Arkansas Teacher Put on Paid Leave Following Prostitution Conviction
- Posted on February 19, 2011 at 5:23pm by
Meredith Jessup
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LITTLE ROCK – (AP/The Blaze) – A high school teacher in Little Rock was placed on paid administrative leave Friday after school officials learned she pleaded guilty in November to a prostitution charge.
“I was scared more than anything else because I was thinking of my son,” Solona Islam recalled following her arrest last October. “If I do go to jail, what am I supposed to do?”
Islam says her financial struggles with credit card debt and caring for her 18-month-old son led her to make a poor decision. She has a masters degree and is working on a Ph.D.
The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reports school officials were not aware of the 27-year-old McClellan High School algebra teacher’s plea until informed by a reporter. Islam was placed on leave Wednesday.
Police Sgt. Cassandra Davis said the school district was not notified because the charge was not a felony. Islam was arrested Oct. 29 on misdemeanor charges of prostitution and operating a business without a license.
She pleaded guilty on Nov. 5 and was given a suspended 90-sentence and a $640 fine.
After a meeting with her boss, Islam resigned Friday, telling the local Fox affiliate she did not want the school district involved in her personal matters.
Now Islam worries her students, their parents and potential future employers may judge her.
“I am a human. They can’t see a teacher beyond seeing this is a perfect role model and be perfect all the time.”




















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Comments (173)
CanteenBoy
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 6:50pmI wonder where her union rep is?
Report Post »338lapua
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 7:08pmLove client #9
Report Post »RightPolitically
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 6:44pmHO….hummm.
Report Post »kschmud
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 6:34pm“I am a human. They can’t see a teacher beyond seeing this is a perfect role model and be perfect all the time.”
No – I don’t expect teachers to be perfect…but they should be role models and NOT be criminals
Report Post »oldchevyguy
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 6:28pm“Solonga Islam”
Report Post »streetrodder
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 6:21pmShe should move to Wisconsin and teach. Wi pays $100,000 a year.She should be able to slide by on that.
Report Post »RightPolitically
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 6:16pmWell, the video is pretty much unwatchable, something wrong with the feed. However, personally, I don’t care a hoot about prostitution and actually believe it should be legalized. But teaching kids and moonlighting in that trade don’t seem to go together. This report is done from the point of view that the woman is a total victim, unsuspecting of what an escort service is all about. I don’t believe her. Fine her. Let her go and stop wasting tax payer money on this kind of thing when we have REAL problems to solve. Besides, by legalizing “the world’s oldest profession” more taxes could be collected and STD testing could be done!
Report Post »Thomas
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 6:15pmNo teachers “can’t be perfect all the time” but I say a foray into prostitution would be under the bar that is not set to high. Maybe incorporate your perversion into math word problem… Ms. Islam had 22 johns on Tuesday, 57 Johns on Friday (convention), and 49 Johns on Saturday (bachelor party). How many STDs would Salenahaha pass to her customers considering only a third used protection… please show your work in a factorable equation.
Report Post »RightPolitically
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 6:30pmYeah, I bet the kids would get an “A” on that one!
Report Post »NHABE64
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 6:10pmPaid leave ? Paid leave ? Most people would have been fired. How about a 2nd job that at least makes her a better role model than letting her student know she was a prostitute. Paid leave, she should have been fired.
Report Post »chips1
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 7:44pmYou can’t fire a first lady. OOps!!! Wrong blog. Sorry. My bad.
Report Post »spirited
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 6:07pmSeems a union intervention is required.
Report Post »bikerr
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 5:58pmPaid leave? what is this, Wisconsin?
Report Post »docgreen
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 5:57pmAnyone see my post about a friend from AR. that just started teaching? She took the 10 year program with school loans the whold way through! Not Kidding about the 10 year program! Anyway, she finished with a degree in teaching. Now she tell me that after staying with the school for three years I think. She then gets all her loans for school paid off! Guess who’s paying the bill? She said its a Federal program! Federal Taxes for this; state taxes for sick days, state taxes to riot, state and federal funds for school programs and they still don’t have enough money! Hmmm, it sounds like they’re wasting tax payer money! Along with a Gov. grant of money for Ipods, for the all the kids in one school! Waster or what?
Report Post »lillianrose
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 8:57pmI had seen your other post. With what you are saying and the actions of this woman- would you say that it is not much different.
Report Post »The Rewd
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 5:53pmGoing into sex work is far more than bad decision making or poverty, there’s a whole raft of mental issues going on. It’s not incorrect to still judge her and her suitability to be a teacher.
