Yesterday the Oxnard School Board voted unanimously to dismiss teacher Stacie Halas from her job teaching science at Richard B. Haydock Intermediate School.

Last month Halas had been placed on leave after some students found a pornographic film she had apparently starred in several years before and brought it to administrators. It turned out that Ms. Halas had worked in the adult entertainment industry in San Diego as a model and may have starred in more than one pornographic film.

According to the school board Ms. Halas would have been a distraction if she had been allowed to continue teaching at the school, although parents may have had a different view. In early March parents were invited to a school board meeting to give input to the board about Ms. Halas’ future…no parents attended. Following last night’s dismissal vote, Ms. Halas will have thirty days to appeal and will stay on paid leave until her fate is finally decided.

Does she still have a chance to retain her job? Recently another teacher in Florida who appeared in porn was allowed to keep his job. Why is this case different? And, is knowing your teacher worked in the adult industry just too distracting? Is there no way to learn when your teacher did porn?

Guest:

Jeff Chancer, Superintendant, Oxnard School District

Diane Duke, Executive Director of the Free Speech Coalition, the trade association for the adult entertainment industry