News 12 Long IslandA middle school teacher from Long Island, New York has been fired after a student got hold of her topless selfie.
Math teacher Lauren Miranda, 25, had taken the selfie some years ago, sending it to her former partner who worked as a teacher at a separate school in the South Country School District.
After the unnamed male student obtained and shared the selfie in January, Ms Miranda was placed on administrative leave with pay for a three-month period. Last week, she was fired, after having taught mathematics at Bellport Middle School for four years.
Ms Miranda, who reportedly doesn’t know how the student got hold of the selfie, said she’s now filing for a $3 million gender discrimination lawsuit following her dismissal.
As reported by the New York Post, Ms Miranda’s lawyer John Ray, made the following comments regarding the case:
Long ago, she sent her topless unremarkable selfie to her companion, never to anyone else. By unknown means, a student obtained it.
The school district took possession of it, excoriated her, and fired her because her breasts were displayed.
Ms Miranda and Mr Ray have argued a male teacher would not have been treated the same way under similar circumstances, with Mr Ray stating:
This would never have happened to a male teacher. The Suffolk County Administrators and School Board have not yet discovered that women are equal to men.
Lauren is rightly proud of her female torso. A woman’s breasts are not inherently prurient.
Middle school math teacher Lauren Miranda says she was fired from her job for a topless selfie that leaked to students. The South Country School district says she’s no longer a role model. She’s suing for $3 million for gender discrimination pic.twitter.com/HIypibwUeE
— Kristin Thorne (@KristinThorne) April 1, 2019
As reported by 6 ABC, Ms Miranda has stated she wants her teaching position back, and intends to fight her corner in order to set a good example for her students:
What message is that saying to the girls who have their photos airdropped all over the high school and sent all over?
What message are we sending to them? To roll over when your picture gets exposed without your permission or consent? So how am I now not being a role model to them?
Ms Miranda has stated she will not file for the lawsuit if she’s given her job back.
According to a teacher observation review obtained by WABC-TV, Ms Miranda was known to be an ‘outstanding Math instructor’:
Ms. Miranda demonstrated in this lesson to be an outstanding Math instructor, knowledgeable of her content area, but most of all genuinely dedicated to the academic progress of her students.
Lauren Miranda shouldn't be demonized for this. Leaking private images is something scum do. And women's bodies being commodified is disgusting. She doesn't deserve to be fired for having a private life. Hope an investigation is being held as to who leaked her images.
— Elektra 🍓 (@TeenSuccubus) April 2, 2019
It’s unclear whether or not the student who obtained the selfie without Ms Miranda’s consent will be punished.
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Jules studied English Literature with Creative Writing at Lancaster University before earning her masters in International Relations at Leiden University in The Netherlands (Hoi!). She then trained as a journalist through News Associates in Manchester. Jules has previously worked as a mental health blogger, copywriter and freelancer for various publications.