The Teacher of the Year and the football player: Sounds like a Lifetime movie
This sounds like the plot of a Lifetime Channel movie: Teacher of the Year has sex with football player.
But it’s a real allegation in a Gwinnett County high school.
The AJC story is very interesting in that it has quotes from both parents, those of the teacher and of the student. The teacher’s father understandably defends his daughter and casts the student as a “knucklehead,” but the story notes that the teacher admitted to the relationship, calling it consensual.
I still don’t get the teacher/student thing. When you read these stories, you assume that there is something unique about both the teacher and the student, that a teacher drawn to a student must be much more immature than the average adult and the student who is the subject of the teacher’s attentions must be much more mature that her/his peers.
But when these cases explode and you see the participants in court or interviews, they are just normal people who ended up in abnormal — and illegal — situations.
With all the negative publicity about these cases and the outcome possibly a prison term, I can’t see how a teacher ends up risking it all for what seems a small return. I taught at a community college when I was 25, and I never considered any of my students, some of whom were my age or older, as friends or folks that I would invite out for coffee. The classroom created a wall between us that I never thought about crossing.
Any insights from folks in the field?
According to an exclusive AJC story:
The Teacher of the Year at Shiloh High School has resigned after admitting to having a sexual relationship with a 17-year-old student, according to records obtained by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
Keenon Aampay Hall, 29, left a promising career as an English teacher at the Gwinnett County school amid allegations that she seduced a senior who came to her for homework help. An investigative file on the case compiled by the school system’s human resources division contains the student’s accounts of sexual trysts at a hotel, a friend’s home and in the teacher’s classroom during school hours. The report also says that pornography was found on Hall’s Gwinnett County schools laptop.
The student, a player on Shiloh’s football team who is to graduate Friday, claimed that Hall gave him gifts and pressured him to commit to their six-month relationship by giving her a baby, according to the file. When he declined, the student’s family said, Hall gave him a failing grade, prompting him to report the relationship to school officials.
“The allegation of the inappropriate behavior came to light because the teacher decreased the student’s grade,” Gwinnett schools spokeswoman Sloan Roach said.
Gwinnett County Public Schools police are investigating the incident. The governor recently signed a new law making it illegal for teachers to have sex with students, even if the sex is consensual. In addition, the Georgia Professional Standards Commission, which has the authority to revoke Hall’s teaching certificate, is scheduled to review the complaint next week.
Hall, elected by her colleagues as Shiloh’s Teacher of the Year, could not be reached for comment Wednesday.
Hall’s peers had voted her Shiloh High Teacher of the Year in the fall. Her name was touted in school bulletins; she gave inspirational speeches; and was recognized at a Gwinnett County awards dinner with other top district teachers. Her parents, who attended the banquet, said they were proud but wondered why she never got her Teacher of the Year ring.
“She earned it,” her father, Dennis Hall, said. “I believe this is the action of Principal [Gwen] Tatum. It definitely opens the county up for a defamation lawsuit. … How can seven years of teaching and a reputation be destroyed because of the word of one knucklehead? I think that’s wrong.”
Hall has a bachelor’s degree from Georgia State University and has completed her master’s work, her parents said. On an application for her Gwinnett job she wrote that she was “uniquely qualified” because she has “a passion for education and working with children.”
The student, now 18, relocated to Georgia from North Carolina to live with his uncle, Jason Pender, a football coach at Shiloh High. Ericka Pender allowed her son to leave home so he could focus on academics his senior year and graduate instead of getting distracted by old friends in Winston-Salem.
Coach Pender said his nephew had been dating a teenager at school and didn’t seem any more stressed than most seniors trying to get into college. “I wondered how he got the cell phone when he was not working,” Pender said. He grew concerned when the teen’s progress report in English “went from an A to a D or F.”
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134 comments Add your comment
d
May 27th, 2010
7:34 am
One of these days, I’d like to see some good news about my alma mater.
A teacher, too
May 27th, 2010
7:38 am
Just want to say that all the teachers I know who were RIF victims neither had sex with students, nor did they dress in klan robes.
