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I have not read EVERY post in this thread but wanted to make some comment. I will try to come again later and read more thoroughly.
I grew up strict Baptist. I also attended a strict Baptist college and have a Bachelors of Science in Education. I could not teach in public school for many reasons most of which are not religious.
I am disappointed with this teacher and how he treated his position. I see nothing wrong with talking about your beliefs or praying with students one on one. Doing it with the whole class does not allow those students who have a problem with it to 'opt out'. By pushing his religion and turning people off by doing so he makes it harder for any other teacher of any religion to be the example their religion would dictate and to speak to ANYONE who wanted to hear about it. It makes it harder for a student who IS exploring their own religious beliefs to approach a teacher about that subject. There's nothing wrong with discussing it with a student who wants to know about it or who believes the same. He made that less of an option for students and teachers alike to share in a positive voluntary way.
I had a teacher in 5th grade who had similar beliefs to mine. She did NOT push them. However when (as someone else mentioned) what she was currently teaching conflicted with her beliefs, then she briefly explained her position. She taught it as an option, not as fact when she discussed evolution she also discussed creation as a theory. It IS important for students to learn what a large portion of the world population believes. It is important that they learn to respect other beliefs and are free to make the choice themselves what to believe.
The article sounds as though he was pushing his beliefs as fact and not teaching what he was being paid to teach. He did not use discretion or show respect - a poor example of his religion and beliefs.
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"Always learn the rules so that you can break them properly." Dalai Lama
My Karma just ran over your Dogma. 
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