Myers Middle School teacher fired after students found nude pictures

Published: Aug. 1, 2014 at 12:53 AM EDT|Updated: Aug. 30, 2014 at 9:03 PM EDT
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SAVANNAH, GA (WTOC) - A teacher from a Savannah-Chatham Public School has been fired after her students found nude pictures of her on her cell phone.

School officials voted Wednesday to terminate LeKeshia Jones' contract. She was a first year teacher at Myers Middle School.

The incident happened during this past school year. School officials said Jones left her phone unattended at her desk.

Some of her students knew the pass code on her phone and they started going through it and found the nude pictures of her.

The students then posted those pictures on the Internet. During a hearing Wednesday, the Savannah Chatham School Board voted to let her go because they said she was irresponsible with her cell phone.

"There are many individuals that are coming in and out of a classroom, so it is just a good standard operating procedure that any individual should always keep their valuable items either under lock and key, on them, or always know where they are. They should never let them out of their sight," Spokesperson for SCCPSS Kurt Hetager said.

There is not a district wide policy about teachers locking up their personal belongings, but each school has their own teacher handbook.

The policy from Myers Middle School reads, "Personal valuables should be secured at all times. Be aware that students are watching where teachers keep their valuables - like their purse money, car keys, etc. Make sure they're kept under lock and key."

As many teachers get ready to go back to school, some said this is an eye opener to make sure they keep all personal belongings put away.

"Everyone is big on technology...there are absolutely great tools for children to learn and to use and it's what the working industry is about. However, you take things for granted and you just don't think, 'oh somebody could do this to me,'" teacher Fannie Sexton said.

The teacher still has her teaching license, so she can still go to other counties to teach. She can also appeal the board's decision by taking it to the State Board of Education.

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