Many working adults know that playing hooky isn’t just reserved for kids, but the lies one Polk County, Florida teacher made up to skip out on work are just plain shocking.

According to school district officials Ashley Barker, a first-grade teacher at Laurel Elementary School, concocted a convincing story of illness in which she claimed she and her father were both dying.

As WFTV reports, the deception went on for an entire year. During that time, school officials simply took Barker at her word. They let her come and go as she pleased and made special accommodations for time off. The school district was unwilling to give an actual number on how much time Barker took off as a result of the fake illness.

After investigators caught wind of allegations that Barker’s story might not be true, she apparently told them that she had just been at home the whole time.

“Wow. That’s kind of scary. Because if she lies about that, she can lie about anything,” said one parent.

Scary is one word for it. Parents leave their most important things in the world, their children, with educators. This sort of betrayal of confidence is sure to leave its mark. Barker has been terminated but is apparently fighting it.

What an odd story.