United States

Treasure Coast Teacher Claims She Was Fired After Refusing to Give Students Half Credit For Assignments Not Turned In

What to Know

  • Diane Tirado was terminated from her position teaching eight grade U.S. history at West Gate K-8 school in Port St. Lucie on September 14th.
  • Tirado’s termination notice did not list a reason for her firing as she was still in a probationary status as a first year teacher.

A former Treasure Coast middle school teacher says she was fired from her job all because she refused to give students half credit even if they didn’t turn in their work.

Diane Tirado was terminated from her position teaching eight grade U.S. history at West Gate K-8 school in Port St. Lucie on September 14th, posting a message on her classroom board saying in part “I have been fired for refusing to give you 50% for not handing anything in.”

Tirado, who has taught for years but was in her first semester at West Gate, told NBC affiliate WPTV that she found out about the policy after some students didn’t complete an assignment she had given two weeks before – confirmed by lettering in the student and parent handbook that says “No Zeros – Lowest Possible Grade is 50%.”

“What if they don’t turn anything in?" Tirado said to the station that she asked administrators. "'We give them a 50.' I go, 'Oh, we don’t.'”

“I’m so upset because we have a nation of kids that are expecting to get paid and live their life just for showing up and it’s not real," Tirado added.

Tirado later posted her message on social media, where it was shared hundreds of times – adding that some students have responded with messages of support for her position.

The school’s principal did not issue a comment to the station. Tirado’s termination notice did not list a reason for her firing as she was still in a probationary status as a first year teacher at the school.

A school district spokesperson said there is “no district or individual policy” prohibiting teachers from recording a zero for work not turned in, adding that some facilities discuss their own range of points when asked about the specific wording in the school’s handbook.

Contact Us