Here is the story. Here is the petition to fire this teacher, with all the details included.
A Coconut Creek High band teacher may be suspended without pay Tuesday after he admitted that he slammed the cover of piano keys down on one of his student's fingers, punched other students in the stomach to teach them a breathing technique and often swore at students, a school district report shows.
Band Director Scott Adelman, 36, of Margate, was reassigned to a job away from kids last October after several students came forward with complaints.
In addition to the school district investigation, Coconut Creek police charged Adelman with simple battery after he struck a student who was trying to get her things out of the band room after an October homecoming pep rally. He pushed the girl into another student and then punched her in the chest, the police report says.
Two days before that, the same girl recorded Adelman on her cellphone saying ''I am ready to put my fingers around someone's neck and choke someone right now,'' the school district report says.
After completing an anger management class, Adelman pleaded no contest on May 24 to simple battery and will pay court costs.
Broward School Board members will vote on whether to suspend him without pay and start the process of firing him at a meeting Tuesday.
Adelman's attorney, Steve Rossi, he plans to appeal. ''We feel that the termination is not warranted under the circumstances,'' Rossi said.
Adelman has been working for the school district since 2003 and started teaching at Coconut Creek High in 2005.
The events that led to his departure rattled band students.
Coconut Creek High band member Mike Lapadura said he observed Adelman's anger.
''I had issues with him,'' said Mike, 16, who plays the saxophone. ``He's thrown chairs at me as well as other kids. He's gotten up in my face and screamed and cursed.''
On top of that, Adelman's transfer meant a new teacher had to step in to lead the 70-member band in the middle of the year.
''Music is a big part of my life and I'd hate for it to get worse from here,'' said Mike, who will be a junior in the fall.
Travis Kennedy, who just graduated, said he also saw Adelman lose his temper but believes it was for good reason.
Students ''completely disrespected him,'' said Travis, who plays the tuba. ``A lot of people didn't see his point of view on a lot of things. He was an OK guy.''
A school district committee evaluating the case decided Adelman was not suited to work with students, said Joe Melita, the district's chief investigator.
''Do we think this person has the temperament to be around kids? The committee said no,'' Melita said.
Miami Herald staff writer Hannah Sampson contributed to this report.
Friday, June 1, 2007
5 more articles but more than 5 teachers involved
1NEW WINDSOR, N.Y. (AP) - A teacher and an aide at school for troubled children are accused of having sex with two underage boys from the Orange County school.
Police in the town of New Windsor say teacher Rebecca Becker of Walden and teacher's aide Maria Zurita of New Windsor -- both 28 -- face a charge of third-degree rape and endangering the welfare of a child.
Becker is also charged with another felony, third-degree criminal sexual act.
2
PALM BAY — A one-time substitute teacher for a private school will go to court next month on charges she supplied teenagers with alcohol at her home, police reports show.
3
21-year old Thomas Gaff was arrested and charged with three counts of sexual misconduct with a student and three counts of statutory sexual seduction.
Gaff was taken into custody at Las Vegas High School, where the school district says he works as a choral accompanist. Metro says the charges involve Gaff's behavior with a student who attends Las Vegas High.
The school district says Gaff was just hired in March of this year and that he's based at Sierra Vista High School.
This comes one day after News 3 learned this local elementary school teacher was arrested for lewdness with a minor. Police say Don Smith is a music teacher at Myrtle Tate Elementary and they say he inappropriately touched a former female student there.
And just two weeks ago we learned three Foothill High School teachers connected to the athletics department are being investigated internally. Right now these are just accusations, no criminal charges have been filed. The school district says the accusations all come from separate incidents.
4
A Rickards High School history teacher denies accusations of having a three-month sexual relationship with a student, his attorney, Matthew Willard, said Thursday.
Michael Tamayo, 28, faces charges of custodial sexual battery after a former student reported to school authorities Tuesday she had a relationship with Tamayo from October 2005 through February 2006, according to the Leon County Sheriff's Office.
5
Churchill County School District Superintendent Carolyn Ross confirmed this week that a high school teacher who reportedly came to class drunk in April has resigned.
"I have a letter of resignation, effective at the end of this school year," Ross said. "I have visited with her about her letter of resignation. This is a personal situation and in everyone's best interest."
