Tamara Hoover Resigns After Nude Photo Controversy
Category : Women Business, Women Gossip, Women Personality
Updating a previous controversy over Austin High School art teacher Tamara Hoover (pic), an educator’s nude photos on the Internet, she has resigned from her job in a settlement with the Austin Independent School District. The district fired Hoover in June.
Both sides were set to take part in a mediation hearing next week, but agreed to settle. Hoover will receive a nearly $14,850 under an agreement with the school district from AISD. That is equal to four months pay. Hoover had been on paid administrative leave since May 22nd. That’s when the photos came to light as a result of a feud with another art teacher. Students who had seen the pictures showed the other teacher, who then notified school officials.
Hoover said she was saddened by the outcome but will focus on moving forward. “I wasn’t prepared to stop teaching,” she said. “I never wanted to resign from teaching. I don’t think this is the most ideal outcome.”
Hoover said the school district focused on eight pictures out of hundreds that were posted on a Web site belonging to her girlfriend, photographer Celesta Danger, depict Hoover in the shower, lifting weights, getting dressed, in bed and doing other routine activities. The experience, she said, has made her more aware of issues related to freedom of speech and privacy at work.
“I feel privileged to have taught the students and (worked with colleagues) at Austin High,” she said. “It`s an amazing place to work and I feel privileged to have been a part of that.”
She said she is sad, but proud to be a part of a growing revolution. The 29-year-old teacher concludes, ???I have a little something up my sleeve that I will announce in the future.”
For three months Hoover has fueled controversy. An art teacher punished for what she calls artistic photos of herself, some explicit, leaving little to the imagination available for anyone to see on the Internet. Photo’s Austin school district officials say went to far.
It looks like she is bowing out gracefully, having realized that her supporters were likely outnumbered by her detractors and a continuation of the controversy would be messy. It’s probably a good idea to chalk the experience up as a life lesson and move forward.
She said she had wanted to keep teaching but now will pursue a master’s degree and teach at the university level. “I don’t think this is the most ideal outcome,” she said.
In a statement released Thursday, the district said it “believes strongly in an individual’s right of free expression, but as we all know, such rights are not absolute.”
Her attorney, Jay Brim, said, “I think it’s always wise to walk away from a fight before it gets to be the lengthy fight this one was clearly going to be. When the district signaled it was willing to pay her some money to walk away, I told Tamara that was the right thing to do. This was a logical place for her to go on with her life.”
“When the district signaled it was willing to pay her some money to walk away, I told Tamara that was the right thing to do,” he said. “This was a logical place for her to go on with her life.”
Frank Dorval, an Austin High parent and Hoover supporter who spoke before school board members Monday, became emotional when describing to trustees the influence Hoover had on his son. Dorval said Thursday that it saddened him to see Hoover “being persecuted.”
“My son felt safe enough with her to go and talk to her,” Dorval said. “If it had not been for her, I have no idea where my family would be at this point.”
Women find:
Tamara Hoover Resigns After Nude Photo Controversy posted under Women Business, Women Gossip, Women Personality. Follow any responses to this entry when people .You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
