Teacher resigns after nude photos found online

Students at her high school viewed them, she defended shots as art

Video: Life

A father forgives his son's killer
July 18: How one father is Making a Difference by turning his grief over the senseless murder of his son into an institution of hope and healing. NBC's John Larson reports.

Hop back on that bike

'Sargeant's Heaven' helps families cope with loss

Mailman dives into lake, saves girl

Kids learn detective skills at 'CSI' camp

Stand and be counted

What keeps you up at night? Gut Check America wants you to tell us what really matters to our country. Click here to learn more and get involved.

NBC Field Notes

NBC News correspondents and producers across the U.S. shed light on the news of the day.

Photo features

Zuma Press	The Week in Pictures A bird, a bee, and a Spanish kiss highlight a week of images from around the world.
Reuters	PhotoBlog View and discuss the pictures and issues that caught our eyes.

Most popular

• Most viewed

• Top rated

• Most e-mailed

First of 5 feet found in Canada is identified

Idea of gas-tax holiday runs into a dead end

Check out these ambush makeovers!

Diet like a star

U.S. to Iran: Cooperate or face confrontation

Most viewed on msnbc.com

updated 2:44 p.m. ET Aug. 18, 2006

AUSTIN, Texas - A high school art teacher who faced termination after students saw her nude photos online has agreed to resign.

Tamara Hoover had been on paid leave since May, when students saw the photos on Flickr.com and showed them to another art teacher at Austin High School. That teacher, who was feuding with Hoover over ceramics equipment, notified administrators, according to sworn affidavits.

The photos were posted by Hoover’s partner and depicted her in the shower, getting dressed and doing other routine activities.

Story continues below ↓

Hoover said the district was focusing on eight pictures among hundreds that were posted, and she defended them as art. The school district said the photos were inappropriate and violated the “higher moral standard” expected of teachers.

Hoover, who had been scheduled to argue her case in a termination hearing next week, submitted her letter of resignation Wednesday. Pending school board approval, she will receive several months’ salary totaling $14,850 under an agreement with the school district.

She said she had wanted to keep teaching but now will pursue a master’s degree and teach at the university level.

“I don’t think this is the most ideal outcome,” she said.

In a statement released Thursday, the district said it “believes strongly in an individual’s right of free expression, but as we all know, such rights are not absolute.”