Popular Principal ‘Likes’ Porn Tweet, Loses Job As a Result

CYBERSPACE—A popular high school principal in Connecticut is out of a job this week after a local news outlet alleged that he clicked “like” on a 28-second porn clip that appeared in his Twitter feed, according to  a report by the New Haven Register.  Terri Goldson, a 30-year employee of the Ansonia, Connecticut, school district, was in his second year as principal when the report of his alleged Twitter “like” appeared in December. He was placed on administrative leave at that time, and on Thursday, the district’s Board of Education met behind closed doors and came out with a “retirement” deal for Goldson—who was described by the Register as “a popular and well-respected individual in the community with family roots steeped deep in Ansonia.” Ansonia is a small city of about 20,000, located about 15 minutes by car northwest of New Haven.  The board claimed that the well-liked principal was not fired from his job, but would not disclose details of the agreement that left Goldson unemployed. Before Goldson “retired,” the Board had pledged to carry out an investigation into the Twitter porn “like.” But that investigation has now been called off. “He is retired as of now,” Board President Bill Nimons told the paper. “There is no investigation going on because he retired.” Reports in local media said that because he had clicked “like” on the porn tweet, it showed up in the Twitter feeds of his followers as well, many of the students at the high school. But in January, about 60 members of the Ansonia community crowded into a Board of Education meeting to back Goldson. "We don't know if his account was compromised, we don't know what the situation is in regards to his Twitter account but everyone who follows him on Facebook or Twitter knows that he's a family man," Greg Johnson, president of the local NAACP chapter, told a local TV station. “He’s a hero in our eyes, with many students here in Ansonia, and past students who he’s touched through not only academics but sports and being a mentor.” While Goldson has not commented publicly on the controversy, he posted a statusupdate on his personal Facebook page, stating, ““There was a very inappropriate video with sexual content on my Twitter feed today. Please ... be careful with social media.” His Facebook page has received more than 100 messages of support. But regardless, allegedly clicking “like” on a porn tweet appears to have cost the veteran educator his job.