New School
May 27th, 2010
7:47 am
This lady is off balance. It’s one thing to give in to your carnal desires but to want a baby from a HS senior? Crazy!
This sort of thing wasn’t happening when I was in HS in the 80’s… at least it wasn’t happening to me. But, given the opportunity…
Middle GA Teacher
May 27th, 2010
7:54 am
I don’t get it. I won’t try to. I love my students, but even thinking of them in a sexual manner is just plain nasty! I am going to hope that this is swiftly dealt with and leaves the news. We can’t take much more negative publicity.
Hot for Teacher
May 27th, 2010
7:58 am
How come all these sex crazed teachers weren’t around 10 years ago when I was in school? I miss all the fun.
em
May 27th, 2010
8:21 am
@d, it’s not just your school. Some school systems are far removed from coverage of the AJC and the other metro news organizations. Other school systems are good about keeping things quiet. For example, in my community, a teacher was just arrested last week for sexual battery. It has not made the Atlanta news circuit as of yet; for that matter, the story has had minimal coverage in our local paper. Having said that, before we start condemning and convicting, let us wait for ALL of the facts to come in.
chris
May 27th, 2010
8:28 am
Actually, this seems typical. The teachers ever one praises, are often not so wonderful. Education is arse backwards. Half this teacher of the year stuff is straight up politics, I never have put any value in it. It’s total junk.
chris
May 27th, 2010
8:36 am
Lastly, I think the teachers that kids are safe with are the one who get fired. Once again education in this country is backwards. I won’t lie I have worked in a school were teachers were caught sleeping with students. Funny, thing is this kinda teachers get good evaluations and thought to be the high performing teachers. I seen it many times.
td
May 27th, 2010
8:39 am
I do not know if this teacher did this or not but I do know that I am not going to believe every word this kid said that was printed. I am sure he stretched it out to put himself in the best possible light.
BTW: What is the heck is a young man whinning about getting some and not even having to work hard for it. Pull his man card now.
Texas Pete
May 27th, 2010
8:46 am
@chris,
You know, every Chris in the world is a scumbag sleeze. Need to round them all up as they are ALL bad people. I SEEN it myself. Just saying.
A. Parent
May 27th, 2010
8:52 am
Maureen, isn’t it interesting how a female teacher engaging in a sexual relationship with an minor male student is the stuff of jokes, but where the genders to be reversed, the teacher would be labeled a “sexual predator”. I know what the State says – if charged and convicted she will have to register as a sex offender, etc. Can we expect “Rev.” Hutchins to take his bandwagon to Shiloh next? If this story, it is true. You (and your husband) want to joke, go to open mike night at The Punchline. I’m not one to dabble in mawkish nonsense, and at 17 years-old, the male student was a de facto “adult” but as I said, were the roles reversed, you would not be quoting the adolescent fantasies of David Lee Roth.
chris
May 27th, 2010
9:02 am
Texas Pete. Look, it is just what I seen in my career. Off course it’s not true every where, but come on. It happens more often then we like to admit. And yes your experience may be different. Still, ya got admit the teacher of year stuff is often politics in most places. But you do make a point that one person’s experience is not actually a valid measure of anything. Still, we need to find a way to keep kids safe. But no easy answer to that.
Rebecca
May 27th, 2010
9:09 am
GCPS most definitely covers up alot of “events” that would make the system look bad. Sounds like they have some pretty hard evidence against this teacher or this story never would have seen the light of day. It is also disturbing to hear of another absent parent, as Mom of student lives in NC.
Kim
May 27th, 2010
9:11 am
Wish the woman had been his dentist or something other than teacher. But, let’s set the record straight. She is his crazy teacher.
John
May 27th, 2010
9:14 am
I dont’t know which is worse–that she had sex with the student or that she couldn’t even spell the word “consensual” correctly in her letter of resignation in which she admitted the improper conduct with the student. It is clear to anybody with a brain that she should never have been hired to teach English in any school anywhere and that this shows how bogus “Teacher of the Year” awards are when an English teacher without even an eighth grade level of English achievement can get such an award.
