OKALOOSA COUNTY TEACHER APPEALS FIRING

An Okaloosa County School District English has been fired for sitting on a male student’s lap while teaching a classroom of pupils. Amanda Varnum, a former Laurel Hill School teacher, was investigated in late October after the school’s principal reported the allegations. Students said Varnum often sat in a student’s lap during class time. Varnum has appealed her termination and will appear before an arbitrator for the in May. The Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office and the Department of Children and Families were also told about the allegations. The Okaloosa County School Board fired Varnum on November 13^th.