The Churchill County High School English teacher created a firestorm of controversy after she allegedly showed up to work late and above the legal limit for alcohol. Fallon police were called to drive the teacher home after she failed a preliminary breath test. Police Chief Russ Brooks would not reveal the actual reading on the breath test, only saying the teacher failed the test.
Police in the town of New Windsor say teacher Rebecca Becker of Walden and teacher's aide Maria Zurita of New Windsor -- both 28 -- face a charge of third-degree rape and endangering the welfare of a child.
Becker is also charged with another felony, third-degree criminal sexual act.
2
PALM BAY — A one-time substitute teacher for a private school will go to court next month on charges she supplied teenagers with alcohol at her home, police reports show.
3
21-year old Thomas Gaff was arrested and charged with three counts of sexual misconduct with a student and three counts of statutory sexual seduction.
Gaff was taken into custody at Las Vegas High School, where the school district says he works as a choral accompanist. Metro says the charges involve Gaff's behavior with a student who attends Las Vegas High.
The school district says Gaff was just hired in March of this year and that he's based at Sierra Vista High School.
This comes one day after News 3 learned this local elementary school teacher was arrested for lewdness with a minor. Police say Don Smith is a music teacher at Myrtle Tate Elementary and they say he inappropriately touched a former female student there.
And just two weeks ago we learned three Foothill High School teachers connected to the athletics department are being investigated internally. Right now these are just accusations, no criminal charges have been filed. The school district says the accusations all come from separate incidents.
4
A Rickards High School history teacher denies accusations of having a three-month sexual relationship with a student, his attorney, Matthew Willard, said Thursday.
Michael Tamayo, 28, faces charges of custodial sexual battery after a former student reported to school authorities Tuesday she had a relationship with Tamayo from October 2005 through February 2006, according to the Leon County Sheriff's Office.
5
Churchill County School District Superintendent Carolyn Ross confirmed this week that a high school teacher who reportedly came to class drunk in April has resigned.
"I have a letter of resignation, effective at the end of this school year," Ross said. "I have visited with her about her letter of resignation. This is a personal situation and in everyone's best interest."
The Churchill County High School English teacher created a firestorm of controversy after she allegedly showed up to work late and above the legal limit for alcohol. Fallon police were called to drive the teacher home after she failed a preliminary breath test. Police Chief Russ Brooks would not reveal the actual reading on the breath test, only saying the teacher failed the test.
"Teacher retires, investigation ends"
A teacher who allegedly took inappropriate action against a student in an Albertville school has retired.
Albertville City Schools officials had been investigating an incident on May 18 at Alabama Avenue Middle School.
Last week, Superintendent Ric Ayer characterized the event as an “extremely, extremely rare incident” and as “one of those spontaneous things that occurred … related to behavior.”
Ayer declined to give the name of the teacher involved but said Wednesday, “
He declined to say when that decision was made but said the school board has acted on the teacher’s decision.
Ayer refused to say when the board took the action.
Ayer said he believes the school system’s processes for dealing with such incidents were followed properly.
“I don’t see any need to change our procedures,” he said.
“Everything was handled as it should have been.”
Okay, so.... did this teacher actually retire or did he/she simply change school districts? And why is the administration so tight lipped about the name of the teacher? Do they know he/she has moved on to another school? Me thinks so.
Albertville City Schools officials had been investigating an incident on May 18 at Alabama Avenue Middle School.
Last week, Superintendent Ric Ayer characterized the event as an “extremely, extremely rare incident” and as “one of those spontaneous things that occurred … related to behavior.”
Ayer declined to give the name of the teacher involved but said Wednesday, “
The person who was involved in that investigation is no longer with the school system.”
He declined to say when that decision was made but said the school board has acted on the teacher’s decision.
Ayer refused to say when the board took the action.
Ayer said he believes the school system’s processes for dealing with such incidents were followed properly.
“I don’t see any need to change our procedures,” he said.
“Everything was handled as it should have been.”
Okay, so.... did this teacher actually retire or did he/she simply change school districts? And why is the administration so tight lipped about the name of the teacher? Do they know he/she has moved on to another school? Me thinks so.
