An Iowa high school teacher has been fired after offering students extra credit in exchange for something completely unrelated to their schoolwork.
Stephanie Mullaley, a long-term substitute teacher with the Clinton Community School District, was dismissed on May 29 after the district determined that she had violated its ethics policy.
According to findings from Administrative Law Judge Duane Golden, Mullaley told students during the 2025-26 school year about a personal GoFundMe campaign she had created. She allegedly told students that if they donated money to the fundraiser, they could receive extra credit toward their grades.
Some students did contribute, and Golden found that students felt pressured to donate to Mullaley's personal fundraiser. The district determined that she had used her position as a teacher to encourage students to provide financial support.
The fundraiser was reportedly created to help Mullaley and her husband pay for a planned July trip to Ecuador. Mullaley said she would be interpreting for a medical mission team and helping with language barriers, while her husband would assist the team. The campaign had a goal of $1,800 but received only $140 through six donations ranging from $5 to $50.
After losing her job, Mullaley sought unemployment benefits. Judge Golden denied the request, ruling that her actions amounted to job-related misconduct and that she had shown a “willful or wanton disregard” for the school district's interests.
The school district's decision and the judge's ruling have now brought renewed attention to the unusual arrangement between the teacher and her students.