HOUSTON -- An advanced placement art teacher at The Woodlands High School was suspended from her job after school officials learned of a recent class assignment.

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Students React To Art Teacher's Suspension

Karen Fearon, a 20-year teacher, was suspended with pay, pending the outcome of an investigation, for asking her students to draw a classmate dressed only in boxer shorts.

Fearon teaches a studio art advance placement class for juniors and seniors that includes a figure-drawing unit.

"To do this (assignment), we need to actually see the elbows, shoulders to make it look like there is actually a body underneath the clothing," Fearon said.

The teacher put out an e-mail notice to students and teacher aides, asking if anyone wanted to model for the assignment. One girl posed in clothing and a male student showed up, wearing boxer shorts under his pants.

"I said, 'Oh, are those boxer shorts? Do they fully cover you? Are they appropriate?' And he said, 'Yes, they are.' I asked him if he would feel comfortable wearing those in the class. At first he was hesitant, then he said, 'Yeah, I will.' Before I knew it, I turned around to get the paper and supplies and he had dropped his pants in the class. Well, that was kind of shocking because ... I usually have them go in the back room to change," Fearon said.

An anonymous complaint came into the school the next day and Fearon was suspended with pay.

"It wasn't any big deal. It was blown way out of proportion," art student Kelli Haltom said.

Many classmates agreed with Haltom and said they want to see their teacher return to class soon.

Conroe Independent School District officials were unable to tell News2Houston when they plan to make a decision on the issue.

"The incident is a personnel issue, and is under investigation. We are not at liberty to disclose any information," Conroe ISD communications director Kaye Galindo said.