Fla. teacher caught selling grades to students

(CBS)PUNTA GORDA, Fla. - A Punta Gorda math teacher has been caught accepting bribes from students in exchange for good grades.

CBS Tampa reports that Jeff Spires admitted his guilt not long after the investigation by the school district began. Spires was placed on paid administrative leave after the accusations surfaced on Oct. 14.

According to testimony by Spires' students, they would give their teacher cash in exchange for a grade boost, often stapling or paper clipping money to the tests. Assistant Principal Herb Bennett interviewed a student who claimed that during the first quarter of the school year in 2011-2012, he paid Spires many times, up to forty dollars at a time, for an improved grades on math tests and quizzes.

In documents released by the school board, Mr. Spires stated that he "took approximately 60 to 70 dollars from (one) eleventh grader on two separate occasions in exchange for improving his grades on a couple of quizzes or tests."

CBS affiliate WSTP said that in one of the investigation's documents, a student wrote, "I paid coach $40.00 cash for this quiz. I paper clipped two 20.00 dollar bills to the quiz."

According to reports, Spires did refuse to change an overall course grade for a student who supposedly offered him several hundred dollars to change a B to an A.

Spires testified that this was the only school year that he has ever accepted any bribes, though apparently he often joked with his other classes about accepting cash for these kinds of favors.

Spires explained that he needed the money because he was going through some difficult financial times. The documents say "Spires was in financial straits due to bankruptcy, arrests and jail time."

WSTP reports that when asked why he did it, Spires said, "Maybe I see the kids as desperate as I am."

Charlotte County Jail records show Spires was booked three times within the last two years. The crimes include DUI, driving with a suspended license, and probation violation.

Mike Riley, community liaison and manager of adult education for Charlotte County Public Schools, told CBS Tampa that Spires resigned from his teaching position last week. The fate of his teaching certificate will lie in the hands of the Department of Education.

It is unlikely the students will be punished due to the fact they came forward and admitted their participation.