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Merrick teacher lost job due to Princesses show
Wow, did you ladies see this? What are your thoughts?
P.S. Sorry to bring up anything related to teaching. I know it's a sore subject around here. 
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More than a hundred people demonstrated Wednesday night in support of a Merrick middle school teacher and coach who claims he was forced to resign after appearing on a reality TV show.
Stefan Serie, 30, said he appeared shirtless at a pool party in a scene in the June 2 episode of the Bravo show "Princesses: Long Island."
On June 18, he said Bellmore-Merrick Central School District administrators and union representatives, citing the show, told him he would be fired if he didn't resign.
"I was coerced into resigning," said Serie, who taught health and coached football, track and wrestling at Merrick Avenue Middle School for the past three years.
District Superintendent John DeTommaso confirmed that Serie has resigned, but declined further comment, calling it "a matter of personnel." School board members also declined to comment.
Serie's attorney, Joseph Kilada, said he intends to sue the district if his client isn't reinstated.
Kilada said the school's policy states that a teacher's personal life is not grounds for discipline as long as it doesn't affect his or her ability to teach.
Said Serie: "This is more than a job; this is my life. I'm devastated."
Parents and students gathered Wednesday night before a scheduled school board meeting at Brookside Elementary in North Merrick.
"He's a fantastic role model and mentor," said Christine Grassman, who credits Serie for getting her disabled son interested in wrestling.
Dozens of people later took turns addressing the board, questioning Serie's dismissal. Board members did not respond to the inquiries.
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Posted 7/25/13 5:21 AM  |
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sameinitials
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Member since 2/12 1998 total posts
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Merrick teacher lost job due to Princesses show
wait, his only participation in the show was a shot of him not wearing a shirt?! if so, this is the most absurd thing ever.
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| Posted 7/25/13 6:36 AM |
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Re: Merrick teacher lost job due to Princesses show
There's a video of him at the pool party if you go to the Newsday website.
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| Posted 7/25/13 6:40 AM |
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Re: Merrick teacher lost job due to Princesses show
I'd have to see video on the incident to judge and since I haven't seen it I don't know. But just being shirtless on tv, shouldn't be grounds for dismissal. But I do believe teachers are role models, or at least NEED to be role models. So if it behavior related... well then it needs to be considered.
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| Posted 7/25/13 7:10 AM |
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sameinitials
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Re: Merrick teacher lost job due to Princesses show
Posted by MorningCuppaCoffee
There's a video of him at the pool party if you go to the Newsday website.
assuming that what was shown in the video is all that he did on the show, that's crazy. he took off his shirt and went swimming. whats the big deal?
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| Posted 7/25/13 7:15 AM |
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MrsYank
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Re: Merrick teacher lost job due to Princesses show
Teachers are held to a higher level of "moral turpitude"'and if the district finds their behavior "embarrassing" they can begin an investigation against them which includes review of their emails, text messages, etc etc.
While I think we (I am a teacher) are definitely supposed to be role models I can't see how a simple cameo would ignite a resignation.
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| Posted 7/25/13 7:59 AM |
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MC09
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Re: Merrick teacher lost job due to Princesses show
Doesn't make sense. There must be more to this story. It seems like the board is using it as an excuse to terminate him.
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| Posted 7/25/13 8:14 AM |
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Goldi0218
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Re: Merrick teacher lost job due to Princesses show
If he had a "paper trail" why would he do anything to further a district's cause to fire him? THAT makes no sense. The guy who punched Snooki on Jersey Shore? He assaulted someone - that's a crime. Taking off a shirt at a POOL PARTY is not offensive (or criminal) to me as a parent OR as an educator.
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| Posted 7/25/13 8:19 AM |
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sfp0701
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Re: Merrick teacher lost job due to Princesses show
Is it because the show was offensive? Because honestly, how could he predict HOW badly the show would offend some groups? I don't anyone thought it would be as awful as it.
Or is it because he took his shirt off.. at a pool party? Do they think all the male teachers wear rash guards and the females were mumu's to swim? I mean come on.
Like someone said.. maybe there is more? And I hope so. Because firing someone over the reasons stated is INSANE!
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| Posted 7/25/13 8:43 AM |
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LL514
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Merrick teacher lost job due to Princesses show
they didnt fire him. he was "coerced into resigning". i think the whole thing is ridiculous
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| Posted 7/25/13 9:24 AM |
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ElizaRags35
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Merrick teacher lost job due to Princesses show
It's ridiculous. I actually hung out with this kid when we were younger (teens) although we didn't know each other... just had mutual friends. I don't remember much else about him besides his name though. He's not a "star" of the show. He just happened to be on one episode. And while I think the show is gutter trash, BMCHSD was completely wrong for firing him.
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| Posted 7/25/13 9:52 AM |
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BargainMama
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Re: Merrick teacher lost job due to Princesses show
Hope this gets put in the spotlight, because it's absolutely ridiculous.
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| Posted 7/25/13 10:04 AM |
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MrsFlatbread
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Re: Merrick teacher lost job due to Princesses show
There must be more to the story.
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| Posted 7/25/13 10:22 AM |
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halfbaked
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Re: Merrick teacher lost job due to Princesses show
Posted by BaysideForever
I'd have to see video on the incident to judge and since I haven't seen it I don't know. But just being shirtless on tv, shouldn't be grounds for dismissal. But I do believe teachers are role models, or at least NEED to be role models. So if it behavior related... well then it needs to be considered.
ITA. It seems excessive, but I've never actually seen the show- I've only heard what's been posted on here about it and it doesn't seem like a very good show for kids to be watching in the first place. How old are the kids he teaches/coaches? 
