ST. CLOUD, Fla. — An Osceola County teacher removed from his post as volleyball coach at Harmony High School over players’ allegations has now been removed from the classroom over a series of Facebook posts, district officials said Monday.
Eric Trowbridge is accused of making posts on his Facebook page threatening to beat people up and appeared to be directed at current or former students at Harmony High School.
Trowbridge resigned from the district Tuesday, a spokesperson for the district confirmed.
Osceola County Schools launched an investigation into the alleged Facebook posts Monday after receiving the allegations against Trowbridge.
This is not the first time the math teacher has been in hot water with the district.
In 2013, he was the Harmony High School volleyball coach but was removed from the position after female players told administrators he touched them, texted them and treated them badly, investigators said.
“Several young girls quit the volleyball team he used to coach,” parent Angela Mikolaiek said.
Trowbridge was stripped of his coaching position and given a written reprimand, but was allowed to continue teaching math at the school.
The recent Facebook situation started after Trowbridge allegedly commented that a former student’s photo was “kinda cute,” district officials said.
He was called out by other users, some current or former Harmony High School students.
“Dude, that’s weird, bro, she’s like 19,” one person responded.
Trowbridge’s comments allegedly escalated from there.
He is accused of calling one young man a “holypaw redneck P-O-S,” and later using the N-word and challenging someone to fight.
When Channel 9 went to Trowbridge’s home seeking comment on the situation, no one answered the door.
If the allegations against him are true, Mikolaiek did not think Trowbridge should be allowed back in the classroom.
“He doesn’t need to be someone we entrust with our kids eight hours a day,” she said. “Someone who is clearly not fit to be an educator here.”
Cox Media Group
