A Florida middle school teacher allegedly received a lap dance from a student and twerked in front of several others at a school-sponsored soccer team party, the Washington Times reported. Parents are, however, expressing outrage that she has been suspended for only 15 days.
Soccer coach Courtney Spruill, also a physical education and health teacher at Kernan Middle School in the Duval County School District, was accused of drinking alcohol at an end-of-year girls' soccer team party at the home of a team member last year, the Florida Times-Union reported. Following the emergence of a cellphone video, an investigation led the school board to suspend her without pay on July 1st.
Held at the home of a parent, Spruill was allegedly drinking alcohol, twerking on several girls from the soccer team, and teaching them how to "twerk," a sexually provocative way of dancing, as well, according to allegations from a student present at the party. Additionally, a cell phone video purportedly shows Spruill receiving a lap dance from a student.
Action News Jacksonville's video report states that Spruill is also accused of driving a student home after drinking alcohol. However, the mother who hosted the party told investigators that although Spruill brought vodka as a housewarming gift, she only drank soda throughout the evening, adding that she would never allow alcohol around her children.
But the Duval County School Board concluded after an investigation that there was ample evidence to sustain the allegations of "the gross exercise of poor judgment" by Spruill, while chaperoning children at a school party, according to the documents.
Dating back to 2013, Spruill's prior disciplinary records include one verbal and two written reprimands for failing to report to work on time and failing to notify administrators she would be late, according to district records. Spruill could not be reached for comments Monday.
The school board voted unanimously at its July 1 regular meeting, to suspend the middle school teacher, with details of the suspension becoming public on Monday.
