CLINTON, IOWA —
An Iowa high school teacher was fired after school officials determined that she had used her position to solicit donations from students for her personal GoFundMe campaign.
Offering extra credit in exchange for contributions.
The teacher, Stephanie Mullaley, had worked for the Clinton Community School District since 2022, first as a paraeducator and later as a full-time, long-term substitute high school teacher.
She was terminated on May 29, 2026, after the district concluded that she had violated its ethics policy.
According to findings issued by Administrative Law Judge Duane Golden during a hearing concerning Mullaley’s application for unemployment benefits, Mullaley discussed her personal educational goals with students during the 2025–26 school year.
The findings state that she told students she had created a GoFundMe campaign to help with her education and told them they could receive extra credit toward their grades if they donated money.
Some students did contribute, according to the judge’s findings.
The school district subsequently determined that Mullaley had been using her position as a teacher to pressure students into donating to her personal fundraiser.
The judge ultimately characterized the conduct as job-related misconduct and found that students felt pressured to donate.
What was the GoFundMe for?
The fundraiser reportedly sought $1,800 to help pay for a planned trip to Ecuador involving Mullaley and her husband.
Mullaley described the trip as an opportunity to work with a medical mission team.
She said she would help interpret and bridge language barriers while her husband would assist the team.
The fundraiser indicated that donations would help cover transportation, food and lodging.
The campaign ultimately received $140 through six donations, with individual contributions ranging from $5 to $50, before activity on the fundraiser was paused.
After losing her job, Mullaley sought unemployment benefits.
Judge Golden denied the request, finding that the circumstances surrounding her termination constituted job-related misconduct and demonstrated a disregard for the school district’s interests.
The ruling means Mullaley was not eligible for unemployment benefits based on the circumstances of her termination.
The Clinton Community School District has declined to discuss the personnel matter publicly, citing its policy regarding confidential employee matters.
Teachers hold a position of trust and authority over their students.
That relationship becomes particularly important when academic grades, extra credit and a student’s personal finances intersect.
Students should never feel that they must financially support a teacher’s personal fundraiser in order to receive an academic benefit.
Even when a fundraiser is connected to a seemingly charitable or educational purpose, academic opportunities should be based on a student’s work and achievement—not the student’s ability or willingness to provide money.
A classroom is supposed to be a place where students can learn without feeling pressured to spend money, support an adult’s personal financial goals or fear that refusing a request could affect their grades.