Rebecca
May 27th, 2010
9:17 am
On another note, Teacher of the Year at the lowest level is most often “political”. To advance to higher levels is a true honor. My child’s MS science teacher from the 08-09 school year won THIS year, and I agree with that she is an awesome teacher that deserved all the recognition she received.
Tweets that mention The Teacher of the Year and the football player: Sounds like a Lifetime movie | Get Schooled -- Topsy.com
May 27th, 2010
9:20 am
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by rem simanovski, Maureen Downey. Maureen Downey said: The Teacher of the Year and the football player: Sounds like a Lifetime movie http://bit.ly/93LTto [...]
catlady
May 27th, 2010
9:24 am
He is getting into trouble in NC, mom cannot handle him, sends him to GA, uncle does not find out how he got the cell phone, and boy gets in trouble here.
Sounds like it isn’t just the teacher who is disfunctional.
LG
May 27th, 2010
9:24 am
OMG, if the teachers in my high school were caught every time they had an affair with a student, there won’t have been any teachers left. They kept in quiet for the most part; sometimes their spouses were the ones who caught them and it was out of the rumor mills and into the local paper. We had the teachers who kept a pint of whiskey in their desk drawer and took sips when no one was looking. It was all part of our school along with knuckles being whacked with yardsticks and blackboard erasers full of dust thrown at heads. BTW, I graduated in 1980.
catlady
May 27th, 2010
9:25 am
Ms. Downey, LOL for your husband’s observation!
catlady
May 27th, 2010
9:26 am
Guess there will be a big lawsuit now.
ArtVandelay
May 27th, 2010
9:27 am
Is no one upset that this lady is still walking around and not in jail? What male teacher could submit a WRITTEN CONFESSION of having sex with a minor (consensual or not) and not be under the jail right now? The clear double standard here is outrageous.
A sexual predator is a sexual predator…PERIOD! She should be prosecuted not allowed to only “resign”
Texas Pete
May 27th, 2010
9:31 am
@chris,
Just saying, there are bad teachers, police, priests, politicians, doctors, lawyers, parents, etc. It is overstated that the world is a dangerous place for children. It seems anytime something bad happens we as a society take knee jerk measures to “do something” about the problem regardless of its magnitude then take a broad bush to anyone in the same position as the perpetrator. It’s unfair to cash a negative blanket over the teaching profession just because there are bad apples in the bunch just like every other profession. Sure, we’re seeing several reports of teachers in relationships with students every year but that doesn’t mean it’s happening a lot statistically. I’m sure this has been happening for centuries, today we just have he means to communicate about it across the world if we want. There is nothing a society can do about a problem like this one. It specifically takes the parents or guardians of children to educate them within their immediate family on acceptable behavior. At the end of the day, this teacher didn’t physically force this student into this relationship. She offered, he accepted, then it got out of hand as expected. I’d be curious to know how many high school boys have said “no” to a grown woman offering up a physical relationship. I’m sure it is a lot fewer statistically than the number of girls offered by grown men. The females on this blog might not be able to accept it or understand it but most boys of that age are not thinking of themselves as victims based on the physical relationship alone.
I’m not saying what happened is ok, but I am saying there were two different problems in play here. From the student’s perspective, how is the physical relationship any worse than having relations with a peer? Either way he’s having a sexual relationship. If this relationship had started next week would this be a big deal? It would still be viewed as strange for a 29 year old woman reaching down to an 18 year old man but people would quickly discard this story. The second problem is that of an adult in a position of authority taking advantage of a “child”. The second issue is the one everyone should be up in arms about. It doesn’t matter if she’s asking him to wash her car, cut her grass, or having a physical relationship. Adults taking advantage of children then holding something over their head like grades is the major issue here. Trust me, this “boy” will not be emotionally scarred for having the physical relationship with the teacher.
NHall
May 27th, 2010
9:31 am
My comment is awaiting moderation? Interesting.
former gwinnett educator
May 27th, 2010
9:33 am
@Rebecca, you are correct about that. I have still be searching the news for the unfolding events at a particular elementary school that had a principal removed with 5 days left in the school year. A school that Wilbanks himself visited this Monday. It is amazing how some things will forever remain “unknown”.