Hey teachers, you're not allowed to have sex with your students anymore.... it's official (Ugh)
This is SO FREAKING SAD that a bill needed to be passed in order for this to be clearly understood. But, now it's official.... Louisiana teachers are not allowed to have sex with their students anymore.
Downs said he would have liked to have included bus drivers, cafeteria workers and custodial workers, but there were concerns the bill would receive less support.
Nice, huh?
Downs said he would have liked to have included bus drivers, cafeteria workers and custodial workers, but there were concerns the bill would receive less support.
“So if I’m a teacher, and I fall in love with a high school student,” Rep. Ernest Wooten, R-Belle Chasse said sarcastically, “then I have to quit and start driving a bus.”
Nice, huh?
Teacher accused of stealing money from biscuit fundraiser
COBB COUNTY, Ga. (AP) - A Cobb County teacher has been arrested after they say she stole more than $$4,500 from a biscuit fundraiser.
8 more stories (As if we needed more)
1
An Okte Elementary School teacher, accused of molesting eight young boys, pleaded not guilty on Tuesday in Saratoga County Court. Christopher Culver, 32, has been on paid suspension since the allegations surfaced. The District Attorney's Office says Culver abuse of all the children took place on school grounds. If convicted, Culver faces up to 20 years in prison.
2
Police have arrested a St. Paul teacher on suspicion of having sexual contact with a 17-year-old student.
Officers arrested Como Park High School teacher Joseph Arne Tucker, 28, at his St. Paul home Tuesday, police said today.
Police began investigating Tucker on May 18.
After Tucker saw the girl again Tuesday, police arrested him on suspicion of tampering with a witness, Walsh said. He is also being held in the Ramsey County jail on suspicion of criminal sexual conduct. He has not been charged.
Police believe Tucker had a relationship with the student for at least several weeks, Walsh said. The school district placed him on administrative leave when the investigation began.
The case could hinge not only on the girl's age, but also the fact the teacher was in a position of authority, Walsh said.
3
A former teacher in Shelby County, Texas, is facing charges she was involved in a sexual relationship with one of her students.
The district attorney's office has obtained a warrant charging Janet Parker, a teacher in Center, with nearly two dozen sex crimes involving a juvenile.
4
The Williamson County Board of Education has fired a Centennial High School teacher, finding him guilty of unbecoming conduct and inefficiency.
Gregory Durio, a tenured teacher who taught in Williamson County for 18 years, was accused of making inappropriate comments to students. A county attorney said the English teacher’s comments could be considered a form of sexual harassment.
Durio was accused of and admitted to:
--telling a girl she could put on fishnet stockings and get a job as a blackjack dealer in Las Vegas.
--asking a girl who wanted to leave class to use the restroom if it was because of “feminine hygiene.”
--telling a girl who told the class she enjoyed brushing her teeth with an electric toothbrush that he didn’t want to hear her 'vibrator story.'
--telling a male student that he has a friend named Dick who was getting married to a woman named Fanny.
School administrators also discovered images of celebrities on his classroom computer. Some of the celebrities, such as the rock band Red Hot Chili Peppers and actress Brooke Shields, were pictured wearing little clothing. None of the images contained nudity. Durio said he was collecting images in preparation for a class on pop culture. School officials said he shouldn’t have been collecting images during class time.
Durio was suspended without pay on Dec. 20, 2006, after a 15-year-old student filed a complaint with Centennial High principal Terry Shrader. Director of Schools Rebecca Sharber recommended Durio be terminated.
The board came to a unanimous decision to dismiss Durio at the end of an 11-hour hearing that was split between two days. The hearing ended at 1:10 a.m. this morning.
Durio’s attorney Virginia McCoy said she would review his options to appeal the board’s decision.
5
ELECTRA-- A north Texas pre-school teacher is accused of physically abusing a five-year-old student. Police there say the teacher, 52-year-old Donna Bowden, slapped the little boy in the face earlier this month at Electra's Elementary School, which also houses the head-start program.
Police Chief Johnny Morris says he first learned of the allegations when the mom and little boy showed up at his department. "Mother reported that the son had told her he was slapped in the mouth by the head start teacher."
Morris says the boy had a cut on his upper lip. He says he told the mom to take him to the hospital to have it checked out. "The medical report revealed an injury. We saw an injury, took pictures of the injury, and the child made a statement to us with his mother present about how he got it and he didn't waver."
