Little Mermaid

Teacher asks girl to wear mermaid outfit

A middle school teacher who asked a student to pose for a photograph in a mermaid costume has been reassigned to an adult education program.

Les Leonard, a music teacher with 17 years in the school system, agreed to the transfer from Johnson City's Indian Trail Middle School to a vacant position in adult education that will include testing coordination and possibly some adult teaching.

"I thought it was in the best interests of the school system," Schools Director Richard Bales said.

According to a letter in Leonard's personnel file, a female student reported that Leonard asked her to stay after class to pose for a photograph with his guitar. Then he asked her to put on a mermaid costume for a second photograph. She declined.