He departed Pasco schools amidst controversy, but quickly found new teaching opportunities

Tammy Zybell was shocked and outraged when her son came home from Lecanto High School in Citrus County with complaints about a teacher who had belittled him in front of the entire class. The teacher questioned her son’s intelligence and made inappropriate comments about sex and race, leading to an investigation by the school.

As Zybell delved deeper into the teacher’s history, she uncovered a troubling pattern of behavior. Articles from the Tampa Bay Times revealed that the teacher, Michael Maynard, had a history of making disparaging remarks about students at several Pasco County schools. Additionally, a disciplinary file from the state Education Practices Commission showed that Maynard had been reprimanded in 2017 for his actions.

Despite this troubling past, Maynard was hired by Lecanto High School in 2022. However, a year and a half later, the administration began disciplinary proceedings against him for inappropriate behavior in the classroom. Maynard resigned from his position, citing various challenges he faced in the school environment.

The Citrus County School District has since sent Maynard’s file to the Department of Education for review and possible action. Andrew Spar, president of the Florida Education Association teachers union, emphasized the importance of schools being aware of teachers’ backgrounds and making informed decisions when hiring.

The case of Michael Maynard highlights the need for thorough background checks and accountability in the education system to ensure the safety and well-being of students. Parents like Tammy Zybell are calling for greater transparency and oversight to prevent teachers with a history of misconduct from harming students in the future.