A first grade teacher in Florida’s Polk County decided she did not want to go to work for an extended period of time. So, she acted as if she had a life threatening disease. This move has backfired and she now faces termination, according to ABC News.
The school board for the Polk County School District told Ashley Barker she is in danger of losing her job. Currently, Barker is serving a suspension with no pay and in the midst of an appeal against the school board’s decision.
According to ABC News, the news outlet were able to get a copy of the Barker termination letter. According to the letter, Principal Julia Allen read about 120 emails Barker sent discussing how both her and her father were facing life threatening medical conditions.
Due to Barker’s “condition”, the letter said Allen gave the teacher “days off and flexibility to leave early.”
Dennis Dunn, the district’s assistant superintendent told Barker:
“It was later discovered that you and your father were not ill and that you had lied in the emails.”
Dunn added, “When (Personnel Investigator Manny) Rodriguez asked you what you did during the time you did not go to work or were allowed to leave work early, you responded that you stayed home.”
The letter ends saying these factors contributed to “just cause” for Barker to lose her job.
Julie Togba, the district’s spokeswoman, did not comment on how Barker’s rouse was discovered. However, she did mention this incident was the first of its kind within the district.
