Traci Gauthier, a substitute teacher in Longmont, Colorado, posted a picture of a student on the social media website, captioning it “STEM kids are trying too hard. I don’t know him, but I hate him. #pothead #STEM #wannabecool #dorkywhiteboy.”
A friend showed the student the post and he responded that it was OK that the teacher hated him because she didn’t even know him. Gauthier responded with “I know I don’t know you-but I can hate anyone I’d like. #Nobig #Dontbesad #MeanArtTeacher.”
Both the student and his parents were upset about the post because it not only insulted the teenager but insinuated that he was using recreational drugs. The student’s father called it a clear case of bullying.
This isn’t the first time a teacher has found herself in hot water after social media use. California high school teacher Krista Arata Hodges was reprimanded and forced to apologize to students after posting tweets that read: “The problem with teacher summer school is I’m gonna’ get all the (expletive) who failed my class, 2 of whom I wish would get hit by a car.” She also posted “I already want to stab some kids. Is that bad? 19 more days.”
Social Media Affects Perception
Many industry experts caution that posting anything to social media is as significant as making a public announcement. Both businesses and individuals can suffer from inappropriate statements taken out of context or reaching the wrong audience.
Patrick Baume is a Group Communications Manager at Isentia, which offers media monitoring and analysis tools and services, as well as PR distribution. He agrees that social media statements influence others perception of you. “Just as social media opinion can strongly influence people’s views about a brand or service, it can have just as strong an impact on how an individual is viewed, their career and even friendships.”
He goes on to say that companies and organizations in particular should be as clear as possible with employee about what’s appropriate social media posts. “It’s as simple as having a clear social media policy in place detailing what your employees can post about their work and as representatives of your brand.”
St. Vrain Valley School District, which services the school in question, says that there is no current social media policy in place for its staff. But it’s likely it’s a priority after this incident.
