Noah Johnson Daily Press Theresa Pascoe, the recently terminated gymnastics coach/instructor at Escanaba High School, pleads for her reinstatement as she reads a letter during the public comment portion of board of education meeting.

ESCANABA – Over 80 people attended Monday’s Escanaba School Board meeting to voice support for recently terminated gymnastics instructor Theresa Pascoe.

Pascoe, a coach at Escanaba for over 40 years, was terminated in March after an incident at practice.

On March 21, Pascoe received a letter from Escanaba Athletics Director Nate Zaremba informing her that the school district would be going in a different direction.

“This year, I witnessed an organized high school gymnastics practice being led by individuals who had not been properly vetted and approved by the district with the head coach not present at the practice, which poses significant liability issues for the schools,” the termination letter read in part.

Theresa was able to address the board at Monday’s meeting and asked for her reinstatement. She admitted she made a mistake but clarified that the individuals who assisted at the practice in question were not just any random people but qualified gymnastics coaches.

One of the allegedly unvetted instructors was Joan Pascoe, Theresa’s sister.

“Joan Pascoe isn’t just anybody off the street. She was a gymnast, assistant coach, and head coach at Escanaba High School. Shouldn’t Joans’ previous employment with the school district as head gymnastics coach qualified for her as being background check,” Theresa asked the board.

She also questioned why Zaremba, who was present the day of the practice, did not suspend practice if there was indeed a liability.

“If this poses a significant liability issues for the school, why didn’t the AD (Athletic Director) cancel practice and tell the high school team to go home? He did nothing. He left and called the superintendent, who also did nothing. These two people should be just as liable as I am. My heart bleeds orange and black. I would love to be reinstated to continue bleeding these colors,” Theresa said.

After she finished her comments, she received a standing ovation and a round of applause.

Joan, Theresa’s sister, also spoke, saying Zaremba did not introduce himself or ask who the additional people were at practice. Joan said she observed him speaking down to an athlete during the practice.

She also said she has seen him say negative things to student-athletes in front of their peers, competitors, and friends.

“He has no respect for his job and the responsibility that this job of his carries,” Joan said.

Over 20 parents, students, local coaches, and concerned citizens spoke in support of Pascoe, speaking about her importance, dedication, and love for the students.

Brent Martin, a volunteer who assisted Theresa in the past, spoke in favor of her reinstatement, calling her his mentor, who looked out for him and his family.

He also echoed Theresa, saying if she messed up, she wasn’t the only one.

“The way I read that letter, two people screwed up. Mrs. Pascoe made a mistake, and so did your athletic director. If he thought that was a liability that day, as an athletic director there for the athletes, the students, he should chaperone practice,” Martin said.

Multiple current and former students spoke in favor of Theresa, saying her presence and knowledge have helped them build their athletic careers.

One student said she trusted Theresa with everything, saying Theresa was always there to pick her up when she fell down.

The meeting ultimately ran for two hours, with the majority of the time occupied by citizens voicing their support for Theresa.

Look in Wednesday’s edition of the Daily Press and the Daily Press website for more details on the meeting.