WORCESTER — When Kaitlin Pearson took a job as a paraprofessional at Fitchburg's South Street Elementary School, she knew that one day her modeling career could become an issue, but never dreamed the level to which it would rise.

"It was really an emotional week," she said during an interview held just after she was on leave from the school for several days. "I was freaking out and crying. I didn't eat for three days."

Pearson was placed on paid administrative leave on Friday, Jan. 17 after the Fitchburg Public Schools received an anonymous envelope containing racy modeling screenshots of the classroom aide. The Sentinel and Enterprise received a similar delivery days later.

She was prepared for the situation with the school. It was a bridge she knew she was going to have to cross eventually working with children, she said. However, when her photos and leave at the school were brought to the attention of the Sentinel and Enterprise, Pearson was completely unprepared for the media frenzy that followed.

"I was just asking why this was such a big deal," she said. "If the anonymous person hadn't sent that second packet this would have just been behind closed doors."

Many young models would welcome their photos being spread far and wide, especially as Pearson put a great deal of effort into building up her portfolio. She is proud of her work, but with her photos showing up around the world with the label "hot teacher," Pearson fears it will taint her modeling career.

"I really feel like that 'hot teacher' name is still lingering over my head and I don't feel like anyone is going to want to hire me now," said Pearson, who explained she would never do nude modeling and prefers to define her look herself.

Pearson's ideal job is a professional promotional and trade show model, ideally for an energy drink company. She has looked up to these models since she was young and saw beautiful women working at automotive events.

When it comes to modeling, she said, "it ends when it is going to end." At that point, she will still have her bachelor's degree in graphic design, and friends and family who support her, Pearson said. "Modeling one day will end but I just want to see how far I can go."

With the photos in circulation now tainted with a stigma, Pearson has felt the need to come forward and speak out for herself. After being cleared to return to work, she seeks to defend her name, and her work ethic in both fields.

"I worked with the school the whole time," said Pearson, who explained that she wanted to keep quiet until a decision was made regarding her suspension. "I agree with what they did."

Pearson admits that her relationship with the school may have been different if she had not been allowed to return to work, but that since she has returned she's felt supported. Coworkers have welcomed her back since returning to work and congratulated her on her modeling career.

Pearson also had public support from many people in Fitchburg during the time she was suspended.

"People are going to say what they want. This is only making my skin a little bit thicker," said Pearson. "What's the worst thing that could happen now?"