An elementary school teacher in New Jersey landed in hot water when the students’ parents became disturbed by her “inappropriate” outfits and the “booty pics” taken while in the classroom. Many called for her resignation, but others thought she had every right to show off her ample curves.
An elementary school educator was blasted for teaching in tight clothing. Some outraged parents described her as “desperate” and “attention-seeking.” Roxsana Diaz has amassed over one million followers on her Instagram account, where she shares photos of her figure-hugging ensembles, which are often taken in her classroom.
According to the New York Post, the buxom brunette can be seen flaunting her figure up against a whiteboard in some of the saucy snaps. In other images, her students are visible inside the classroom, but their faces are not identifiable. Many have praised the body-confident educator for her fashion prowess, but some parents on social media say she should not be wearing such outfits around minors.
“You’re in a classroom taking Instagram pictures with your a– out,” one person ranted in response to an eye-popping “booty” photo. “Showing pictures in the class with your butt in the air is very inappropriate!” Another critic posted, “That just looks crazy and makes you desperate for likes.” A third person said: “You’re sad, taking booty pics during class?”
According to The Rod Ryan Show, the curvy educator who uses the moniker “The Art Teacher” is 39 years old and teaches preschoolers in Pennsauken, New Jersey. She posted a video on Instagram to address her followers about how some parents are trying to get her fired. “I have seen some men said some crazy, mean stuff, but I teach babies and there are no haters in the classroom thinking of that,” she declared.
“I’m a really, really good teacher,” Roxsana Diaz said. “I had students emailing me during the summer asking me for homework. They love art. I love teaching art. I love working with children to create art.” Some viewers showered praise on the art teacher, applauding her “passion” for her job and reminding her that “haters are gonna hate.” Meanwhile, she even found a surprising supporter in a famous rapper, Fat Joe, who created a video claiming critics are trying to get the beauty “fired” from her job.
“They’re trying to fire her because she too sexy,” the rapper — real name Joseph Antonio Cartagena — said in a YouTube video. “She too beautiful. She’s too curvaceous. I say let the woman be great,” he continued, “Can you fire somebody for their looks? Can you fire a teacher that’s ugly? How can you fire a teacher because she bad?”
Diaz’s employers stood behind her, and she was able to keep her job. She spoke out about the haters on social media. “I do not [dress inappropriately]. I wouldn’t have the job for the many years as I’ve had it. I volunteered for seven years at that school before even accepting the teaching position,” she said. “It’s so scary to see that social media and the world can really feed you anything they want to feed you.”
Diaz also posted a 14-minute video defending her clothing choices. “Trying to body shame me because I am curvaceous is still discrimination,” she said. “You want someone teaching your children that will love and protect them as if they were their own child,” she declared. “Blessed are the few that have educators involved in their children’s life that want to instill knowledge, positivity, love, and wisdom.”
Roxsana Diaz said that in the wake of calls for her to be fired, her students were worried that they had lost their art teacher. “Two of my girls, two little girls, ran to me almost in tears and hugged me,” Diaz said. She reassured them that she wasn’t going anywhere and changed the topic. “I don’t like talking about it with my children.”
Diaz appeared to love her newfound fame and appeared on a talk show to address the controversy and promote her new children’s coloring book Little Buddy Meets the Art Teacher. The book uses characters that Diaz says are based on puppets she has used with her pre-k through second-grade students. She says the characters help kids to express themselves. “Art is not only drawing and coloring and cutting and pasting,” Diaz said. “Art is a tool used for therapy and healing and growing.”
