Wayne, N.J. Teacher Resigns After Facebook Post Mocking Student's Name With Curse Word

A Wayne teacher resigned and temporarily lost her teaching licenses after posting an “inappropriate” comment on Facebook about a student who allegedly has a curse word in his name, according to a ruling posted by the state Department of Education’s Board of Examiners.

Yvette Nichols admitted, according to state documents, that her statements were immature but noted that they were “based solely on the fact the student’s name contained the word ‘s---t.’ ”

The board said it could not condone Nichols’ actions but ”her sincere sense of remorse coupled with her long and unblemished record and her cogent explanation of what transpired in her life during that time period, militate against the revocation of her certificates.”

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Nichols resigned from her tenured position in Wayne after she posted a screenshot of an assignment one of her students had completed instructing students to “practice writing my name the kindergarten way,” according to state documents.

According to the BOE’s order: Nichols allegedly posted “I want to ask the parents if I can change it” and “I still can’t get over the student’s name!”

In response to others’ comments about the name, Nichols wrote “How do you think I feel when I have to address him???? I literally can’t stop laughing! I have to go all year with this’---!!!’”

Wayne investigated and determined that Nichols had violated the district’s Harassment, Intimidation and Bullying policy.

Nichols held a Teacher of Elementary School Certificate of Eligibility With Advanced Standing, issued in September 2000, and a Teacher of Elementary School certificate, issued in June 2001.

On Sept. 19, 2014, the Board of Examiners voted to suspend Nichols’ Teacher of Elementary School Certificate of Eligibility With Advanced Standing and her Teacher of Elementary School certificate for a period of one year.

Nichols ultimately admitted to the allegations regarding her Facebook posts but denied that she had engaged in bullying, harassment or intimidation, according to state documents.