the principal for ignoring all complaints, but her mother, Jill Greinke said:
I don't blame MPS for my daughter's death. I believe the sad thing it that important things were missed
Madeline Dietrich, friend of Anne Ross said :
The way it was handled is disappointing.That it seemed to be more covered up than shared.
In order to bring change, Madeline Dietrich had written an open letter to the Milwaukee Public school superintendent where she detailed how she was ignored, even after her death, that the school principal, Dr. Albert J. Brugger was informed but never took any action.
Excerpt from Madeline Dietrich open letter:
Ms. Ross repeatedly informed the building principal, Dr. Albert J. Brugger. It had gone on for years, but in the weeks leading to the moment Ms. Ross chose to end her life, numerous emails were exchanged between Ms. Ross, school officials and the medical community, all pointing to a crisis which went largely ignored by Dr. Brugger, who rather than mediating or intervening in the conflict, chose to play down the situation and avoided any direct involvement with Ms. Ross and her aids. It is clear by the timing of the suicide, which took place the Saturday afternoon before Ms. Ross knew she must again face the hostility of her support staff and the indifference of her principal the following Monday morning. Each aide was named in Ms. Ross’ suicide letter, along with Dr. Brugger, as the primary cause of her grief. Transgender people are too often rejected by friends, employers, landlords, and family, and are forty percent more likely to attempt suicide than the mean population. Ms. Ross was rejected by the very MPS employees whose job it was to assist her in caring for profoundly disabled children.
Adding insult to injury, MPS made no attempt to contact Ms. Ross' family for nearly two weeks. Dr. Brugger sent flowers and a card, but made no official announcement to MGIS faculty and staff, who only learned of the suicide from Ms. Ross’ uncle when he arrived to collect her personal belongings.
Milwaukee Public school said :
Ms. Ross was a longtime member of the Milwaukee German Immersion School staff whose presence is still missed. We were also given copy of the district's anti-bullying policy. It states the action is not tolerated and a violation will be dealt with immediately.