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Teacher Tericka Dye’s Adult Film Past Continues to Haunt Her Present
How much do you care about the background of your children's teachers?
In an ideal world, I’d like anyone who ever teaches my daughter to have undergone extensive training, counseling, and to have done nothing in their spare time other than volunteer for the blind, poor and terminally ill. I’d like them to live alone with many cats and watch Wheel of Fortune at night before getting into bed alone at 7:30 with a good book and a quilt sewn by their grandmother.
In reality, I’d just like the record of whoever teaches my daughter in the future to be void of any violent crimes and to really love and appreciate that they have the privilege of attempting to turn young minds on to learning each day. No one is perfect, and as long as they have the qualifications, a clean drug test and have never appeared on America’s Most Wanted, I’m good.
Which is why I’m scratching my heard that Tericka Dye, or Tara Myers, will not be in a classroom for the rest of the school year because of activities from 15 years ago.
She recently resigned from Parkway North school in a suburb of St. Louis, Missouri — though she will paid for the remainder of the year — after being placed on an administrative leave “out of respect for her privacy and that of her family” when a student asked about her past, in which roughly 15 years ago she appeared in one or more pornographic movies while she lived in California.
Dye, 38, underwent background and reference checks before she was hired in 2007, although appearing in adult films is not illegal so it didn’t show up anywhere. Administrators say they were not aware of her past film work, in which she appeared under the name Rikki Andersin.
A year before working at Parkway North she was suspended from working at another school with pay and ultimately fired because the superintendent was concerned her presence would be a distraction for the same reason. At that time, Dye said her decision more than a decade prior was the worst choice she’d ever made, according to KVFS.
“I’m a girl from the wrong side of the tracks who’s made a lot of bad decisions in life,” she said in May of 2006. “Anybody who’s been in my classroom could tell you how much I love teaching and how much I love these students, and that should be what matters more than anything in my past.”
At a time when good teachers are hard to come by, it’s hard for me to understand why someone is being penalized for (legal) sins of her youth. While I can see how news of her past could be a distraction, I think there’s a larger lesson, which is basically there’s nothing that can be done that can be undone with hard and good work. Find me someone with no blemish on their record and I’d argue they’re probably lying.
If Dye is really good at what she does in the classroom, I hope she lands at another school soon that is full of people with open minds and a desire to learn.
Would you care if you child’s teacher had a history in pornographic films?
Image: MorgueFile
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25 Comments
goddess commented on Mar 09 11 at 10:27 amExercising free speech on Facebook i a legal activity. But you can still be fired for doing so. I’d be more comfy giving pot-smokers a free pass teaching my kids than former porn actors.
Sarah commented on Mar 09 11 at 10:36 am@Goddess – exercising free speech anywhere can get you fired. You are not protected from consequences under the first amendment – only from government repercussions.
I see no problem with a former porn star teaching kids – it is not her current profession, and it shouldn’t be a distraction because the kids shouldn’t know about it. I think the real question is how did the kids find out? If someone can’t move on from poor choices in their youth we are all in trouble. Her decision was legal, albeit a poor choice on her part. I would question the legality of firing someone over a previous legal profession.
Bunnytwenty commented on Mar 09 11 at 10:42 amYeah, I wonder how the kids found out – because as long as they don’t know, what does it matter? Clearly she’s changed her lifestyle and is a thoroughly appropriate teacher, or she wouldn’t have gotten hired in the first place. But if the kids know about it, it would definitely undermine their respect for their teacher, and make teaching difficult.
I’d say, put her in a classroom with younger kids who neither know nor care about porn, and let the poor woman do her job!
goddess commented on Mar 09 11 at 10:58 amIsn’t pron legally defended as the exercise of free speech? Thus, a firing-offense to many employers. Also, do schools not have morality clauses they may enforce?
Choices are choices.
Kelly commented on Mar 09 11 at 11:03 amOh yes please let someone high on an ILLEGAL substance teach my child!! I mean if the choice is between that and someone who did porn 15 years ago? Really I would much rather them spend 8 hours with some one who’s getting HIGH behind the bleachers than say someone who might jump the janitor on the desk at a moments notice while porn music blars through the PA system…get real!
Triplemom commented on Mar 09 11 at 11:07 amI guess it wouñd depend on the children’s age. I wouldn´t mind if they’re young but once they’re old enough to google their teacher’s name I’m not sure I’d be confortable with it.
Brian commented on Mar 09 11 at 11:21 amAdministrative leave? What a waste to pay her out for the rest of the year when they should have recognized her strengths and reassigned her to Sex Ed. I’m sure she’d be good at teaching the kiddos to be comfortable with their bodies….. on camera…. in a very degrading way. Wait a minute…. not a good idea.
