Update: West Ottawa teacher calls 'most disastrous, most humiliating, and most damaging mistake'

HOLLAND TOWNSHIP – A West Ottawa teacher in danger of losing her job over classroom performance claims it's really a different performance the district is upset about:her gig as a stripper.

The school board voted Monday to proceed with a tenure hearing to determine whether veteran high school English teacher Susan Brennan can keep her job. Dishonesty in grading is the district's main allegation against her job performance.

But Brennan and her lawyer claim she’s being singled out for having worked as a stripper four years ago, when she took a leave of absence from her position.

“I think there are a lot of issues at play that no doubt are from four years ago,” Brennan told the school board prior to their vote.

Related content

Should I care if my child's teacher once worked as a stripper?

The tenure charges against her were filed Thursday, school board president Scott VanderStoep said.

Brennan, who has taught for 20 years, also denied the accusations of failing to use proper lesson plans and grading methods.

“If you look at my lesson plans, my grading policies, you will see there is not any dishonesty at work,” she said.

W.O. teacher who stripped may be fired: woodtv.com

A school board leader denied her accusations. Trustee Randy Schipper, also a past board president, said Superintendent Dr. Patricia Koeze never mentioned the teacher’s past activities.

“She did not raise the topic to me even once,” Schipper said.

Brennan’s lawyer, Bill Young of Okemos, accused the district of rushing to judgment with his client.

“We don’t believe this matter was investigated thoroughly by the administration,” Young said.

No date for a hearing was set, although it’s likely to take place in five to six months.

E-mail the author of this story: localnews@grpress.com