Bikini Teacher Wants Job Back

A teacher on the Treasure Coast who took a part-time weekend job on a charter boat that offers topless and bikini fishing trips wants her teaching job back.  The operators of the  "Smokin' Em" charter boat say they'll pay for an attorney if necessary for Tiffany Shepherd of Ft. Pierce.  Last week, the St. Lucie County School District released Shepherd from her job as a biology teacher at Port St. Lucie High School.  Shepherd believes the school district let her go because they found out she had a part-time job as a bikini girl on the fishing boat, serving food and beverages while wearing a skimpy swimsuit.

The school district says that had nothing to do with their decision.  They say Shepherd was released from her teaching contract because of excessive absences and had been reprimanded twice for that.  The school district says she missed 30 days of school since the current school year began last August.  She says that number is incorrect, and believes it was around 20 but she says all the absences were excused and properly documented.

Shepherd feels the district is "just grasping at straws" and she calls it "a cop-out."  Since the story of her dismissal came to light yesterday (Tuesday),  Shepherd and the operators of "Smokin Em" say they've had calls from reporters around the country, including one from as far away as the United Kingdom.