A Catholic nursery school teacher has been dismissed after a parent discovered her OnlyFans account, leading to controversy and public outcry.

Elena Maraga, 29, found herself at the center of a scandal when the father of one of her students allegedly purchased photos from her OnlyFans page. According to Maraga, the father’s wife discovered the photos after they were shared in a football group.

In mid-March, Maraga was suspended without pay from her position at a nursery school near Treviso, Italy, after she refused to take down her OnlyFans account. Despite efforts by a group of parents and a trade union to prevent her dismissal, Maraga was officially fired on Tuesday.

The school cited the “Catholic inspiration” guiding its educational approach as the reason for her termination, stating that her OnlyFans account contradicted the values of the institution. Maraga, who had worked at the school for five years, rejected the dismissal, claiming it was unjust.

“They said I was fired for inappropriate behavior, but taking compromising photos has never affected my professionalism,” she said.

Maraga explained that she started her OnlyFans account because her teaching salary of about 1,200 euros per month was insufficient to cover her living expenses. “I like myself, and I turned my passion for my body into a way to earn money. I don’t see the problem,” she explained.

The school, however, argued that Maraga’s public statements about her side job had damaged the trust between her and the institution, making it impossible to continue the employment relationship.

While Maraga has not yet decided whether she will contest her firing, she described it as an “injustice” and criticized the school for refusing to engage in dialogue, instead only communicating through letters. She expressed surprise that a Catholic school, which preaches morality, would treat an employee in such a way.

Some parents have expressed support for Maraga, praising her work with children and insisting that her side job did not interfere with her teaching. Maraga maintains that what she does on OnlyFans “does no harm to anyone” and that people should be free to make choices in their private lives.

She remains firm in her belief that she should be allowed to continue both teaching and working on OnlyFans. “I’m not ashamed of what I do,” she said, adding that her parents are aware of her extra work but respect her autonomy at nearly 30 years old.

While Maraga has considered other career paths due to her low teaching salary, she still views teaching as her calling. She acknowledged that she now earns significantly more online than as a teacher, stating that she can make a month’s salary in just one day on OnlyFans.

In response to growing concerns, the Italian education ministry has pledged to create a new code of ethics, potentially banning teachers from participating in sites like OnlyFans.