On
The Bachelor,
Amber Alchalabi has been playing up her connection with her young students, telling Andy that she missed them and it was hard to be away from them. But as it turns out, the parents of her students say she’s exploiting them, as well as saying she missed an important testing period, leaving them to cope with an uncredentialed substitute teacher.
Amber teaches fourth grade at Colony Bend Elementary in Sugar Land, Texas. The students and parents were told that Amber took a month off to take care of her sick aunt. (The bachelorettes are always instructed to give their friends and family a cover story, as part of a confidentiality agreement to keep the winner a secret until the finale of
The Bachelor airs.)
Your Take
Cynthia Saracino said:
It's a good thing that Amber appeared on The Bachelor. People got to see another side of Amber - not just ...
Lexi said:
I am a student at the university of north texas. I am in air force rotc and my major is public relations. i...
KateY said:
Amber is fortunate that Andy did not pick her. She deserves better.
The parents are not happy that they were “lied to” by Amber and the principal regarding her absence, especially as it took place while the students were preparing for the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills test.
The Colony Bend parents are also upset that the show apparently came to the school to shoot some scenes on site, saying
The Bachelor has too much “adult content.” One parent, Lesley White, said, "I am incensed. It is not appropriate whatsoever for 9- and 10-year-old children.”
The principal of Colony Bend Elementary was aware of her participation in the show, and gave the producers permission to shoot the scenes. However, school board officials say they didn’t know about any of it, from her absence during the important TAKS testing to the show’s taping on school grounds.
Fort Bend Independent School District spokeswoman Mary Ann Simpson said they “believe the parents have some legitimate concerns. We don't believe any ill intent was ever intended here but we're certainly going to investigate it because we don't want anything like this to ever happen again. I know there was not malicious intent here on the part of the teacher or the principal.” However, the investigation may result in actions against both Amber and her principal.
Amber wrote to a local news station to defend herself, saying "I cherish my position at Colony Bend Elementary School, holding it with the utmost degree of professionalism and integrity. I apologize if my participation in '
The Bachelor' created any issues or upset for the parents or my students, all of whom I adore."
Could her stint on
The Bachelor cost Amber her job? She’s probably in for an official reprimand at the very least. As well, does the fact that the show taped a segment at her workplace mean Amber makes it to the final group? What do you think? Comment below!
-Mel Harris, BuddyTV Staff Columnist
Sources: KHOU 11 News, ABC News
Photo courtesy of ABC