US teacher quits her job after student discovers her X-rated past

A teacher in the US has quit her job after a student at the school she taught discovered about her X-rated past.

Tera Myers, 38, was put on administrative leave at Parkway North High School this week after a St Louis high school student inquired about pornographic films Myers starred in during the 1990s.

Paul Tandy, spokesman for the school district said the science teacher decided to leave the school "out of respect for her privacy and that of her family".

"She was concerned about the impact it would have in the building," the New York Daily News quoted him as saying.

Officials didn't know about Myers' past, which included a suspension five years ago from a Paducah, Ky school for her role in the adult films where she had taught under the name Tericka Dye.

In 2006, the former porn star spoke to several media outlets and even made an appearance on 'Dr Phil', arguing she deserved to get her job back and that she had made the biggest mistake of her life.

Myers, whose stage name is Rikki Andersin, said she made the movies when she was living in California, working, as an exotic dancer to earn desperately needed cash.

Because Myers' role in the adult films wasn't illegal, her pornographic past didn't show up during a background check.

The teacher, who has been at the school for four years, will be paid through the end of the school year but will not be returning in the fall.

"We're surprised, very surprised. At the same time we feel for her and her family," Tandy said.

"We do believe she has tried to move on with her life... Unfortunately, even though it happened 15 years ago, (the video) is still there," he added.