Report Post »AMERICA-URANTIA
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 5:46pmOkay, gross.
Report Post »neverending
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 5:43pmTough, choices have consequences.
Report Post »The Gooch
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 6:58pmAmen.
Report Post »13th Imam
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 5:42pmRichard Trumpka is headed to Arkansas to start the United Hookers International Union. A division of the National Hookers Teachers Union. She could probably bring some of her students to Wisc. and pimp them out to the union protestors. Swell the coffers of the union and make donations to the DNC and Obummers Organizing for Anti-Amerika
Report Post »Showtime
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 5:53pmJesus!
Report Post »Don’t give them any ideas!!!
DashRipRock
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 6:02pmIf hookers were union memebrs
then it would be like having sex with my first wife
short, restrictive and a whole lot of complaining
Report Post »Showtime
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 5:39pmI have news for this prostitute mother: It used to be that women could not teach if they were MARRIED.
Go back to school, learn how to manage your income on a budget (not the way Obama does, but by using good sense) by not spending more than your income. If you have to downsize in order to keep a roof over your head and food on the table, do so. Pay off your credit card debt. Grow up and learn some decency!
Get your life under control so that you don’t have to spread your legs to make a living, and I believe you can teach again. Hate it that you’re union, though.
Report Post »chips1
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 7:48pmThe pay is lousy but the TIPS are great’
Report Post »LadyIzShy
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 5:37pmresigned? that what the video said.. so is she being paid? I will NEVER understand why we pay criminals while they set back and collect pay and wait to be investigated
Report Post »SlimnRanger
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 6:14pmThis is a different world now, bad behavior is now rewarded
Report Post »ihveit
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 7:52pmi guess getting paid to continue being a whore should get her out of debt sooner? heck that gives her an extra 50 hours a week tp ply her second “trade”
Report Post »will
NickDeringer
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 5:36pmSee? If we just paid our poor teachers 500k a year instead of a measly 100k they wouldn’t have to sell themselves into prostitution. The Panned Parenthood wouldn’t have to cover up their abortions for them.
Where is our compassion, people? Have you now shame?
DISCLAIMER: the above uses sarcasm to make a point. It is not literally true. But it could be.
Report Post »Showtime
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 5:44pm@NickDeringer
DISCLAIMER: the above uses sarcasm to make a point. It is not literally true. But it could be.
Report Post »- – – – – -
Nick, we’re conservatives. We recognize sarcasm when we see it! :^]]
The Gooch
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 5:36pmI’d be more impressed if the woman owned this out right. But she’s still owning it. I imagine she’ll be torn apart on The Blaze. All I know is that therefore but by the grace of God go we all. How many times have politicians played even more disgusting games of damage control and still been put back in office? I don’t agree with what she did, but I’m not in her financial position and I pray to God my stepdaughter knows she can come to me and her mother before ever considering such an act.
Report Post »Career as a teacher: Likely over. Debt and hunger can make people desperate and impulsive. Remember that before you dog pile on this woman. If she’s hiding something else, I’ll consider more of her character, but for now all we know is that she was another person struggling with debt who made a career destroying decision. Is there no redemtion for her? If so, why?
J.C. McGlynn
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 5:57pmShe has a shot at some kind of redemption. With this on a criminal record she will be prevented from being a teacher.
Report Post »saviorammo
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 6:04pmDo you pay extra for Dog Pile?
Report Post »Rickfromillinois
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 6:20pmShe owned it outright? What was the alternative after she plead guilty to being a prostitute? Tell everyone that it was her twin sister? Maybe say it was her personal business and none of the school boards? She did it because of high credit card debt. Perhaps she should have controlled her impulse spending. She has no business teaching children. She is presently working on her PHD. Perhaps she should have held off on that for a while and instead get her financial affairs in order. She made allot of bad decisions. Now she needs to decide on a new career field.
Report Post »The Gooch
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 6:56pmI generally agree with your replies (although I’m not sure what the hell point Saviorammo is trying to make). I calls ‘em like I sees ’em. I type my opinion but would welcome any financial contributions (I am a capitalist). Send your checks to….
Report Post »This is a human being and I forgot to add that I do believe the woman should not be receiving pay. I believe the woman is done as a public school teacher, BUT this is a misdemeanor so she may be able to survive this affair. Don’t like it? Work on changing the laws and vote.
Opinions are like… eyeballs. We all have ‘em. I’m sharing mine as one human being looking at the failings of another. The mindset that since she may not be on your team and that she may not share your faith would lead some to solve this matter with a big rock hurled by screaming zealots. That’s not what my faith compels. But, as Gandhi is credited to have said, ” I like your Christ. I do not like your Christians.”
