Teacher fired after competing on ‘Survivor Québec’ reality show
globalnews.caDéborah De Braekeleer knew she would have to face her fear of bugs when she volunteered to be marooned on a remote island in the Philippines. But perhaps her greatest challenge awaited her when she returned home to Quebec.
The 39-year-old elementary school teacher is one of 20 cast members on the second season of “Survivor Québec,” a French-language franchise of the popular reality television competition series in which a group of thrill-seekers brave physical challenges and gruelling environmental conditions for the chance to win a $100,000 grand prize.
As of the latest episode Wednesday evening, De Braekeleer was one of 16 remaining contestants.
Yet while viewers watch De Braekeleer vie for the favour of her fellow competitors to avoid elimination by group vote, a different kind of drama is unfolding in St-Hyacinthe, Que., 50 kilometres east of Montreal.
On March 26, the governing council of the school district where De Braekeleer taught Grade 3 voted 7-5 to fire her for taking unauthorized time off to participate in the show.
The decision has left some members of the community reeling. An online petition with more than 4,400 signatures is imploring the school board to reverse course.
“She’s a teacher who is extremely appreciated,” said Joël Bélanger, a member of the school board council who voted against her ouster. “She makes a difference, people really identify with her and have made her one of their own, so it’s really our whole community that’s in mourning.”
Reached by social media, De Braekeleer said she can’t talk to reporters while she is still on the Noovo network’s show.
But in an interview Thursday, Bélanger explained what happened. De Braekeleer made a request in November for two months of unpaid leave to
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