Teacher anoints students with holy oil

NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) - A Norfolk  teacher has resigned after it was discovered she was rubbing "holy oil" on students and their desks during school, a Norfolk Public Schools spokesperson said.

The fifth-grade teacher worked at Jacox Elementary School . Administrators said they learned about the teacher's behavior after it was reported by a parent.

Interim Superintendent of Schools, Michael Spencer, sent a memo on Wednesday to members of the School Board:

"In early June, a parent reported that a fifth-grade teacher at Jacox Elementary School allegedly was using inappropriate religious practices in her classroom. I interviewed the teacher, and the Office of Pupil Personnel conducted an investigation.  The teacher admitted that she had rubbed 'holy oil' on students and their desks during the school day. She was immediately removed from the classroom, and she resigned as of June 30."

Norfolk Public Schools provides teachers with training on acceptable classroom behavior and practices, according to Norfolk school's public information officer Karen Tanner. She said the teacher violated school policy when she anointed her students.