Cast aspersions if you must. You might as will have rock in hand.
C. Schwehr
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 7:15pmRedemption? Only if she learns from her mistake and takes another path. I HAVE been in her situation with unexpected debt, nearly lost everything due to my own fault. I scrimped, saved, did without, and started paying off my debt. My friends said file for bankruptcy…but no, I pay my bills even if it takes years to do it! This woman took the easy way out….and it obviously didn’t upset her to do it. There’s something fundamentally wrong with that sort of thinking and and with this woman…that sort of person who can easily drift into prostitution does NOT need to be around children or the teaching profession until she get’s her head on straight first…then we can talk about redemption!
Report Post »integrican
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 5:36pm“After a meeting with her boss, Islam resigned Friday, telling the local Fox affiliate she did not want the school district involved in her personal matters.”
LOL, She didn’t seem to mind a few strangers being involved in her “Personal Matters.”
HO HO HO…….
Report Post »Showtime
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 5:55pmI’ll bet they “touched her stuff,” too!
Report Post »integrican
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 6:11pmOr “stuffed” her touch-e
Report Post »Showtime
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 6:25pmI hate it when you do that to me! (Hahahaha!)
Report Post »Just when I thgink I come up with the “perfect” response, darned if I don’t get out-done!
That was a good one, Integrican.
mossbrain
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 5:35pmShe was just trying to prevent her young son from becoming a ghetto lobster.
Report Post »spirited
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 6:10pmMaybe she needed the money for nursing supplies?
Report Post »C. Schwehr
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 7:09pmToo late…..single, illegitimate child, high credit card debt, and now a prostitute.. Too stupid to be a decent teacher anyway…Strike THREE!
Report Post »pugsly84
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 5:34pmNice role model! Fire her nasty butt
Report Post »UPSETVET
Posted on February 21, 2011 at 12:33pmWow, I really feel sorry for a female teacher that has a Master‘s Degree and working on a PHD that has an 18 month old child that’s stressed out because of her credit card debts. A prostitute teaching kids ? Prostitution isn’t a felony, just a misdemeanor so I guess that’s just “ moonlighting ” in Little Rock Arkansas. Paid leave ? What’s that all about ? She should be fired and have to reimburse the school system for any and all salary collected. Oh, wait a minute, I get it, she’s a black woman, so any behavior is acceptable or excusable in fear of NAACP reprisals or law suits. After all the School Board responsible for cleaning up this mess wouldn’t want to be labeled as being “ racist ” now would it ?
Report Post »DevotedDad
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 5:32pmShe is worried they may judge her?
Are you f…ing kidding me? I know Dad’s who have lost all access to their kids based upon false allegations and family court nonsense.
These Dad’s are guilty until proven innocent, judged, and deemed worthless by this system.
This woman sold her body and she still has her kids and would still have her job if she did not resign.
Double Standard?
Report Post »Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 5:37pmYes, see one of my above posts as well. I go into a bit of depth on the same line of thought.
Report Post »Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 5:31pmListen here, you messed up, admit to it and accept the fact your own actions have brought down the responses of any future employes and parents of your students, not to mention the students each and every one apiece. You do the crime, you do the time and pay the consequenses for it across the board and for your life.
Wonder how long until a union or a bleeding hearted liberal attorney steps in and starts playing the usual blame others and race cards.
Report Post »J.C. McGlynn
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 5:50pmShe’ll see her union rep Monday, after the weekend.
Report Post »pscully17
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 5:58pmWisconsin has these people called PROTESTITUTES people who get bussed into localities and states where they dont live, hold signs for money, and chant scripted hate towards fellow Americans– Protestitutes do much more harm to the country then hookers trying to make a living. at worst, a prostitute only wrecks the lives of one family, Pro test i tutes can wreck a whole nation!!!
Report Post »saviorammo
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 6:03pmShe’s already been contacted, you kidding me. Book deal, t.v., reality show. The sky is the limit. The only racism is that if had been a white christian, any gender, the book would’ve been thrown at them and no paid leave.
Parents Unite!
Sure you can get a job in Egypt!
Report Post »912828Buckeye
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 9:30pmNext stop Oprah
Report Post »Robert-CA
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 11:07pmLet’s face it , she can’t & she will not be fired .
Report Post »For you thugs out there , get hired as a teacher & then go rob a bank or choose a crime of your choice , you will still get paid as a teacher .
what4
Posted on February 20, 2011 at 8:46amAnd most job applications ask….Have you ever been convicted of a crime…if yes, enter date and explain!
