A teacher in Florida reportedly faked a terminal illness so she could miss school.
Ashley Barker of Polk County’s Laurel Elementary School admitted to faking her illness for more than a year, reported WFTV.
She told officials this week she was home the entire time and had nothing wrong with her.
“Wow. That’s kind of scary. Because if she lies about that, she can lie about anything,” parent Ralie Ortiz said of the situation.
Over the year, officials let Barker take days off and made special accommodations for her, but the school district did not elaborate on how many days she took off work. Barker said that both her and her father were dying.
Baker sent the school’s principal around 120 letters explaining her illness and situation, the broadcaster reported.
She hired a lawyer and is fighting the school’s decision to terminate her employment.
Earlier this month, a man in Texas allegedly bilked $400,000 from his former employer and then when he was on trial, faked an illness to delay it, reported The Associated Press.
Clayton Hogeland was sentenced more than 16 years in prison for fraud, money laundering, and related charges.
