Canadian teacher posted lewd photo posing alongside Washington monument

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Parents at a school in Canada say they’ve pulled their children out of class after escalating complains over the conduct of the schools' principal.

The issues with Penny Mueller, who leads the Crestomere School near Edmonton in Alberta, go as far back as 2009 when she llewdly posed next to the Washington Monument while in the U.S. capital for a taxpayer-funded conference.

One other teacher at the school was fined $500 and reprimanded by the Alberta Teacher’s Association for putting up another risque photograph on Facebook afer teachers and former students claimed they were shocked by its content.

WARNING GRAPHIC IMAGES

Bad teacher: Several parents at a central Alberta school say the conduct of principal Penny Mueller over the past five years has been so bad that they've decide to take their kids out of class

Parents are claiming that the issues have not been adequately addressed by either board officials or the body that regulates the province’s teachers.

'It was a private photo,' ATA executive secretary Gordon Thomas said to the National Post. 'The principal didn’t post it.'

One parent was so upset she complained to the profession’s regulator and took her children away from the school.

'I think she was upset because she got her wrists slapped by administration,' mom Lori Turner said.

'She asked me if I had never been young and stupid once, and I said ‘sure,’ but never when my career was guiding and mentoring children,' she said.

Another parent, Barb Neilson also pulled her kids out of the school because she wasn't happy with the schools response.

This time it was in relation to lewd jokes that appeared on the principal's Pinterest account.

Having a laugh? A 2009 Facebook photo showing Crestomere School principal Penny Mueller (left) during a taxpayer funder conference in Washington

Ms Neilson shared the view of many parents - that the principal should be a strong female role model rather than posting distasteful and offensive comments online.

She even went to the ATA with a printout of the offending crude memes, but there was no promise made of any action and she was even told to withdraw her complaint.

Principal Mueller said she had never behaved in a way that undermined the honor and dignity of the teaching profession.

'I have not done anything unprofessional,' she said to the National Post.

'I think the media, including yourself, need to be aware about how the general public or parents go out of their way to destroy or cause grief in educators’ lives.'

Guidelines: The school has implemented rules for so-called 'digital citizenship' and says that there is more expected of teachers than rank and file citizens

Rules at Crestomere School speak of responsibility when it comes to 'digital citizenship' and guidelines for posting things online.

Ms. Mueller describes herself online as 'passionate' about educational technology and continues to be active on social media.

While many of her recent postings on Twitter are work-related, others are about her personal life.

Although the ATA doesn’t tell teachers not to use social media, it does urge caution: 'If you’re a teacher, there’s more that’s expected of you than rank and file citizens.'