Report Post »davuf
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 5:30pmLet her keep her job. She plead guilty and paid her fine. She didn’t hurt anyone. She shouldn’t lose her life for a misdemeanor.
BrotherWill
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 5:33pmYeah, then she can come teach your children bad decision making skills and immoral behavior too. You’re a genius.
Report Post »Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 5:36pmYet if a man had been found guilty, even by a plea deal, they would have their hides nailed to the wall so fast and hard, it would not be funny. Almost everyone would be howling for such a male teacher to be thrown out of the job, barred for life from ever teaching again, and made a parriah for the end of their days.
Report Post »cheezwhiz
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 5:36pmShe should run for Governor of AR
Report Post »cheezwhiz
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 5:44pmWhen is CAIR jumping in to sue the school district ?
Report Post »J.C. McGlynn
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 5:48pmGee, Is this like getting paid by the taxpayers to be a sex ed teacher in the schools and then getting paid by the student for the practical application of those classes?
YellowFin
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 5:53pmPaid Leave!!!!??? unbelievable.
Report Post »Max jones
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 6:02pmhmmmm….the religion of piece…..what/ who said that? Bad Max!
Report Post »GODSAMERICA
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 6:25pm@J.C. McGlynn
Report Post »You left out then paid by the school district to lay around and do nothing while we are getting screwed. Isn’t that like paying for a prostitute too?
moonpeace
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 6:42pmAt DAVUF: She isn’t losing her life, she is losing her job–even though she is still being paid. Do you want her teaching your children that when things get rough it is OK for them to be an immoral slut and break laws as long as it is to get the things they want and need? Remember the old, “Don‘t do the crime if you can’t do the time?” Fire this woman and hire someone else!
Report Post »bulletsinthegun
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 6:46pmShe should be in jail. she new better. There is no defense for this kind of crap. She is a great example of what is wrong with the school system and our country.
Report Post »moonpeace
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 6:48pmOh come on! Don‘t you all feel sorry for this ’ho’? What a stupid damned slut. Pay her nothing! She should have thought of her child before she broke the law and sold her body, which brings up another question. Why would anybody pay for such ugliness? Bythe way, whoever the john was should be prosecuted too.
Report Post »chubbzbar
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 7:01pmAnd Timothy Geitner is a tax dodger — which is a felony and he gets nothing. Forgive and forget
Report Post »cheezwhiz
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 7:10pmIt says in the video that this woman has her wages being garnished because of some court ruling against her. Can someone please fill in the info on that ??
Report Post »This is definitely not her first brush with the law. There is much much more to this story than the media is reporting
Whostolemypig
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 7:26pmLet her keep her job? Yeah right, we need more prostitutes teaching our children. The only bright spot to this whole thing is that she didn’t molest a student, that we know of.
Report Post »avenger
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 7:32pmhmm..solona should have paid more attention to allah.does that mean that she will be stoned now…
Report Post »kennyg933
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 7:46pmShe taught algebra? Let‘s say the lady had quantity ’P’ by the boatload, and she was trying to sell it to a man for value ‘X’. The guy had $40 and was 50% short of X. What is the value of X, and if she agreed to take the $40, what is the value of ‘P’?
Report Post »poverty.sucks
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 7:53pmWithin OneWorld law, Shi’ite Amendment, claim “Temporary Marriage”, the man must provide written contract that stipulates how many hours or length of marriage and payment amount for said term. That works for Muslims, therefore the teacher could have pleaded religious practice.
Up yours to everyone that wants to reply that Muslim isn’t a religion. It‘s their way of life and they’re religious about it.
Report Post »Justus39
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 8:25pmThe ones that dont molest the children go on the street. We have a bunch of sex starved maniacs teaching our children and the unions keep them on the job. The American Public not only cannot stop the President and Congress from doing wrong they cant control perverts and thieves employed with their tax dollars. These people are not public servants,the public serves them while paying them.
Report Post »staggerlee32
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 8:29pmPAID leave? LOL…. Anyone else would be fired!
Report Post »Bluebonnet
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 8:38pmSee, we don’t even have to go to Wisconsin to find crappy teachers. How many times do we have to read about teachers who seem to like young boys? Now a prostitute? Does it never end? What are these teachers learning in college and what the hell are they teaching our children? Sick people.
Report Post »mcfinch
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 8:45pmYeah I am glad my kids are in private school.
http://politicalbowl.com – Political Videos
Report Post »thepatriotdave
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 9:13pmWe should NOT have hookers teaching our children. I can’t believe she is still getting paid by the school system.
http://tinyurl.com/4rv8xsm
Report Post »Cobra Blue
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 9:18pmCry me a river….If your going to play, then you better be able to pay.
