KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — People in East Tennessee recently reached out to WBIR regarding a faculty member at Pellissippi State Community College creating and promoting his own adult content.
WBIR learned the faculty member had a sexually explicit OnlyFans account. A parent alerted 10News that students had found the faculty member's account and were disturbed at seeing images of him naked.
Community members also sent screenshots of an X account, formally known as Twitter, and an OnlyFans account that appears to be connected to the faculty member. The author of the OnlyFans account played off being a teacher and referred to subscribers as his students.
The account used to be free but has since been changed to paid subscriptions only.
WBIR reached out on March 28 to Pellissippi State Community College and asked about the faculty member. He also took part in a dual enrollment class in association with Knox County Schools.
Neither KCS or Pellissippi knew about his adult content account. He'd previously been an adjunct instructor at the school, records show.
WBIR requested his personnel file. On April 8, the college provided a link to the materials.
It included a letter dated April 1 to the instructor informing him his time at the community college was over.
"We have determined that the learning experience in the classroom has been disrupted which has resulted in a loss of effectiveness in your role as a Pellissippi State faculty member and teacher. Therefore, effective immediately, your classes have been assigned to other faculty members to complete the semester," the letter from President L. Anthony Wise Jr. stated.
He was ordered to turn in "all equipment and keys to your Dean at a mutually convenient time."
WBIR followed up by asking the college if it monitors employees' online postings, or if it had a policy that would prohibit faculty or staff from creating or partaking in adult-only content.
The college referred WBIR to its website, which includes a section on faculty professional ethics. It includes guidelines that say professors should seek truth, encourage the free pursuit of student learning and try to be effective teachers and scholars.
"Professors give due regard to their paramount responsibilities within their institution in determining the amount and character of work done outside it," the ethics said.
The section did not have specific language about conduct on social media, or adults-only content. Another section does say that employees of the Tennessee Board of Regents should avoid conflicts of commitment, as defined below.
"Conflict of commitment – occurs when the personal or other non-work related activities of an employee of the TBR and its constituent Institutions impair the ability of that employee to meet their commitments of time and energy to the TBR and its Institutions."
WBIR also reached out to Knox County Schools. It said it did not have a personnel file for the instructor because he was not an employee. However, the school district said after reaching out to Pellissippi, a new instructor was assigned to the dual enrollment class and a notification was sent to the families of students enrolled in the course.
WBIR is not naming the faculty member, as he has not been charged with a crime.
WBIR also reached out to him on social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn. However, WBIR has not been able to connect with him.