Based on those statements and the injury, police arrested Donna Bowden, a teacher for 18 years in Electra, according to Morris.
More potential victims say they filed reports with child protective services, but police say they haven't contacted them. "We were never told of these instances. The parents and the child did not ever come to report this as such."
6
A former Glendale Heights teacher is facing felony charges of having sex with a 15-year-old former student, DuPage County authorities said Wednesday.
The alleged sexual relationship took place in 2005 and 2006 when Anastasia Pappas was living with the boy's family.
She had been the boy's teacher when he was in the fifth grade at Blackhawk Middle School in Glendale Heights.
Pappas, 40, is charged with criminal sexual assault. She is free on bail. Pappas was charged in 2006, but the indictment against her remained sealed by DuPage County prosecutors until this week.
She has since been removed from teaching duties. School officials couldn't be reached for comment Wednesday.
Pappas' attorney called the allegations "a tragedy."
7
TOOELE - With their heads barely topping the witness box, three third-graders testified Wednesday about being sexually abused by a former teacher at East Elementary School.
Christopher Burton, 26, is charged in 3rd District Court with eight counts of first-degree felony aggravated sexual abuse of a child, each punishable by up to life in prison.
The preliminary hearing is set to continue next month for testimony from five other boys who are alleged victims.
The three boys who testified Wednesday all said Burton fondled them in a similar fashion.
As one boy put it: "He made people sit on his lap, then he'd reach his hands into your pockets and touch your privates."
The boy claimed Burton began fondling him in January, just a day after the boy began attending the school, and that the abuse occurred about once a week until Burton's arrest in March.
Another boy testified that Burton forced him to sit on his lap every time he asked the teacher a question. The boy said the touching began about a month after school started last fall.
The third boy - whose teacher was a female - testified he was molested by Burton on March 30 when the two classes combined to watch a movie.
8
A temporary Santa Ynez Valley high school teacher was booked at the Santa Barbara County Jail last Tuesday after detectives arrested her for allegedly having unlawful sexual relations with an underage male student.
The arrest of 29-year-old Kelli Jo Camp came after a month-long investigation by the Santa Barbara Sheriff’s detectives into her alleged misconduct with members of the male student population at New Cuyama High School. After obtaining alleged e-mail correspondences between the teacher and her 17-year-old student, detectives arrested her for allegedly having unlawful sex with a minor.
An Okte Elementary School teacher, accused of molesting eight young boys, pleaded not guilty on Tuesday in Saratoga County Court. Christopher Culver, 32, has been on paid suspension since the allegations surfaced. The District Attorney's Office says Culver abuse of all the children took place on school grounds. If convicted, Culver faces up to 20 years in prison.
2
Police have arrested a St. Paul teacher on suspicion of having sexual contact with a 17-year-old student.
Officers arrested Como Park High School teacher Joseph Arne Tucker, 28, at his St. Paul home Tuesday, police said today.
Police began investigating Tucker on May 18.
After Tucker saw the girl again Tuesday, police arrested him on suspicion of tampering with a witness, Walsh said. He is also being held in the Ramsey County jail on suspicion of criminal sexual conduct. He has not been charged.
Police believe Tucker had a relationship with the student for at least several weeks, Walsh said. The school district placed him on administrative leave when the investigation began.
The case could hinge not only on the girl's age, but also the fact the teacher was in a position of authority, Walsh said.
3
A former teacher in Shelby County, Texas, is facing charges she was involved in a sexual relationship with one of her students.
The district attorney's office has obtained a warrant charging Janet Parker, a teacher in Center, with nearly two dozen sex crimes involving a juvenile.
4
The Williamson County Board of Education has fired a Centennial High School teacher, finding him guilty of unbecoming conduct and inefficiency.
Gregory Durio, a tenured teacher who taught in Williamson County for 18 years, was accused of making inappropriate comments to students. A county attorney said the English teacher’s comments could be considered a form of sexual harassment.
Durio was accused of and admitted to:
--telling a girl she could put on fishnet stockings and get a job as a blackjack dealer in Las Vegas.
--asking a girl who wanted to leave class to use the restroom if it was because of “feminine hygiene.”
