Skyline High School Teacher Loses Her Job After Bullying a Student With an Instagram Post

Traci Gauthier "is no longer employed" after calling a student a "pothead" (among other things) on the social media app

By Bruna Nessif Mar 11, 2015 2:45 AMTags
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One Colorado teacher learned a very valuable lesson.

According to local reports, Traci Gauthier, a visual arts teacher at Skyline High School in Longmont, Colo., "is no longer employed for the St. Vrain School District," after being accused of bullying a student through a photo she posted on Instagram.

The picture shows Skyline freshman Phoenix Bowen walking out of a classroom, where Gauthier was substituting for a day, with the caption, "STEM kids are trying too hard. I don't know him, but I hate him," and added the hashtags, "#pothead, #STEM, #wannabecool, #dorkywhiteboy."

It didn't end there. Once Bowen caught wind of the post, he responded with the comment, "You can't hate me, you don't know me," and Gauthier reportedly wrote back, "I know I don't know you-but I can hate anyone I'd like #nobig #dontbesad #meanartteacher."

Bowen told FOX31 that the pot-related hashtag was likely in reference to his backpack, which was sporting a logo of CannaEnergy, described by the company as an energy supplement free of THC, the active ingredient which gets marijuana smokers high.

"People automatically see the hemp leaf and assume it is a pot leaf and pot is stoner and that's not what it's about," Phoenix told the TV station, and added, "Out all the people I expected to post something about a student, a teacher would not be one of them."

The district would not elaborate on whether Gauthier was dismissed or if she resigned, and when asked on the district's general stance when it comes to online bullying, Poynton said, "It's a personnel issue. I'm not going to say any more about it."

Gauthier has not commented on the incident.