Florida Teacher Fired After Private Sex Videos Sent to School, Parents

Thirty-five-year-old Natalie Santagata was an elementary school teacher at Kingsway Elementary School in Charlotte County, Florida, for nearly a decade. But she was fired earlier this year after scandalous videos and images were anonymously sent to school officials.

The drama that cost Santagata her job started back in June 2011, when her employer received four photographs and five videos showing her performing "graphic" sex acts and purportedly smoking marijuana. Interestingly, these videos were filmed in private localities where no students or minors were present.

Still, although she passed her most recent drug test and despite the fact that she violated no laws with her behavior, the district was so disappointed that officials decided she needed to be let go. The Herald Tribune has more on the district's response:

Superintendent Douglas Whittaker recommended Santagata's termination based on "personal conduct (or misconduct)" that "clearly rises to the statutory standard of moral turpitude" and "demonstrably impacted your effectiveness as a classroom teacher in our district."

Based on how the situation unfolded, it appears someone was out to get Santagata, as the images and clips, in addition to reaching the district, were maliciously sent to parents, through Facebook and some were even posted online. Steve Cummings, the school district security supervisor, wrote the following in a report:

"Clearly the anonymous sender or senders are motivated to cause great personal and professional harm to Natalie Santagata."

Parents are divided regarding whether or not it was a good decision to let the teacher go. One parent defended the decision, saying, "It doesn't mean that [her negative behavior seen on camera] ends there. It can carry on to the next day and control their behavior at school."

But another parent, Shelia Spriggs, says the videos don't paint a fair or full picture. Spriggs says, "She was very passionate about her job she went out of her way to make the kids feel good and want to push forward." WBBH-TV has more:

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(H/T: Gawker)