A high school math teacher in Jacksonville, Fla. is facing almost certain termination over allegations that she constantly cusses out her students—and unfairly fails almost 80 percent of them.
The teacher is Joyce Quiller, reports Jacksonville radio station WOKV. For now, she remains employed at Ribault High School, where she has taught 10th- and 11th-graders in The Bridge to Success program, which is for students who are two or more years older than they should be for their grade levels.
The Duval County School District started its investigation into Quiller’s behavior in January after parents and at least seven students complained.
One thing Quiller allegedly likes to do is use profanity. A lot.
For example, the investigation found that Quiller asked a student who failed to bring a pencil to class: “What is the point in coming to the motherfucking class if you do not bring materials?”
The math teacher allegedly told another student to “shut the fuck up.”
Still another student charged that Quiller, who is black, “criticizes him and calls him” the n-word.
Students have said the profane language wasn’t loud but generally mumbled softly.
Quiller was also allegedly in the habit of sometimes refusing to accept students’ completed assignments or even answer questions about math.
Investigators say she also proclaimed which students were getting “F” grades in front of the entire class. Quiller gave grades of “F” to just over 77 percent of her students. Out of 140 students, she failed 108 of them. The rest of the students didn’t fare much better. Overall, 90.7% of Quiller’s recent students received a grade of either “D” or “F.”
At least one student questioned by investigators reported that Quiller isn’t a tyrant but merely a strict teacher who doesn’t tolerate students who aren’t putting forth enough effort.
That student only heard Quiller use one very PG-rated swear word, “hell,” according to The Florida Times-Union.
Also, Quiller has submitted a written statement in her own defense saying that she is “appalled and disturbed” at the allegations that students and parents have leveled against her. She said she believes students have a vendetta against her.
Whatever the case, this investigation isn’t Quiller’s first rodeo when it come to ribald language.
In 2001 and again in 2013, WOKV notes, the teacher received verbal reprimands for saying inappropriate things. Highlights of her prior troubles include an incident when when she allegedly used the phrase “your mammy” and an incident when she told a student to “get out of my fucking class.” Another time, she told a student: “Pull your damn pants up.”
Quiller was still undergoing counseling because of prior allegations when the current investigation began, according to WOKV.
Last week, the Duval County school board suspended Quiller pending a process that will in all likelihood lead to her termination.
You can read the complete (but somewhat redacted) investigation into Quiller’s behavior here.
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