Phony SF major Schepansky fired

We first uncovered the phony SF major, Ray Schepansky back in May when he was arrested for bringing a firearm on school property at the school where he worked as a military history teacher near Detroit. Apparently he was using the persona that he had cultivated there (the crazy special forces veteran) to bully his fellow teachers. Well, Peg McNichol of the local newspaper (the Canton Patch) reports that Schepansky was fired from teaching.

The Plymouth-Canton Community Schools’ board made the 5-0 decision in a closed meeting last week, district officials confirmed. Two board members were absent. The specific reason for the firing is not clear.

While the district wasn’t clear on the reasons they justified firing a tenured teacher, McNichol uncovered Schepansky’s application for employment at the school;

On his application to teach at Plymouth-Canton Schools, he claimed to be a U.S. Army Reserve captain, a Special Forces member and a Ranger. But the highest rank he achieved, according to U.S. Army officials, is sergeant first class. He was never a reservist or in the Special Forces, according to U.S. Army officials. Schepansky has held a Michigan teaching certificate since 1996, according to state records. He was approved for tenure on June 8, 2004.

McNichol goes on to give credit where credit is due;

[Schepansky’s lawyer, Rick] Convertino did confirm at that time that Schepansky was in the U.S. Army, but not a commissioned officer.

But Convertino declined a request for his client’s signature in order to independently verify Schepansky’s military records through the National Archives and Records Administration, which holds such documents. He said however that the military records posted by blogger Jonn Lilyea were not accurate. U.S. Army officials confirmed that Lilyea’s documents came from the National Archives.

See, Old Media, that’s how it’s done. When a blogger scoops everyone else, give them credit. Thanks, Peg.

And just to show that I can be charitable;

“The guy had a perfectly honorable career,” Lilyea said. “But just by reading through the (Facebook) comments you get the sense his students think he’s something more than he is. What he really is is enough to be proud of, and if he is an outstanding teacher there’s absolutely no reason to embellish his [military] career. He has life experience that would enrich his students’ experiences.”

I conducted several interviews with McNichol over the last several months, the last one while I was in Minnesota. My intention was to prevent Schepansky from using the “crazy vet” persona to get special treatment in the courts. In fact, I was in contact with the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office to make sure they knew about his military status. Getting him fired is just gravy.

I know one of you guys sent me the original article and I can’t remember who it was, but many thanks for your diligence. The main reason I thought he was a phony was because the article said he was an SF major, but that he drove a Kia. No SF major I know would be caught dead in a shitbox Kia.

According to McNichol, Schepansky still faces a gun charge next week in Wayne County courts.

Category: Phony soldiers, Shitbags