Jeff Spires, Florida Math Teacher, Admits To Selling Grades To Pay Off Debt

Usually, if you want to get a good grade in school, you study harder. According to a report by NBC's WBBH, students in Jeff Spires' math class at Charlotte County High School in Florida had another option--staple some cash to the test.

During an investigation, Spires admitted to taking around $60 dollars from a junior several times, in exchange for giving the student a B instead of a C on a test.

Spires also admitted to improving a senior's quiz grade after the student paid him $15 or $30.

In an investigation, Spires cites financial troubles stemming from previous arrests and jail time as the reasons behind his bribery.

"That's what I don't know -- why," he said, according to the school's report. "Maybe I see the kids as desperate as I am."

On Spires' ratemyteacher.com profile, one student admitted to bribing the teacher.

"Awesome teacher," the comment said. "Bought grade for 10 bucks and a car wash coupon. The coupon was expired but he did not notice."

Other students wrote that they were saddened by the investigation's results.

"Coach Spires is the best math teacher I have ever had," the comment reads. "It's so sad he is being investigated for selling grades. :( I dont think I'll pass that class with out him there to teach, he made everything make so much sense!"

“This is one of the most disturbing events I’ve seen in my 40 years,” Charlotte County Public Schools Superintendent Douglas told WBBH and ABC affiliate WZVN.

Spires was placed on unpaid administrative leave in October, and resigned earlier this month.

Read the report from the investigation:
111115_spires 2

Comments

[Renee Hargrove]

07:59 PM on 01/06/2012

Good grief, what happened to having integrity?

[berrycuda]

04:23 PM on 11/21/2011

Yet another reason ALL government employees should be PERSONALLY liable for thier actions on the job...

[Intelligentia]

03:04 PM on 11/20/2011

""Coach Spires is the best math teacher I have ever had," the comment reads. "It's so sad he is being investigated for selling grades. :( I dont think I'll pass that class with out him there to teach, he made everything make so much sense!""

Did the kid really say that? Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, .,. Not a good thing to say when the teacher is being investigated for selling grades.

[aralpharetta]

07:27 PM on 11/19/2011

EveryONE Is Doing A SEErazy Cleanse.

[Greg34]

09:43 AM on 11/18/2011

What do you expect from a union teacher. This is everyone elses fault not his. Public unions have to go.

[Willing to Consider]

06:57 PM on 11/18/2011

Let's see...he admitted to the crime, admitted he had financial issues, and never mentioned the union in any quote in the article.

Apparently, your comment was about another article.

[aralpharetta]

07:28 PM on 11/19/2011

AMEN

[RLaitres]

07:29 AM on 11/20/2011

Let's see. Unions were not mentioned, but the poster brought it up. So, where did this come from? It certainly did not come from the article. Also, this happens even at the college and University levels where "daddy" endows a college to get their children in. It happens with athletes given a "by" or inflated grades, and only because they are "jocks". True, that is not true of all of them, but enough to make it noticeable. On the other hand, I am also aware of professors who have personal relationships; i.e. sex, with some of their students (not all of them are young). So, we have a serious problem at all levels,do we not? And, it certainly has nothing to do with unions at all. Nice try though.

[Roberto Torres]

01:19 AM on 11/18/2011

I have being chemistry teacher for 23 years. Mr., Spires actions justify removal from his job. But we must take into account many details: Students are not the same of those 20 years back. Moral values and ethics are abstruse. Today’s teachers are in a pseudo combat field, a continuous stress, a punitive policy for schools that do not comply with new national standards. It takes much time on administrators Teachers and students. “There is no time for the needs of those in need”. And add the inflation, and economic problems we have. According to Mr. Spires Answer, we must see into a macro space, rather a Nano space

[John Anderson n POZ hell]

12:07 AM on 11/18/2011

I knew several people that shouldn't be using meth in thier line of work, but the LAPD usually has more pertinent things on thier agenda to manage like slaughtering homeless people that snitch and begging for handouts by phone.

[Willing to Consider]

06:59 PM on 11/18/2011

What? What does the LAPD have to do with a teacher selling grades in Charlotte County, Florida?

I know at least one person who shouldn't be using meth while online.

