Fitchburg teacher's aide suspended for racy photos is reinstated

FITCHBURG, Mass. (MyFoxBoston.com) -- A Fitchburg teacher's aide has been reinstated after racy modeling photos were brought to the attention of school administrators.

School committee co-chair Sally Cragin tells Fox 25 that Pearson has been reinstated to her position as a para-professional at the South Street Elementary school, working with special needs students.

Pearson was put on paid leave after an envelope of screen shots of modeling photos showing the 23 year old in bikinis and in at least one magazine cover, nude, was sent to the superintendent's office and a local paper earlier this month.

Some of the photos also appear on her Facebook page.

Fitchburg public school's released the following statement Tuesday:

"After reviewing all relevant information, Ms. Kaitlin Pearson was notified Monday afternoon that she could return to work, effective immediately. She resumed her original duties at South Street Elementary School on Tuesday morning. We are confident that she will bring the same level of commitment to her job and her students that she always has."

A lot of Fitchburg residents felt that she should be able to start working again.

"It wasn't affecting her teaching the students before because I didn't know about it so I don't understand why they even took her from teaching," resident Jennifer Martin said.

Another resident Gary Standley said, "Well I think she has two different jobs, okay, one during the day that she's working effectively and one she's working in the evening like many, many, many other people do for her own income."

However, some think that the photos are inappropriate.

"They set an example, essentially, so you know like what is that saying? That's kind of like sending a message that it's okay to get away with things like that," resident Danielle Brown said.

Cox Media Group