Hey Teacher
May 27th, 2010
9:35 am
I’ve taught in several different schools and ALL of them had a teacher, or several teachers, that had affairs with students and went on to marry them. While everyone snickered about it, it certainly wasn’t newsworthy.
Subrational
May 27th, 2010
9:35 am
If this were a male teacher, he would be deemed a predator and likely in jail. Moreover, this definitely goes on more often than people think or hear about.
Mia Strozier
May 27th, 2010
9:39 am
I understand this is a top story, BUT since when do we Publicly put this picture in the paper? I could be wrong , but does this protect the victim? Showing the aggressor would automatically identify the victim. Is that not right? I am saddened that we now have to watch the school so closely. My problem is , are we as PARENTS doing enough to get in involved so this do not continue to happen.? I think the age of some of our teachers and the aGE SOME OF THESE KIDS ARE GETTING OUT OF SCHOOL IS JUST TOO CLOSE, NOW IN THIS CASE, IF IT IS TRUE, THIS WAS JUST PLAIN foolish. i KNOW WE AS SISYERS SELF ESTEME IS NOT THIS LOW, THAT WE NEED A YOUNG ADULT TO GIVE US HAPPINESS. i HONEST WANT TO BELIEVE THIS WAS a consenual relationshp, not that that makes it right. On the other hand, have you seen the kids that are in school today? I am a parent of a child that looks another age. I have a 12 year old, that without makeup contacts, suggestive clothing and grown up hair do, look like she can be 17 body wise, but if you look in her face, you can tell she is a young child. So as thuis is a problem, I make sure she is still dressing like a 12 year old. I still shop for her. She dont go to the mall or hang out. She is still a child. She do not have boyfriends, unless they are at school. She do not receive phone calls, she do nnot havbe a cell phone, she do not go anywhere wiithout me. PERIOD. We must keep our children in the right frame of mind for their age. I am not sayiong this is the parents fault, I am sayiong that too many times , I see teachers getting caught up, and you do not not the child from the teacher anymore. But at the same time, a teacher knows what their job is, and it is not to have sex with their students. What a waste, all this time in school preparing for a careeer and blow all that for a kustful tasts, that is neber going to be more then that . A shame A shame A shame. SMDH
EnoughAlready
May 27th, 2010
9:41 am
It’s really very sad and this isn’t new. I grew up in the 80’s and it was happening, it just never made the news. In my high school there were coaches and teachers with students; many were old and had been dating students for years. Some were so “fresh” we were warned by other students to stay away and don’t visit the class when class is not in session. I remember parents trying to get some of these favorite coaches and teachers fired, but they were unsuccessful. No one wanted to believe it was happening and that it was just rumors.
I have been warning my daughter about teachers since elementary school. It’s really very sad.
Emily
May 27th, 2010
9:43 am
I believe that we as adults have to control ourselves despite any situation. A child is a child no matter if he plays football or not. Children still have fear of disappointing adults and in most times fall prey to advances and peer pressure. This is not a reflection of the school but just a reflection of a teacher gone bad. There are wonderful children who go to that school who seek a quality education and get it!! The school was actually getting better
ann
May 27th, 2010
9:45 am
first why is the young man going to school in GA and he is a resident of NC his mother stated that he got in with the wrong crowd back home why wasn’t he sent too another school there funny how he came to GA uncle is a coach and get a scholarship back home I have a problem with what was done why didn’t he report the teacher before he got the failing grade this need some more investigation. hmmm!!!
JEWELL ROLLEN
May 27th, 2010
9:46 am
“She earned it,” her father, Dennis Hall, said. “I believe this is the action of Principal [Gwen] Tatum. It definitely opens the county up for a defamation lawsuit. … How can seven years of teaching and a reputation be destroyed because of the word of one knucklehead? I think that’s wrong.”
SINCE SHE HAS ADMITTED TO THE AFFAIR, DOES THIS MAKE HER THE KNUCKLEHEAD DAD? JUS’ SAYIN’…….