[John Anderson n POZ hell]

12:15 PM on 11/19/2011

I no longer live in Los Angeles but I know what went on there perhaps you only live in florida therfore if it doesn't revolve around you it doesn't exist?

[John Anderson n POZ hell]

12:20 PM on 11/19/2011

Maybe you should get off the pipe eh?

[John Anderson n POZ hell]

12:13 PM on 11/19/2011

A private school science teacher and a catholic school teacher, I don't know the identity of the catholic school teacher but the science teacher has moved and already quit.

[patamstutz]

11:59 PM on 11/17/2011

Why is this guy teaching school? Anybody ever heard of morale turpitude.? Background checks? What the heck is wrong with this school district? More liberal crap-.

[elvoz]

12:19 AM on 11/18/2011

Tip the maitre d' and move to the head of the line -- bribe the market manager and get your product on eye level shelf -- donate to the church and the priest says a prayer for you -- donate money and we name the bldg after you -- flash bills and get the hot chicks --

[KBLAIR3]

11:51 PM on 11/17/2011

BETTER,GRADES,THAN,DRUGS,LEAVE,HIM,ALONE,LET,HIM,TEACH,

[KitKat85]

12:09 AM on 11/18/2011

"It's okay to pay off people to get what you want". Is that the message you're sending (along with the apparent fact that you yourself probably bribed a teacher or three to graduate. Atrocious)?

[brioaz]

11:46 PM on 11/17/2011

This guy should have been teaching economics.

brioaz

[sedunning]

05:04 AM on 11/20/2011

oh no, he should be teaching political science and be in charge of student elections.

[demigoff1]

11:27 PM on 11/17/2011

Where was you when I needed you. LOL

[marxman495]

11:34 PM on 11/17/2011

same thing i was thinking

[texasaaa]

12:25 AM on 11/18/2011

Me too! My math teacher asked me if his class was the only one that was keeping me from graduating. I said yes and he took out his pencil, erased the D and put a C in the place of it.
That was over 40 years ago. As I look back at that moment and see how my life turned out, he did me a great favor. I went on to be a successful person. What would another year as a Sr. done to my self esteem as my classmates went on with their lives.

[momeat12]

10:31 PM on 11/17/2011

Not much of a math teacher

[o2byoung]

10:52 PM on 11/17/2011

I agree on many points made here tonight....#1 the misspelling is nuts! #2 Background checks especially in schools are tight..how did this person pass the check with a prior history of jail time? #3 correct...teacher was teaching that if you have what someone needs/wants, one can get what they want in return. WOW! What will we read about tomorrow? Dog carjacks bus full of cats, crosses into Mexico without being detained, returns with drugs and guns.....all because dog did not fit profile of illegal alien nor that of terrorist!
Please give us our sanity back.

[demigoff1]

11:28 PM on 11/17/2011

Big deal ,we've got college grads who can't read write.

[GERRYOC]

10:20 PM on 11/17/2011

THATS WHY AMERICA IS FAST BECOMMING A COUNTRY FULL OF DUMB ASSES CHECK THE SPELLING ON THIS FORUM LOL

[houseiowapark]

10:47 PM on 11/17/2011

English class is easy to pass now, I guess. So is spelling. lol

[pwalsh830]

11:09 PM on 11/17/2011

i actually work with someone who just graduated but can only read printing, so what do they teach our kids today.. if i sign my name or write a sentence, she cannot read it unless i print it... truly amazing what the kids are not learning but yet passing.

[Hugh080]

11:28 PM on 11/17/2011

Thank You.

[iamalone]

10:14 PM on 11/17/2011

you can buy anyone in are gov. not just politions ?

[GERRYOC]

10:22 PM on 11/17/2011

DUDE LEARN HOW TO SPELL

[mgarbin103]

10:28 PM on 11/17/2011

Only idiots address people as "dude". Go back to english class

[catlijk2]

10:04 PM on 11/17/2011

If the employees of our schools spent less time looking for dirt on students' Facebook pages, they might have had the time to do a background check on this guy before they hired him.

[Hugh080]

11:29 PM on 11/17/2011

We should conduct a background check on you for posting this comment.
We should bill you for that too.

[catlijk2]

07:01 AM on 11/18/2011

Touch a nerve, did we?!