Braun: Heroic N.J. teacher was sacrificed for political cause in hidden video
Published: Sunday, November 14, 2010, 7:30 AM Updated: Sunday, November 14, 2010, 7:35 AM
Alissa Ploshnick, a special education teacher from Passaic, had her conversation about teacher tenure videotaped without her knowledge. It was posted on the internet.Alissa Ploshnick risked her life to save the lives of a dozen Passaic schoolchildren. She threw herself in front of a careening van to protect her students and landed in the hospital with broken ribs, a fractured wrist, a badly bruised pelvis and glass cuts in her eyes. She could have died.
The president of the United States, Bill Clinton then, sent her a letter. It read:
"I recently heard about your act of heroism and wanted to commend you for your selflessness. True heroes are rare in today’s world. And, all too often, those who are really making a difference in our communities go unnoticed and unrewarded. I am delighted to be able to give you the