Emily
May 27th, 2010
9:46 am
@catlady: I agree with the others that the teacher is obviously at fault (particularly because she wielded the power), but I most certainly agree with you too! It’s not like that kid is the Student of the Year either.
And according to the article, sexual predators aside, only recently did Georgia decide all student-teacher sexual relationships are illegal, regardless of consent. He obviously consented. Like everyone else said, this type of thing has always gone on, it’s only a timing issue that suddenly it’s officially illegal.
Tiger Woods
May 27th, 2010
9:47 am
On another note…Teachers, especially High School Teachers are freaks. This is a well known fact in single circles. Go to any bar or lounge with a happy hour that caters to school teachers and see if your odds of taking one home that night dont shoot thru the roof. I dont know what it is but ever school teacher I have dealt with on that level, married or single, has been pretty loose.
Emily
May 27th, 2010
9:48 am
@Ann: Yeah! I am also suspicious regarding the football angle… if his uncle is the football coach, couldn’t his moving in with him be construed as some kind of unfair recruiting? I don’t know, maybe he isn’t any good at football, but I’m throwing it out there.
Rebecca
May 27th, 2010
9:50 am
@ former gwinnett educator. Not suprising. Earlier in the year, a 6th grader with special needs committed suicide (off school property). An abundance of rumors and not one parent knows the real truth, I am told, due to privacy laws. How does the administration expect parents to have open and honest discussions with our kids if they can’t be forthright with the truth.
educator by proxy
May 27th, 2010
9:52 am
I am related to a GCPS employee & have heard of several incidents over the years that never make the news. This particular incident came to a head just about two months ago and is just hitting the news now. Gwinnett does many things well and many things that are very frustrating – however everyone in administration in GCPS knows how to work PR to their advantage. Just think back to Rick Badie’s glowing column about how Shiloh High School’s principal is turning things around! This is the same school…..
EMMA
May 27th, 2010
9:55 am
WTF!!!! I am so sick and tired of reading about teacher and student escapades!!! It’s so sickening. I send my child to go to school to learn not be seduced, by a teacher. How disrespectul. It’slike an everyday occurence. I am so paranoid that I make sure I meet all of the teachers and I ask my child everyday what happend at school. What was their day like why did you stay late and with whom? I feel like the FBI, but doggone psychologically it can really mess a child up
Rebecca
May 27th, 2010
9:55 am
@ ann GCPS is rampant with students from Dekalb in the same situation. The system either looks the other way or doesn’t investigate each case thoroughly enough. GCPS likes the play the numbers, bigger is better.
EnoughAlready
May 27th, 2010
9:59 am
This should have been law 100 years ago and it shouldn’t matter the age. They are children until they are out of highschool, because we(parents) are expected to provide for their well being. And as a parent of an absolutely beautiful 15 year old student, I would do everything in my power to have a teacher sentenced to the max, no matter if it were consentual.
Parents are expected to take care of 17 and 18 year olds until they graduate from highschool, so the law should protect them from teachers and other adults for the same time period.
Subrational
May 27th, 2010
9:59 am
@ed
Wow! When did you get the wireless in your double-wide! Watch out for dem tornaders! I hope to see ya on da news in your ol’ wife beater sayin’ “it sounded like uh frate-trane, it did”
A. Parent
May 27th, 2010
10:00 am
OK, For the “this happens all the time” crowd, let’s eliminate the consensual relationship and consider the allegation about the teacher using her position of authority to threaten the student with a failing grade. Isn’t this what is referrend to as a “hostile work environment” or “sexual harrassment”? The use of excessive force by some police officers has been around since we’ve had police officers, should we simply accept this as a fact of life and move on?
catlady
May 27th, 2010
10:01 am
I also note he reported the “abuse” AFTER he got the failing grade.
