Teacher quits school district to keep Santa gig, despite petition to save job

CHESTER COUNTY, S.C. — A local Santa Claus who also works as a Chester County science teacher says he has officially quit his teaching job.

Timothy Davis is working a job as Santa Claus this week in Charleston. Davis reportedly asked for several days off from his teaching job at Lewisville Middle School in order to take that Santa gig.

An online petition says Davis got notice from school leaders that he’d be terminated if he took the Santa job.

“I knew what I was doing, but I just never thought it’d become this big of a deal,” Davis told Channel 9′s Tina Terry.

In a Facebook post, Davis said he would automatically lose his teaching license if he allowed the district to fire him. He told Terry he wouldn’t change a thing because he believes being Santa Claus is his calling in life.

“I wouldn’t have changed this call and I don’t know why it is so strong, but it is,” Davis said. “And I know I’m in the right spot this year, for the people I’ve met, because of what I’ve shared with those people.”

Davis said he’s been teaching for 23 years, spending three years in Chester County. He’s hoping to get a teaching job with another school district after his Santa gig ends.

On Thursday, a spokesman confirmed Davis no longer works for the Chester County Schools.

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