NJ's 'sexiest teacher' shames critics of 'Miss Education' outfits

Union High School teacher Nicolas Ferroni knows what it's like to be objectified. Ferroni, along with being one of the top educators in the country, was also named People Magazine's "Sexiest Teacher in America" in 2014.

Ferroni, a guest on my New Jersey 101.5 show, talked about where he would be with that title if he were a woman, and also weighed in on the Pennsauken Elementary school teacher dubbed "Miss Education" coming under fire for how she dresses in class.

Nicolas Ferroni / Photo via Steve Trevelise

"I'm not the best teacher in the state, in the country, even in my school, but I try to remind people that there are so many amazing educators," he said, adding that a woman might have been treated differently if People magazine had named her "sexiest teacher alive" instead.

"Whenever I do press, I'm very quick to bring up the fact that if that was a female teacher, she would probably lose her job, which does not obviously fall ignorant on me knowing that, because of just how society is."

Nicolas Ferroni

As for "Miss Education" Ferroni continued:

"And seeing the story about the teacher, it's absolutely insane to me. The fact that they're attacking her for her existence, nothing else, and we've seen plenty of those situations."

It's happened to him.

"I posted a picture in a bathing suit. And people are like, you think that's appropriate? I'm at the beach. It's not sexual. If you objectify someone that is on you. If you sexualize someone that is on you. Unless they're going out of their way to call attention to it, like that's on you."

"Teachers are not human beings? We're not within society's norms? I can't go to the beach? I wish people held themselves to the same standard as they hold teachers."

He makes a great point.

Opinions expressed in the post above are those of New Jersey 101.5 talk show host Steve Trevelise only. Follow him on Twitter @realstevetrev.

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NJ teachers and educators caught in sex crime busts

Over the past few years, state lawmakers have taken on the challenge of dealing with accused child predators among the ranks of teachers and educators.

In 2018, the so-called “pass the trash” law went into effect, requiring stricter New Jersey school background checks related to child abuse and sexual misconduct.

The follow individuals were arrested over the past several years. Some have been convicted and sentenced to prison, while others have accepted plea deals for probation.

Others cases are still pending, including some court delays amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

New Jersey high school graduation rates

The lists below show 4-year graduation rates for New Jersey public schools for the 2020-21 school year. The statewide graduation rate fell slightly, from 91% in 2019-20 to 90.6%.

The lists, which are sorted by county and include a separate list for charter schools, also include a second graduation rate, which excludes students whose special education IEPs allow them to qualify for diplomas despite not meeting typical coursework and attendance requirements.

Columns with an asterisk or 'N' indicate there was no data or it was suppressed to protect student privacy.