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| Posted 7/25/13 10:26 AM |
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teachermom
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Re: Merrick teacher lost job due to Princesses show
Actually, he resigned and that is why his lawsuit isn't going to go anywhere. He must not have been tenured. I don't know this guy but I did see the clip he was in and it wasn't anything horrible, he just took his shirt off and showed off a bit. Knowing what I know about school district politics, he probably was in trouble before or the powers that be were looking for an excuse to get rid of him.
As far as being held to a higher moral standard, what he did would never be grounds for losing tenure or his license. I've seen worse!
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| Posted 7/25/13 10:31 AM |
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jewels
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Re: Merrick teacher lost job due to Princesses show
I don't get why he would resign. Shady.
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| Posted 7/25/13 10:37 AM |
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ElizaRags35
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Re: Merrick teacher lost job due to Princesses show
Posted by teachermom
Actually, he resigned and that is why his lawsuit isn't going to go anywhere. He must not have been tenured. I don't know this guy but I did see the clip he was in and it wasn't anything horrible, he just took his shirt off and showed off a bit. Knowing what I know about school district politics, he probably was in trouble before or the powers that be were looking for an excuse to get rid of him.
As far as being held to a higher moral standard, what he did would never be grounds for losing tenure or his license. I've seen worse!
From what I heard, he was tenured.
ETA: The rescinded his tenure.
Message edited 7/25/2013 10:47:18 AM.
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| Posted 7/25/13 10:44 AM |
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teachermom
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Re: Merrick teacher lost job due to Princesses show
Posted by ElizaRags35
Posted by teachermom
Actually, he resigned and that is why his lawsuit isn't going to go anywhere. He must not have been tenured. I don't know this guy but I did see the clip he was in and it wasn't anything horrible, he just took his shirt off and showed off a bit. Knowing what I know about school district politics, he probably was in trouble before or the powers that be were looking for an excuse to get rid of him.
As far as being held to a higher moral standard, what he did would never be grounds for losing tenure or his license. I've seen worse!
From what I heard, he was tenured.
That isn't possible, there would have to be a hearing with the state.
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| Posted 7/25/13 10:46 AM |
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ElizaRags35
My 2 Girls
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Re: Merrick teacher lost job due to Princesses show
Posted by teachermom
Posted by ElizaRags35
Posted by teachermom
Actually, he resigned and that is why his lawsuit isn't going to go anywhere. He must not have been tenured. I don't know this guy but I did see the clip he was in and it wasn't anything horrible, he just took his shirt off and showed off a bit. Knowing what I know about school district politics, he probably was in trouble before or the powers that be were looking for an excuse to get rid of him.
As far as being held to a higher moral standard, what he did would never be grounds for losing tenure or his license. I've seen worse!
From what I heard, he was tenured.
That isn't possible, there would have to be a hearing with the state.
The board voted to rescind his tenure. He was only granted tenure in May 2013.
Message edited 7/25/2013 10:48:03 AM.
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| Posted 7/25/13 10:47 AM |
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teachermom
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Re: Merrick teacher lost job due to Princesses show
Posted by jewels
I don't get why he would resign. Shady.
When things happen in schools, districts usually give people the option to resign or be fired. If they are fired they have to then report that to potential employers (new districts) and then whatever they did will follow them. If they resign, they say personal reasons and that is the end of the questions.
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| Posted 7/25/13 10:47 AM |
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ElizaRags35
My 2 Girls
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Re: Merrick teacher lost job due to Princesses show
Facebook Page with info
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| Posted 7/25/13 10:48 AM |
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teachermom
LIF Adolescent
Member since 8/11 843 total posts
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Re: Merrick teacher lost job due to Princesses show
Posted by ElizaRags35
Posted by teachermom
Posted by ElizaRags35
Posted by teachermom
Actually, he resigned and that is why his lawsuit isn't going to go anywhere. He must not have been tenured. I don't know this guy but I did see the clip he was in and it wasn't anything horrible, he just took his shirt off and showed off a bit. Knowing what I know about school district politics, he probably was in trouble before or the powers that be were looking for an excuse to get rid of him.
As far as being held to a higher moral standard, what he did would never be grounds for losing tenure or his license. I've seen worse!
From what I heard, he was tenured.
That isn't possible, there would have to be a hearing with the state.
The board voted to rescind his tenure. He was only granted tenure in May 2013.
Yikes! That's the thing about tenure, it doesn't take effect until the first day of the next school year. If this happened next summer, he wouldn't have this issue.
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| Posted 7/25/13 10:49 AM |
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ElizaRags35
My 2 Girls
Member since 2/09 20494 total posts
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Me
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Merrick teacher lost job due to Princesses show
Ok here is what I've learned from reading the FB page.
He has not been fired. He was granted tenure in May 2013 and after the show aired, they rescinded tenure.
Yesterday was a board meeting where they voted on whether or not to terminate him. I don't know if they did or not.
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| Posted 7/25/13 10:54 AM |
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PitterPatter11
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Re: Merrick teacher lost job due to Princesses show
Based on the clip, it is absurd that they rescinded his tenure.
Also - I can not believe his union did not support him.
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| Posted 7/25/13 12:10 PM |
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genericalias
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Re: Merrick teacher lost job due to Princesses show
I don't think that the coercion to resign is a far stretch from the truth. I know 2 different teachers who worked at 2 different districts who were also coerced to resign or retire and both eventually did even though it was wrong. They were basically told that if they didn't resign/retire that they would be fired or "not asked back next year" and they were both targeted towards the end of their careers in these districts. Also, the threat of being fired from a school with no references is a powerful motivator.
This whole thing is ridiculous.
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| Posted 7/25/13 2:33 PM |
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