High school principal resigns amid Facebook mystery

[proud2BlibKansan]

CLAYTON, MO. -- Suzy Harriston wanted to be friends on Facebook.

The profile said she was from Clayton and had more than 300 friends, many of them from Clayton High School.

No one seemed to question who Harriston was. That is, until the night of April 5, when a 2011 grad and former Clayton quarterback posted a public accusation.

“Whoever is friends with Suzy Harriston on Facebook needs to drop them. It is the Clayton Principal,” wrote Chase Haslett.

Read more here: http://www.kansascity.com/2012/05/05/3595050/high-school-principal-resigns.html#storylink=cpy

[obamanut2012]

1. What an odd story

Thanks for posting.

[proud2BlibKansan]

12. She sounds like a fruitloop.

I'm thinking this Facebook fake identity was only one reason she was fired.

[Lars39]

2. "Special closed School Board meeting" might have something to do with the mystery.

Is that legal and how often has that occurred?

[gratuitous]

3. Most public bodies can call "executive" sessions

While public bodies are generally required to hold their meetings publicly, there is usually an exception made for "executive" sessions (or some other nomenclature) in which sensitive matters are discussed. Regular business of the body isn't supposed to be conducted in these sessions (and they're rare for that reason), and they may involve fact-finding sessions like personnel decisions.

[proud2BlibKansan]

5. Yes that's legal.

School boards conduct personnel issues at closed meetings. They always fire people at a closed meeting.

[MadHound]

4. The fact is if you're involved in K-12 education, you shouldn't be involved with Facebook

Your life is already open to extreme scrutiny, no need to compound the problem by participating in social media. This is just the latest in a long line of bad outcomes when educators and Facebook collide.

[proud2BlibKansan]

9. I disagree.

You just need to keep your page private and I wouldn't recommend friending students.

My union has a Facebook page and shares important information on Facebook. The networking and outreach capabilities are tremendous.

I've also connected with LOTS of educators on Facebook. The Save Our Schools pages are wonderful. Nearly every state has one. And there's an NEA page, an AFT page and Ed Week has a page as well.

[ScreamingMeemie]

14. If you're involved in K-12 education you shouldn't be involved with your students on Facebook.

Many of my friends who are teachers manage to have facebook accounts. None of them friend their students and none of them masquerade under an assumed name in order to spy on students. This looks like it stretches back to the coach being fired and a nosey principal wanting to see what was being said about her.

[RandySF]

15. Why?

As far as I'm concerned, my teacher's life is her business so long as it does not somehow put my son at risk.

[MadHound]

16. You are a sane, intelligent parent

That's more rare than you think. Far too many teachers have gotten fired because of totally innocent pictures they've put up on Facebook, pics of them holding a beer or other such beverage.

[Baitball Blogger]

6. Major freaky.

He was probably just trying to keep an eye on his students. When my daughter went to high school, there was a mom who took over her daughter's account to look for photos of under-aged kids who were posing with drinks in their hands. The athletes who were caught were suspended.

[ScreamingMeemie]

8. The principal is a she. This is a principal who crossed a line.

I'll take care of my own child and don't need the principal "helping".
This is also why I tell my son to be careful who he "friends" and all of his friend requests come through my email addy. If he doesn't have a good enough "how I know this person" story...they aren't his friend.

[proud2BlibKansan]

10. That's a great idea.

This principal sounds like a nutcase. I'm thinking this Facebook thing is not the only reason she was fired.

[Baitball Blogger]

13. I totally agree with you.

I wasn't happy about the nosy mother either.

[msanthrope]

7. School official creates fake online identity and contacts minor children.

This should go well.....

[Tikki]

11. OMG...Facebook as Soap Opera...

Who woulda thunk.



Tikki