A North Carolina teacher is outraged after she says she was suspended after the district learned she was a part-time pole-fitness instructor.
Kandice Mason said she was really looking forward to meeting her sixth-grade students at West Hoke Middle School this year. That won’t be happening, however, after someone leaked video of the self-taught pole dancer, local station ABC 11 reported.
Kandice Mason say pole dancing/pole fitness isn’t something she’s ashamed of. (WSOC video screenshot)
“That’s how I stay in shape,” said Mason, a single mother who holds a masters degree in Psychology, a bachelors in English, and a certificate in phlebotomy. “That’s how I feel like I can express myself and have time for myself.”
“… I have worked so hard to try and make sure I can provide for my daughters and our livelihood to have it jeopardized just for doing something that I’m passionate about,” she added.
Mason said she posted a video of herself dancing on her private Facebook account but Hoke County Public Schools somehow got a hold of it and ultimately suspended her, according to the station. District officials would not specify why Mason was suspended but pointed to a policy stating employees should behave as “role models,” both in and out of the classroom.
“It wasn’t even like it was a parent or student that brought this up. It was someone that was being malicious and pretty much trying to make me out to be a bad person,” Mason told the station, adding that pole dancing isn’t something she’s ashamed of.
“It’s just an art for me,” said the teacher, who’d already been assigned a classroom for the school year. “I just don’t see it as negative.”
According to station WSOC, Mason has been suspended with pay pending an investigation. Her case is set to go before the school board, which will have a final say in the matter.
Watch more in the video below.