Teacher fired due to letter sent to newspaper

Posted: Thu 10:56 AM, Jan 24, 2013

PADUCAH, Ky. (AP) - The McCracken County school system has fired a teacher who helped a student write and send a letter to the local newspaper complaining about school safety.

The newspaper sent the letter to law enforcement, which led to officials closing Reidland High School and an adjoining middle school for one day in December while possible safety threats were investigated. The schools re-opened the next day without incident.

The teacher, Shawnda Pacheco, told The Paducah Sun that she was terminated Friday as a direct result of the letter.

District officials declined to comment, saying it was a personnel matter.

Pacheco had 11 years of experience teaching Spanish in the school system.

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