A school district in Michigan is getting a lot of heat after it announced on Facebook that Catelynn Lowell has been hired as an instructional aid for two of the district’s schools.
On Wednesday, the school district (which The Ashley is not naming for privacy reasons) posted a photo of Catelynn, along with a short bio to welcome her to her new role. In the “Staff Spotlight” post, there was no mention of Catelynn appearing on ‘Teen Mom’; however some parents who have kids in the district were outspoken about their unhappiness that the reality TV star had been hired.
After the post drummed up plenty of backlash, Catelynn— as well as her husband Tyler Baltierra— took to the post’s comment section to defend the school district’s decision to hire Cate, despite her ‘Teen Mom’ past.
“This year, she’s looking forward to growing within our school community and helping students reach their full potential,” the welcome post reads, adding that Catelynn is a “birth mom and mother to three girls.”
Despite the post leaving out that Catelynn has been on reality TV since 2009, fans were quick to recognize her and many were not happy that she was going to be working at their kids’ schools.
“Great way to bring unnecessary attention to our child’s school,” one person wrote. “What if she has enemies or anything of the such?”
“Y’all are well-known and have ALOT of people that try and find out where you are,” someone else commented. “I’ve seen it myself. THAT is what puts our kids at risk: not her working there [but] everyone knowing exactly where she works and it being posted for attention.”
Others were quick to call out the school district for only posting about Catelynn and none of the other new hires, suggesting it was done for “clout.”
“I wouldn’t want her anywhere near my children,” someone commented. “Also kinda bs you only spotlighted her smh.”
“Gonna have to do a whole lot better [than] throwing this girls’ face up for some clout,” another person wrote. “She may be in it for the right reasons but you guys are surely dead wrong for this. Why have you never posted any other aids? This is the epitome of our schools you know due to them being on that show they do have people that don’t like them. There’s actually quite a few parents I know from that school that have nothing nice to say about them. That puts our kids at risk…”
Catelynn took to the comments to assure everyone that she does not expect to be treated any different than any other school employee.
“If you truly knew me I have never once went around flashing the ‘TV card’ ever,” she wrote. “I’m a normal person, a mom to three kids in the district. A woman who loves kids and wants to see them all succeed and try their best. So if that brings ‘heat on my back’ so be it. I know who I am as a person, my heart, my work ethic, and my love for our community.”
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She also stated that she had nothing to do with being singled out for the new-hire announcement.
“All should be shouted out!” she wrote. “We all work hard for the community and the kiddos! I literally got a Google form email (which was sent out to all new staff) I filled it out and that’s all I did. I just want people to know that I in no way asked them to post me or anything!”
Soon, Tyler jumped into the online hoopla to defend his wife.
“I’m sorry to hear that other parents have nothing nice to say about us, but I also understand that not everyone is going to like everyone else either (even ppl who aren’t on TV),” he wrote. “So I’m not sure how that equates to other kids being more at risk, when in society, there’s always been/will be adults that don’t like other adults (even in this community). Because in my opinion, it’s up to the behaviors of those adults in those situations to create a risk or not…
“It’s just disheartening that she can’t do what she loves & help her community without being attacked,” he added.
Tyler also informed nay-sayers that his wife will be able to use her past to help kids. (The high school that Catelynn will be working at is an alternative school.)
“We both graduated from an alternative high school for struggling youth, so we KNOW how important it is for these kids to have adults who, not only truly care for them, but also can relate to their struggles on a personal level,” he commented. “This creates an authentic space for empathy & compassion & THAT is what these kids need the most of in my opinion!”
Earlier this year, Catelynn mentioned that she had gotten a “regular” job working with kids but did not elaborate on what kind of job it was.
“As of right now, I work a job, a quote on quote ‘real job’ I guess you can say, and I love it,” she said during a May episode of her Cate & Ty Break It Down! podcast. “It’s working with the youth. It just makes my heart so happy and I love being able to get out of the house for a few hours a day and also have adult conversations. Plus all of the kids are in school now so I love being able to get out and make some extra money and interact with adults. It’s been really, really great.”
In the comment section of the announcement post, some parents stated that Cate has been doing a great job in her role so far.
“A friend’s daughter is a senior this year and has her. Said she’s phenomenal,” someone commented. “What an amazing asset she is to the school district.”
“I was able to work with her when she volunteered in a classroom and she was very engaging with the kids and they responded so well with her,” someone else wrote.
“Awe thank you!” Catelynn responded. “I do love these kids!
RELATED STORY: ‘Teen Mom’ Star Tyler Baltierra & Dr. Kristen Kirkland Discuss How Similar Infant Adoption is to Human Trafficking
(Photos: MTV; Instagram)
The school district truly messed up by posting this about her, ESPECIALLY if they never post new hires like this. It definitely feels like it was for clout. Then, Cate and Ty messed up by entering that comment section. They should have ignored it all and not engaged. I have a feeling she won’t be working there much longer.
“When is Cate ever going to get a job?” I recall people saying this many times. Well now she has a job and everyone still complains.
Came here to say these exact words…so thanks for saying them first!!
I honestly don’t have an issue with this. She’s working finally and she graduated from alternative school so she knows what it’s like. Good for her.
she should have to have a college degree to work there, she and Ty had plenty of time to get degrees. She blew through all her Teen Mom money so there she is making what 10 bucks an hour if that? What a loser!
Why do you care how much she makes? At least she has an honest job.
Hmmm shes employed. Something we’ve been begging them all to do.
We need teachers. Yeah shes an ass filling a seat, but that seat would remain empty if it weren’t for her.
Not my district, not my problem..
Is this a joke?
I bet your mom asks herself the same question every time she looks at you?