A physical education teacher in Arizona was terminated in April 2025 after allowing a bullied student to use a restroom connected to her office, a situation that ultimately led to her dismissal from Somerton High School. The teacher, Alyssa Plaza, faced repercussions after a parent complained that a boy on the cheerleading team had been allowed access to facilities adjacent to the girls' locker room.
According to The Arizona Republic, the student, Alejandro Perez-Parra, was the only male on the cheer team and had been experiencing bullying and death threats related to his sexual orientation, which contributed to significant mental health issues. Plaza permitted Perez-Parra to use the bathroom adjoining her office as an alternative to the boys' locker room.
An investigation following the parent's complaint in February 2025 found the initial information to be inaccurate and incomplete, as Perez-Parra had used the office bathroom, not the girls' locker room. Despite this clarification, Plaza was placed on administrative leave and ordered not to contact students. Subsequently, she was reportedly found to have messaged students on Instagram, a claim she disputes, stating she provided her phone to the State Department of Education to prove she did not send the message.
Eric Patten, a spokesperson for the Yuma Union High School District (YUHSD), declined to comment on the specifics of Plaza's termination but confirmed the school board's support for the decision. The settlement agreement reached between Plaza and the State Board of Education included a letter of censure for unprofessional conduct and a requirement to complete professional development to regain her teaching credentials.
Plaza described the experience as "pure torture" but stated she would make the same decision again if faced with similar circumstances. "The thought that should be running through my head is like, 'If I had an option to do it again, I would do it again,'" she said. Plaza previously worked at the Yuma County Juvenile Justice Center, according to social media posts. She no longer teaches at Somerton High School.