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McKinney Cheerleading Scandal Made Into Movie

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Jul 21, 2008 5:20 pm US/Central

McKinney Cheerleading Scandal Made Into Movie

McKINNEY (CBS 11 / TXA 21) ―

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Texas cheerleaders, abuse of authority and young women misbehaving. If those things sound like the makings of a made-for-TV movie, it is! And a former McKinney cheerleading coach is the inspiration behind it all.

Michaela Ward says she knew her story was juicy but never imagined it was Hollywood material.

"I was approached by an agent in New York who asked if he could help me sell the rights to my story," she explained. "At that point, I gonna be honest, I was just ready for anybody to listen to me."

The movie is loosely based on events that took place at McKinney North High School in 2006. Events that Ward says changed her life.

"I was put in a situation where I had absolutely no authority to discipline a squad of 20 girls, and I had five that were completely unruly," Ward said. "One of the five happened to be the principal's daughter."

Two principals lost their jobs as a result and Ward did as well. But by early 2008, her luck had changed. She was in New Orleans, watching her story unfold on set. "It's been surreal. We've met some of the most amazing people. It's overwhelming, but in a good way."

"Fab Five: The Texas Cheerleader Scandal" airs on Lifetime Television August 2nd.

Ward knows there have been other stories depicting the cut-throat nature of Texas cheerleading - but she says this one is different. "I'm not so sure it gives Texas cheerleaders a bad name. I mean I had a squad of 20 and five that couldn't behave. I don't know if this is so much a Texas cheerleading story, as it is a small town politics story."

Ward says if members of the McKinney School District had done what was 'right' a year and a half ago she'd be in a classroom teaching, not in Hollywood making movies.

As of Monday afternoon the McKinney School District had returned our phone calls for comment.

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