--telling a girl who told the class she enjoyed brushing her teeth with an electric toothbrush that he didn’t want to hear her 'vibrator story.'
--telling a male student that he has a friend named Dick who was getting married to a woman named Fanny.
School administrators also discovered images of celebrities on his classroom computer. Some of the celebrities, such as the rock band Red Hot Chili Peppers and actress Brooke Shields, were pictured wearing little clothing. None of the images contained nudity. Durio said he was collecting images in preparation for a class on pop culture. School officials said he shouldn’t have been collecting images during class time.
Durio was suspended without pay on Dec. 20, 2006, after a 15-year-old student filed a complaint with Centennial High principal Terry Shrader. Director of Schools Rebecca Sharber recommended Durio be terminated.
The board came to a unanimous decision to dismiss Durio at the end of an 11-hour hearing that was split between two days. The hearing ended at 1:10 a.m. this morning.
Durio’s attorney Virginia McCoy said she would review his options to appeal the board’s decision.
5
ELECTRA-- A north Texas pre-school teacher is accused of physically abusing a five-year-old student. Police there say the teacher, 52-year-old Donna Bowden, slapped the little boy in the face earlier this month at Electra's Elementary School, which also houses the head-start program.
Police Chief Johnny Morris says he first learned of the allegations when the mom and little boy showed up at his department. "Mother reported that the son had told her he was slapped in the mouth by the head start teacher."
Morris says the boy had a cut on his upper lip. He says he told the mom to take him to the hospital to have it checked out. "The medical report revealed an injury. We saw an injury, took pictures of the injury, and the child made a statement to us with his mother present about how he got it and he didn't waver."
Based on those statements and the injury, police arrested Donna Bowden, a teacher for 18 years in Electra, according to Morris.
More potential victims say they filed reports with child protective services, but police say they haven't contacted them. "We were never told of these instances. The parents and the child did not ever come to report this as such."
6
A former Glendale Heights teacher is facing felony charges of having sex with a 15-year-old former student, DuPage County authorities said Wednesday.
The alleged sexual relationship took place in 2005 and 2006 when Anastasia Pappas was living with the boy's family.
She had been the boy's teacher when he was in the fifth grade at Blackhawk Middle School in Glendale Heights.
Pappas, 40, is charged with criminal sexual assault. She is free on bail. Pappas was charged in 2006, but the indictment against her remained sealed by DuPage County prosecutors until this week.
She has since been removed from teaching duties. School officials couldn't be reached for comment Wednesday.
Pappas' attorney called the allegations "a tragedy."
7
TOOELE - With their heads barely topping the witness box, three third-graders testified Wednesday about being sexually abused by a former teacher at East Elementary School.
Christopher Burton, 26, is charged in 3rd District Court with eight counts of first-degree felony aggravated sexual abuse of a child, each punishable by up to life in prison.
The preliminary hearing is set to continue next month for testimony from five other boys who are alleged victims.
The three boys who testified Wednesday all said Burton fondled them in a similar fashion.
As one boy put it: "He made people sit on his lap, then he'd reach his hands into your pockets and touch your privates."
The boy claimed Burton began fondling him in January, just a day after the boy began attending the school, and that the abuse occurred about once a week until Burton's arrest in March.
Another boy testified that Burton forced him to sit on his lap every time he asked the teacher a question. The boy said the touching began about a month after school started last fall.
The third boy - whose teacher was a female - testified he was molested by Burton on March 30 when the two classes combined to watch a movie.
8
A temporary Santa Ynez Valley high school teacher was booked at the Santa Barbara County Jail last Tuesday after detectives arrested her for allegedly having unlawful sexual relations with an underage male student.
The arrest of 29-year-old Kelli Jo Camp came after a month-long investigation by the Santa Barbara Sheriff’s detectives into her alleged misconduct with members of the male student population at New Cuyama High School. After obtaining alleged e-mail correspondences between the teacher and her 17-year-old student, detectives arrested her for allegedly having unlawful sex with a minor.
Wow, we're famous. (Is that a good thing?)
The NSW government risks a US-style school shooting if it continues to ignore violence in public schools, opposition education spokesman Andrew Stoner says.
"Do we allow things to get so bad that we see incidents of the nature of what have been seen in the United States?" Mr Stoner asked.
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