Embattled teacher Tracy Straight resigns News Virginian Wednesday, July 27, 2005 Embattled Waynesboro High School teacher and choral director Tracy Straight resigned Wednesday rather than await the outcome of the school board's decision on her fate. "This matter has simply taken too much of my energy and the community's time to continue to fight it," said Straight, who was accused of misconduct on an April field trip to New York City. "It is clear I did not violate any School Division Policies or Procedures, nor did I violate any rules applicable to this field trip," Straight said. Straight has admitted to having a couple of drinks on the field trip, and also posed for photographs with four shirtless students. Straight has blamed the furor over the photographs on a disgruntled student, who she said set her up to get her fired. Several photographs of Straight and the boys were posted to the Internet by students. "I know, as do the other chaperones and students on this trip, that I did not engage in any conduct that endangered or was harmful to students in any way," Straight said in a written statement released to the media Wednesday afternoon. "I have no problem if the school system wants to have a well-enforced policy prohibiting any consumption of alcohol by chaperones on any field trip and make dismissal the penalty for violation of the policy. However, there has never been any such policy and I did not do anything that had not been done on several previous trips by other teachers, administrators, and even a school board member. "Over the years, to my knowledge, no one else has ever been disciplined in any way for this." Straight's statement said she has begun searching for a new job and hopes to remain in teaching. School Superintendent Lowell Lemons could not be reached for comment by mid-Wednesday afternoon. http://www.newsvirginian.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=WNV/MGArticle/WNV_Basic Article&c=MGArticle&cid=1031784095545&path=!news!localnews Back To Guvment Skool Page 7 COPYRIGHT "DUHMAG.COM" 2005