COLCHESTER, Vt. -- He admitted to having sex with one of his students and now a former teacher and coach in Essex is being honored as one of the nation's most respected teachers while he sits in prison.

Richard Bugbee is a convicted sex offender, but at least one of his former students believed he should be awarded nationally for his teaching excellence. The student nominated Bugbee to be included in the Who's Who Among America's Teachers.

Jeffrey Fix, vice president of Educational Communications, Inc., the publisher of the Who's Who, said the teachers in the publication are usually upstanding people who have positively impacted students' lives. Fix was caught off guard by the inclusion of Bugbee, who pleaded guilty in August to having sex with one of his students, starting when she was 13 years old.

"It is rare that it happens. This isn't a new question that comes up, but it is very rare," Fix said.

Fix said that for privacy reasons, he can't reveal the student who nominated Bugbee. He said his publication doesn't run background checks on each nominee.

Local residents who talked to WPTV-TV in Plattsburgh, N.Y., were shocked at Bugbee's inclusion in the book.

"(What if he was a great teacher?) He should be a great teacher in jail," said Phil Dessureau, of Essex.

"Hopefully, the organization takes back that nomination and gives it back to another teacher who's recognized in the community. I think that would be wonderful," said Rick Walters, of Burlington.

Fix said his company obviously can't un-publish the book, but added that the book won't use Bugbee's name again.