Teacher put on paid leave after 'fat ass' yearbook comment

A West Valley high school student is facing a hurtful end to her freshman year and a teacher has been placed on paid administrative leave.

Fifteen-year-old Marie Gray is a student at Tonopah Valley High School. Gray said she was in class this week when someone asked her if she had seen what was written by her name in the school yearbook.

When Gray looked, the words “fat ass” appeared in a printed collage right below her name. Gray tearfully said she is often ridiculed by her classmates for her weight. "I didn't think someone could be that mean, to write it in the yearbook, where everyone could see it," she said.



Gray said she went to the yearbook teacher and cheer coach, Mrs. Schmitt, and was told that nothing could be done.

The yearbook team at the school has also formally apologized to Gray, saying: On behalf of the 2008-2009 yearbook class and Tonopah Valley High School we would like to sincerely apologize for the inappropriate and rude language of the freshman class. It's our mistake and we should have caught this one before the yearbook was published and handed out. The comment should not have been written in the first place and we apologize for the immaturity of whoever wrote it. We would greatly appreciate your forgiveness as we are terribly sorry.

Superintendent Mark Joraanstad with the Saddle Mountain Unified School District said the school district is investigating to find the student or students responsible. Joraanstad has placed the yearbook teacher on administrative leave with pay.

With news video.