On May 10, 2024, Stephanie Mullaley was terminated from her substitute teaching post at Waverly High School after the school discovered she had been soliciting money from her students for a personal GoFundMe.
She promised students that each donation would translate into extra credit toward their final grades, a claim that felt more like coercion than incentive.
The GoFundMe page, launched in March, set a target of $1,800 but closed with only $140 collected.
Administrative Law Judge Duane Golden ruled that Mullaley’s actions constituted a willful disregard of the school’s interests, and denied her unemployment benefits.
Mullaley had posted a Facebook update in April announcing her participation in a medical mission to Ecuador, claiming an official invitation in late 2025.
The school has removed the fundraiser and will not provide unemployment benefits, leaving Mullaley to seek alternative support and potentially appeal the decision.