Report Post »beekeeper
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 9:59pm@DAVUF – She resigned, she wasn’t fired, and it is likely that her paid leave would have had her returning to the classroom after the lawyer advised the district that her misdemeanor didn’t rise to the level to allow them to terminatoe her.
By resigning she can focus on her schoolwork, move somewhere else, and more than likely get her misdemeanor record expunged.
Her life isn’t over, but she caused a lot of trouble for herself with her “bad decision.”
Report Post »1TrueOne55
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 10:32pm@patriot.sucks: Muslim is not the name of their religion it is a label given to those that practice the religion. If you need a better explanation then go to Google and it will tell you many truths. But if you need to know the name of the religion it is “ISLAM”!!!
Report Post »Alky
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 10:44pm@Moonpeace…”Fire this woman and hire someone else!”
Report Post »They will hire someone else while she’s on paid leave. That’ll be two teachers salaries being paid for one teacher. The taxpayers will take care of it as always! Ain’t America great.
towerguy
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 11:07pmStart a business and hire her then. She should have told the school board immediately because it is a crime of moral turpitude, which is generally prohibited as part of her union contract, so she can’t be trusted to tell the truth either.
Report Post »davuf
Posted on February 20, 2011 at 12:43am@ Moonpeace;
Look, I’m not into the whole double jeopardy thing. She was tried and sentenced. That should be the end of it. If the court felt it was habitual activity, it was a danger to her students or it rose to a felony level her sentence would have been more severe and they would report it to the school district. Then she should be fired.
Report Post »I don’t give a crap about this moral equivalency crap. If you think our teachers are saints you are sorely mistaken. I want her to teach algebra not morality. There are much sleazier teachers in the system. I have more problems with a teacher trying to imprint some leftist ideology or different religion on our children.
All of that being said; the administration should keep a close eye on her and if her performance isn’t exemplary then fire her. Currently there is no cause.
fertlmind
Posted on February 20, 2011 at 7:31amdavuf
Report Post »You must be a teacher, in a teachers union, or a pimp.
Eyeryone else thinks she should be fired and ordered to stay away from kids
This is your typical liberal leading by example
we need to protect our children from the idea that this behavior is normal or deserves sympathety and mercy.
She should be investigated by child protective services for the safety of her own child.
How long will the school district keep her in a rubber room away from the classroom at public expense?
How much will the school district have to pay in legal services due to her actions?
How long will it take for you stupid liberals to understand that this is what’s wrong with our society and our education system?
She is guilty of much more than prostitution if she doesn’t resign
She is morally corrupt
she, and others like her are a cancer on our system
so are those who defend her and fight her removal as a teacher
a know prostitute can’t be a teacher
Garbage in,…garbage out
Maine932
Posted on February 20, 2011 at 7:34amKeep her job…? Are you kidding…? How do teenage boys hold a straight face with a teacher who has been convicted of prostitution. I feel sorry for her, but I heard Walmart has night hours too…!
Report Post »davuf
Posted on February 20, 2011 at 10:02amI have to say I am a bit disappointed with the quality of the responses. I would expect as much from liberals, but I would hope you’ll would reach a little higher standard. Your responses to my premise was simply to say: “stupid!“ ”teacher’s union guy!” Or simply to call me a liberal or some other BS. I can almost feel the heat from the torches.
I’m conservative, I am serving in the military, and I am not a teacher or a member of a union. My premise is that if someone has been tried and convicted of a crime, and has met their obligations to the court and the victim, then their debt to society is paid. I believe it is unethical to go after someone further to take away their livelihood or children. If the crime was that severe the court should have convicted her of a higher crime and initiated a call to her place of business and child services. There is a special class for felons, but it makes no sense to say the same applies to a misdemeanor.
I stand by my earlier statement.
Report Post »arx
Posted on February 20, 2011 at 10:17amwhat kills me is the tone of the whole story….this po’ woman needed money to pay her bills, she’s only looking out for her little one and trying to get ahead. Not: “a teacher who is supposed to be an example for the kids she teaches was found guilty of prostitution but is still being paid on our dime, for doing nothing. Well I guess all is well that ends well, she can go hook full time now and get her salary too!….I wonder if this had been a white woman or man, what the story would have been….Oh yeah, and “Islam” as a name? Another shining example….
Report Post »MCCL
Posted on February 20, 2011 at 10:31pmWTF! I don’t want this HOE/WHORE teaching my or any other child, and I pay for it. She should be fired and not paid a dime, do you know what she has been teaching the children in her classes????
Report Post »