Fired Teacher Pays to Help Students Prep for AP Exam

Although fired from Capistrano Unified last month, controversial history teacher Paul Pflueger said Friday that he will continue to teach students independently starting today to help them prepare for the upcoming advanced placement exams.

“I’m not going to talk about my case,” said Pflueger, who was teaching U.S. history before he was dismissed Feb. 8. “I’m strictly only going to teach critical thinking and direct lessons on monetary and fiscal policy.”

Today’s class will be at Saddleback Community College in the Business and General Studies building from 10 a.m. to noon. He spent $100 to rent the classroom, and is teaching the class for free, he said.

Pflueger, 55, was fired after nearly 20 years with the district on charges of unsatisfactory performance. Even though students asked the board to keep him, it voted 4 to 1 to remove him.

But because Pflueger is appealing the decision, he has been placed on paid leave. Pflueger also filed a request for an evidentiary hearing that will involve a three-person panel reviewing the case. The process could last months.