Jim
May 27th, 2010
10:01 am
When will people realize that teacher of the year is the most bogus award there is. It doesn’t mean the teacher is a quality educator; it means that the person is popular with the faculty. Sounds like Ms. Hall was a poorly educated teacher that made some very poor decisions.
zoe
May 27th, 2010
10:02 am
I went through a teaching program with someone I considered a friend. Our advisor HATED me, loved her. After graduation, we’re both teaching, she gets a job in South Georgia on the coast, I’m in the metro area. Within the first two months of taaching, there is a warrant for her arrest, she is accused of sleeping with a student. After fleeing the jurisdiction (including a trip through the midwest and then to Germany) she surrenders, pleads guilty and is now a registered sex offender. Me? I’m finishing up my 11th year, doing my best in the same system I was hired in. I always found it funny that our advisor thought I would be terrible and I’m now one of the most successful AP teachers in our system and the one our advisor thought was so awesome didn’t even finish her first year before losing her certificate.
Subrational
May 27th, 2010
10:02 am
@ Jim
I agree. Moreover, what does it say about the teachers who so blindly nominated her?
Pat21
May 27th, 2010
10:10 am
I guess the teacher thought that if she was impregnated by this “up and coming football star” she might eventually score the big bucks if he went pro. Obviously, that was a huge gamble since she will be flipping burgers at Wendy’s now…
double standard
May 27th, 2010
10:17 am
i know some will say its different he is a guy. but the fact remains the person was a minor. what did the teacher think he would quit school they get married and live happily ever after?
teachers male and female need more law classes in college
also diversity training expose them to persons of color, different nationality, and/or religions. not the militant kind just normal folk that can tell their stories
like i have said before; some of these “educated” ppl do the stupidest things
Maureen Downey
May 27th, 2010
10:22 am
NHAll, The problem is that you implicated a student in your post without any verification. I don’t mind criticisms of school leaders for whom public scrutiny is expected, but I don’t want a student’s reputation put on the line with something that has not been verified. I get a lot of postings alleging that principals are sleeping with this assistant or that one based on hearsay, and I try to catch and stop all of them as I think that such allegations don’t belong on the blog.
Just A Teacher
May 27th, 2010
10:24 am
There are two separate issues here. Aren’t there? The first is the teacher / student relationship which has been breached. This is a matter for the PSC and the local school system. The second is criminal liability. This doesn’t seem to be a criminal offense since the young man is above the age of consent.
Shawn
May 27th, 2010
10:29 am
I agree that her behavior was wrong, and she should be punished for abusing her position. But I think in the comments too much is being made over the mispelled word. Typos occur quite frequently, especially when under stress (or in a rush. See above comments)
Ed is an idiot, and a waste of air.
Atlanta Media Guy
May 27th, 2010
10:38 am
Remember folks in Georgia, it’s okay to have consensual sex with people who are 16 and older. However, you better not send a naughty picture via email, Georgia Law states sending an offensive picture via the internet, electronic means, to anyone younger than 18 is a misdemeanor. I can’t figure this out, it’s okay to have sex with a 16 year old however you can’t send a nude picture of yourself to someone 18 or younger. Maybe Georgia needs to raise the consent age to 18 or lower the misdemeanor internet law to 16 to match the consent law. I’m just saying…..
Rebecca
May 27th, 2010
10:42 am
Shiloh is certainly not the creme de la creme of GCPS so no suprises there. Even though it would impact my children, I wish GCPS would do more house cleaning. No need for teacher to resign, she should have been fired.
Proud Black Man
May 27th, 2010
10:46 am
“I wish GCPS would do more house cleaning.”
Can we houseclean parents and students too?
Dina
May 27th, 2010
10:49 am
i do not this Ms. Hall did that.. she was my teacher sophmore year and me and her were really close. words can be spread like that.. .. its all just false information to me. hard to believe
HS Teacher
May 27th, 2010
10:57 am
“Teacher of the Year” is a meaningless title. It is a popularity contest among teachers and/or with the administration. It has absolutely no connection to how good of a ‘teacher’ that person is inside of the classroom.
Pitiful.