Lisa commented on Mar 09 11 at 12:35 pmWhy would you prefer your child’s teacher to be lonely, without a family and a crazy cat lady?
Quinn commented on Mar 09 11 at 12:36 pmOur only question should be whether or not she is a good teacher *now*. Her legal activities, which took place before her students were born, are irrelevant. All the other reasons I’ve seen teachers lose their jobs, from “former porn actress” to “went to a rave” to “is a practicing pagan,” are distractions from the fact of children getting a good education. It’s about adults’ predujices and prudishness getting in the way of quality education, as so often happens.
yudj commented on Mar 09 11 at 12:39 pmFormer Porn Star Tericka Dye Belongs in the Classroom
science classParents of America, let me let you in on a little secret. Your teenagers have heard of pornography. So can we please leave Ms. Tericka Dye alone in a high school classroom from here on out?
The high school science teacher just lost her second job in a row because parents found out she starred in a few porn flicks back in the mid-’90s under the name Rikki Andersin. more PHOTO : http://goo.gl/N4Dc4
Micahel commented on Mar 09 11 at 12:55 pmPerhaps she should teach sex-ed?
starrsitter commented on Mar 09 11 at 1:01 pmWe certainly can’t have children get the idea that adults have any kind of sexual relations with other consenting adults. Next thing you know those teachers will be drinking alcohol! Think of the children!
Bah! Stupid prudes.
yudj commented on Mar 09 11 at 1:20 pmWATCH FULL LATEST VIDEO AT HERE : http://msalatv.blogspot.com/2011/03/tericka-dye-tera-myers-photos-former.html
goddess commented on Mar 09 11 at 1:22 pmLOL- I favor the total legalization of marijuana. Why would you care if the teacher had a drink or a joint?
goddess commented on Mar 09 11 at 1:25 pm@Kelly- I am as RAEL as it gets. I do not favor intoxication or influence of most mind-altering substances at work- and that includes a LOT of legally prescribed drugs as well. But, as I said, I favor the legalization of marijuana- and even illegal- I do not care- nor think it’s my business- what the teacher ingested on Friday night (any time off).
Different strokes.
Meredith Carroll commented on Mar 09 11 at 2:28 pm@Lisa — It could be a crazy cat man, too. I don’t discriminate against either gender.
Libby commented on Mar 09 11 at 2:45 pmTeachers are people? You must be joking. They’re vapid machines meant to devote every moment to our kids, right? They dont get to have vibrant social lives, checkered pasts, and above all no part of their lives can be sexually positive or confident. No alcohol, no rock music, no sense of humor.
And remember kids, if you want to devote your lives to education, make sure you make *no mistakes* on the way.
/sarcasm
Linda, the original one commented on Mar 09 11 at 3:30 pmI’d be more concerned as to whether or not she was a good teacher now.
Ri-chan commented on Mar 09 11 at 9:30 pmThe people who got her fired are the same type of people who think current porn stars should “change their ways” and go toward an “honest proffesion”. It’s hard to move on from that industry if you can’t get into another because or your previous job.
ankush commented on Mar 09 11 at 10:00 pmTeacher suspend against adult realetion with student Full Photos & Videos At This Link http://bit.ly/hLLqgP
Meredith Carroll commented on Mar 09 11 at 10:59 pm@Linda — I agree. From what I’ve read, there was no issue with her as a teacher, just her past, which is why I think the whole situation is a shame.
Linda, the original one commented on Mar 10 11 at 4:41 pm@Meridith, and aren’t we supposed to be the resident sex-hating prudes? ;)
L.D. Dong commented on Mar 10 11 at 7:33 pmshe always has ‘experience’ for a fall-back career!
Anne Donovan commented on Mar 11 11 at 4:59 pm@KELLY COMMENTED ON MAR 09 11 AT 11:03 AM. You have got to be joking. You would rather someone high on drugs spend 8 hours with your child than this teacher. What planet do you come from? This teacher has hurt no-one. There is very good chance however, that the drug addicted teacher has probably sold/given/acquired drugs to support their drug addiction. 1) its illegal. 2) Most likely children have been introduced to drugs as a result of this persons addiction.
The teacher made a mistake in her young life. The drug addict teacher still is and is probably taking your children along for the ride. Good grief grow up will you.
grace commented on Feb 22 12 at 10:34 amThere are consequences to making bad decisions, even if they are legal ones, and sometimes we just have to live with them.
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