Supporters Come Out for Teacher and Racy Novelist | News

Support for a teacher who writes racey romance novels has exploded since a report on Newswatch 16 about some parents who were complaining about the side job.

Agroup of about 20 people gathered together in support of Midd West High School teacher Judy Buranich. Recently some parents complained about the teacher's side job writing racy novels under the pen name Judy Mays.

Former student Jacki Baker said she's okay with it.

"She's one of the best teachers in the district in my opinion and she has been writing for 20 something years. I don't see why its an issue now," said Baker.

Parents said Buranich has several published erotic romance novels.  Buranich is identified as Judy Mays on YouTube. Former student Matthew Hile said people in the area have known about teacher's second job for years.

"She wrote under a pen name. She didn't try to make herself famous in the town. She didn't try to sell her books to kids. She didn't try to push her belief on to the students," said Hile.

Recently a support page was set up on Facebook for Judy Mays/ Mrs Buranich. It already has more than 5,000 fans. A majority of the posts support her teaching and her writing.

Trisha Bingaman said her children also had Buranich as a teacher, and she supports her.

"I think anything any author writes is their right to write. She is a highly published author and obviously there's people out there that are interested in her books. I can't wait to go buy one myself," said Bingaman.

The teacher and novelist still has not responded to Newswatch 16's requests for comment, but on Facebook there is a message attributed to Judy Mays that said, "Thanks so much to everyone for all your support."

The superintendent of the school district has also declined to comment.