A Florida high school cross country coach has been forced to resign after a pair of former student-athletes came forward with allegations that they were bullied by the coach.
Shelli Shoup was a math teacher at Columbia High School, as well as the cross country coach. She’s been placed on voluntary leave from her teaching duties and has stepped down from her coaching duties while the school investigates the bullying allegations.
News 4 in Jacksonville reported that two players came forward at an October school board meeting claiming they’d been bullied by Shoup.
Sarah Calzada, who graduated in 2018, was one of those who spoke to the school board. She said that teacher's actions have had a long-lasting effect.
"It sticks with you psychologically and makes you question, you know, am I worth it to the people around me?" Calzada told the school board.
Skyler Colley, also a 2018 Columbia graduate, said the teacher's words had a big impact on his life.
"[She was] constantly singling you out in front of everyone, making fun of you, pointing out stuff, constantly yelling at you, harassing you down the hallways," Colley said.
Shoup has asked to be reassigned to a position in the county’s online education platform.
