Sheena Sittner, a 42-year-old elementary school substitute teacher in the Parkway School District near St. Louis, was removed from her teaching assignments in September after her employer, Kelly Education, learned of her activities on the adult-content platform OnlyFans. Sittner, who has worked with children for over two decades, said she maintained the OnlyFans account to supplement her income, sharing consensual adult content largely created with her husband.

Sittner explained that while teaching provided emotional fulfillment, her earnings—approximately $140 per day—were not sufficient to cover expenses including tuition for her two older children and her own criminal justice studies. OnlyFans, in contrast, often paid more in an hour, providing a significant financial boost. “People say, ‘Oh, you don’t teach for the pay,’” she said, “but bills don’t stop coming just because you’re passionate about the job you have.”

Kelly Education confirmed that Sittner was removed following reports of her OnlyFans activity, emphasizing that the safety and well-being of students is their priority. The company stated it works closely with school districts to address concerns about substitute educators swiftly and appropriately. Sittner’s employment was terminated after a manager flagged her online presence, including her screen name on the platform.

The case highlights a growing trend as more people engage in adult content creation online. OnlyFans is one of the largest platforms in this sector, with approximately 5 million content creator accounts and roughly 437 million fan accounts, generating close to $8 billion in annual revenue. The platform gained further public attention through the television show “Double Lives of Suburban Wives,” a scripted series set in Missouri featuring characters who supplement their income through OnlyFans, mirroring aspects of Sittner’s experience.

First Amendment attorney Corey Silverstein, based in Detroit, noted an increase in employment disputes stemming from employees’ online adult content work. He cited the rise of sophisticated AI-driven software used by employers to detect such activity even when creators use aliases. He explained that many contracts, particularly for those working with minors or in education, include clauses prohibiting conduct deemed as “moral turpitude,” limiting legal recourse for those terminated on these grounds.

“Anyone who works with minors has an especially difficult case to make,” Silverstein said, advising content creators to review employment agreements carefully and seek legal counsel before engaging in online adult entertainment.

Sittner said she was uncertain how her employer discovered her OnlyFans presence and expressed no ill will toward the individual who reported her. She viewed the situation as having ultimately opened new business opportunities and emphasized her belief in freedom of speech while criticizing the stigma women face for creating online adult content.

Her husband, Tim, has scaled back his business activities to support the increased demands from their OnlyFans audience. Despite the controversy and loss of her teaching role, Sittner views her new path as a necessary financial choice and a statement against the backlash associated with adult content creation.