High School science teacher and varsity volleyball coach Christie Slegers has been placed on leave by the School District after allegations surfaced concerning her educational and athletics background.

A parent, who did not want to be identified, weeks ago questioned Slegers’ claim that she was an Olympic silver medalist in volleyball and that she had obtained a doctorate.

After getting outside confirmation on the bogus claims and not obtaining much satisfaction from district officials, the parent said he started reaching out to media.

Last week, during fall break for FHUSD, CBS 5 AZ KPHO approached Slegers concerning the allegations but was denied comment. The station aired a report about the allegations, confirming through sources that some of her claims were not true.

Since that time, FHUSD Superintendent Tom Lawrence confirmed that Slegers wasn’t in her science classroom Monday and had been relieved of her coaching duties.

“Ms. Slegers is currently on leave from teaching and coaching,” Lawrence stated in an e-mail to The Times.

In the Sept. 3 edition of The Times, Slegers stated that she had received an Olympic silver medal as part of her volleyball accomplishments.

When asked about Slegers’ claim, USA Volleyball stated that she “was not a member of the official delegation for the 1984 U.S. Women’s Olympic Volleyball Team and as a result did not receive an Olympic silver medal as part of the 1984 Olympic Volleyball team.”

After serving as a long-term substitute at the high school, Slegers was brought on as regular staff during the 2013-14 academic year.

Concerning the doctorate listed on her resume, St. Cloud State University Assistant Registrar Matt Plachejo wrote that Slegers did attend the university but, in 1981, “received [an] undergraduate major equivalent in biology from St. Cloud State University” and that she “completed the requirements for a biology major at the undergraduate level, but did not earn a degree from St. Cloud State.”

The original complainant claims to have contacted the local district with his concerns but, one month later, was told the matter was still being looked into.

That’s when he started contacting The Times and other media outlets.

Slegers was not at the volleyball match played last week Tuesday, and shortly after that Lawrence told The Times that “the district investigation is ongoing.”

However, by Monday that situation had changed, as the volleyball team had apparently been informed last week Wednesday that Slegers was placed on leave and would not be their coach the rest of the season.

Slegers was contacted by The Times for comment but did not respond.

Junior varsity coach Lindsey Jelle has assumed the head coaching duties for girls volleyball, Lawrence said.