Broward Teacher Fired For Profanity In School

FT. LAUDERDALE (CBS4) - Nearly 2 years after it happened, a Broward County science teacher who repeatedly  used profanity and ethnic slurs in front of students has been fired.

Paul Kushch, a 10-year veteran of the Broward school system, was fired this week for using profanity, including an African-American slur, while speaking to a pep rally in 2008 before mostly back football players. While he was given a warning for that incident, he was accused of using other slurs and profane language again in 2009

Kushch admitted the incidents, saying the first was an attempt at motivating the students, and the second was because he had been disciplined by a supervisor.

"I had a bad day," he told the South Florida Sun Sentinel.

The decision to fire the teacher was made last February, but an appeals process delayed the actual act until this week. While an administrative law judge ruled that Kushch should be suspended for 6 months, the School Board disagreed. Superintendent Jim Notter said he lacked confidence that he could place  his own children in a classroom where Kushch was teaching.

Kushch agreed he should have been suspended, but said the school board went too far in firing him.

He now works at a private school in Davie.