District ‘investigating’ blog post about High School teacher

Apr 5, 2023

Wareham Public Schools is “investigating” a blog post made about High School teacher Lisa Cunha, Superintendent Matthew D’Andrea said in a mass email sent out to parents on Wednesday, April 5. 

The blog post appeared on the controversial website Turtleboy Daily News on Friday, March 31. 

It recounts a 2007 incident in which Cunha, then living in New Bedford and teaching at the Greater New Bedford Regional Vocational Technical High School, was charged with possession of marijuana.

At the time, the Standard-Times reported that Cunha’s former student, 19-year-old Shayne Dextradeur, was also arrested for possessing marijuana. Dextradeur claimed that he lived with Cunha at the time. 

New Bedford officers confiscated marijuana cigarettes from the home, and Cunha resigned from her teaching job. 

The Standard-Times reported that Cunha denied knowing about the drugs and said that Dextradeur visited her often but did not live with her. 

The blog post also showed photos from Cunha’s personal Facebook page, showing her with students of the High School DECA Club. In her role as advisor for the club, which teaches business skills to young aspiring entrepreneurs, Cunha accompanies the students to conferences across the country.

“The school district has been made aware of the recent on-line article,” D’Andrea wrote in the email that parents received Wednesday morning. “The situation is currently being investigated. The safety and well-being of our students is our top priority.” 

Wareham Week has reached out to both Cunha and D’Andrea for comment.