Paula Weckesser will have her teacher's licenses suspended for two years, according to a suspension order issued earlier this month.
WOODBRIDGE -- A high school math teacher fired by the Woodbridge School District for "a prolonged period" of misconduct, including calling students losers on Facebook, has had her teaching license suspended for two years.
Paula Weckesser, who had been teaching at Woodbridge High School and JFK Memorial High School in the district, was fired after 30 years as a teacher after the district brought tenure proceedings.
The state Board of Education issued the two-year teaching certificate suspension this month after Weckesser had a hearing before a state Board of Examiners last year. The board had the option of revoking her teaching certificates.
"I think that Ms. Weckesser deserves the chance to move on with her career in the future, and hopefully she will be able to do that after the suspension," her attorney Edward A. Cridge said Thursday.
Woodbridge school officials contended during the tenure proceedings that led to her firing that Weckesser had shown longstanding insubordination and unbecoming conduct.
In one instance, Weckesser ridiculed a student whose native language is not English after the student was unable to read numbers off a calculator, according to the state board decision. Another student who fell asleep during class was forced to stand for 30 to 45 minutes while taking notes, according to the decision.
On social media, Weckesser posted a response to a student's comment on Facebook and called other students "Loser!!" on the page, according to the decision.
Weckesser also was continually tardy, failed to complete her grade book according to district standards and allowed her cellphone to go off while students were taking a state exam, the decision said.
During the hearing before the state board, Cridge argued that his client's actions "were not so grave that Weckesser should lose her certificates," adding that "maybe it was right she lost her job," but that she should be allowed to teach again, according to the decision.
The state board also took note of Weckesser's remorse over the incidents in explaining the decision to suspend her license, rather than issue a revocation.
"Weckesser noted that she had been a teacher for 30 years and that she loved kids, teaching and helping people," according to the state Board of Examiners ruling. "She took responsibility for her actions and stated that going through the tenure proceeding was difficult and a learning experience."
Spencer Kent may be reached at skent@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @SpencerMKent. Find the Find NJ.com on Facebook.