Teacher’s termination on hold after she allegedly called in sick to attend a concert in Nashville

LIBERTY TOWNSHIP, Ohio (WXIX/Gray News) – The termination of an Ohio high school teacher who allegedly called out of work sick for two days to attend a concert in Nashville, Tennessee, is on hold – at least for now.

Eileen Washburn is an English teacher at Lakota West High School in the Lakota Local School District.

Documents from an April 2 district board meeting say that Washburn “falsified sick leave” on Feb. 8 and 9, and that Washburn told several colleagues that she was attending a concert in Nashville.

The school board said Washburn refused to answer questions regarding her whereabouts during that time and refused to discuss specifics on her alleged need for sick leave.

Washburn was placed on unpaid leave as the district investigated.

Earlier this month, Interim Superintendent Elizabeth Lolli recommended that the board vote to terminate her at their April 22 meeting, unless “Washburn files a written demand for a hearing within the time required.”

Washburn has filed a request for a hearing with the school board, and thus the vote to terminate her has been put on hold.

Not only is Washburn a teacher, but she is also a member of the board of education at another nearby school district, Loveland City School District, according to its website.

Both districts are in the northern suburbs of Cincinnati.

Washburn has not responded to WXIX’s multiple requests for comment over the past month.

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