In a twist that’s got everyone talking, an Ohio teacher is on the brink of losing her job after she allegedly played hooky to groove at a concert. Eileen Washburn, who’s been shaping minds at Lakota West High School, found herself in hot water and on unpaid leave. The reason? She’s accused of calling in sick on February 8th and 9th, only to hit up a show in Nashville.
The Lakota Local School Board, after peeping into the details, voted to put Washburn on the bench without pay. They dug into her actions and believe she “falsified sick leave,” sharing with some colleagues her real plans to catch the live tunes instead of resting up.
Washburn, who’s no stranger to the education game, having spent years at Princeton High School before moving to Lakota West in 2015, kept mum about her trip. When pressed for deets on her supposed sick leave during a meeting aimed at sorting things out, she clammed up.
This educator wears many hats – from guiding the future varsity softball champs to advising the student government and even crafting the yearbook. Plus, she’s a mom to two kiddos.
But now, she’s got until April 22 to plead her case or face termination, as recommended by Lakota’s Interim Superintendent Elizabeth Lolli. The school board’s got a beef with Washburn’s actions, saying they don’t just break school policy but also smack against Ohio’s educator ethics.
The chatter online and on district socials shows some folks are scratching their heads at the board’s move, especially after the district zipped lips on a post that apparently went off the rails.
It’s a sticky situation that’s got the community buzzing and waiting to see if Washburn will strike a chord at her hearing or face the music come the board’s final decision.