No Sir
May 27th, 2010
11:00 am
I’m sure this has already been stated, but “Teacher of the Year” awards at individual schools rarely have any thing to do with achievement or superior service (no pun intended regarding her “servicing” of students). It is a popularity contest, plain and simple. At my school last year’s T.O.Y. was a PE teacher whose course load included two periods of ISS duty, two periods of P.E., and one health class. In his defense, however, I don’t think he screws his students.
drew (former teacher)
May 27th, 2010
11:08 am
Why didn’t the student come forth before he received the failing grade? Probably because he didn’t “suffer” until he received a failing grade.
As a matter fact, if the teacher doesn’t use her position to retaliate against the “victim”, this story never sees the light of day. It’s hard to believe a TOTY could be so stupid.
John
May 27th, 2010
11:11 am
Dina obviously did take English under Ms. Hall. She supports my earlier comment that this teacher should never have been hired anywhere to teach English to any student.
EnoughAlready
May 27th, 2010
11:27 am
John, please check your sentence structure.
Pic: ‘Teacher of the Year’ Keenon Aampay Hall accused of sex with student
May 27th, 2010
11:38 am
[...] cheerleading coach at the school for six years prior to her resignation- a move that her parents told the Atlanta Journal Constitution came due to medical reasons and not the allegations of the unnamed [...]
Pic: ‘Teacher of the Year’ Keenon Aampay Hall accused of sex with student
May 27th, 2010
11:38 am
[...] cheerleading coach at the school for six years prior to her resignation- a move that her parents told the Atlanta Journal Constitution came due to medical reasons and not the allegations of the unnamed [...]
Shiloh Grad 2009
May 27th, 2010
11:45 am
It’s INSULTING for Rebecca to say that “Shiloh is certainly not the creme de la creme of GCPS so no suprises there”. Ms. Hall was my Sophomore Honors English teacher, and she was an amazing teacher. It was shocking to hear that she would engage in a sexual act with a student. She never overstepped her boundaries in the classroom while I was a student, and no one expected this. Realistically, it has happened at other schools; search ‘teacher relationship’ on AJC.com. Judge Ms. Hall’s actions because she did cross the line. Don’t hold Shiloh or GCPS responsible for her misconduct.
Rebecca
May 27th, 2010
11:47 am
I am now concerned with many of the comments by “teachers” that continue to degrade the Teacher of the Year title. Sour grapes from average teachers? Are you expecting us believe that this is solely a popularity contest?
d
May 27th, 2010
11:48 am
Just a note — when I attended Shiloh High School in the mid 90s, it was ranked 8th best academically in the state. It saddens me to see comments like Rebbeca’s at 10:42. Here’s hoping a reputation of a once great school can be restored!
catlady
May 27th, 2010
11:49 am
Our dress code would never allow teacher or student to wear a top with straps like that, BTW.
Rebecca
May 27th, 2010
11:53 am
@ Shiloh Grad 2009 I believe you are INSULTING the intelligence of anyone that knows the best and the worst of what GCPS has to offer. Shiloh is near the bottom of that list.
Vivian
May 27th, 2010
11:55 am
Hi folks,
Even though she is the teacher in the situation, is it possible that the student seduced her? The two may have the titles of “teacher” and “student” but does that not make them human? Just something to consider. As far as admitting the relationship, to whom was it really admitted? Did she appear on televison saying,” I did not inhale?” People like to jump to conclusions without knowing true information. His grade suppossedly went from an A to failing? Yeah right. This football player who had gotten into trouble in the past maintaing an A average. I would like to see that one. Perhaps he earned a poor grade. Where was his mother, in North Carolina? Yes, she was there to make sure that he completed homework nightly. That’s true what another blogger said about a conflict of interest with the football coach uncle and the football player coming to play. Too many conflicts here. Wanting a baby by a kid and on a teachers salary. Could this woman not find another willing participant? I think not. Once again, this does not fit. If something does not make sense, it is not true. According to the article, the teacher did not comment. So who has the full story? Certainly it isn’t the media or us. So let’s all move on to something that really matters.
A. Parent
May 27th, 2010
11:56 am
drew, not hard to understand why you are a former teacher. you might also ask; why was the student not “failing” prior to the end of the relationship? again, throw out the sex, or the age of consent in GA and this teacher was still “harassing” the student.
Jennifer
May 27th, 2010
11:57 am
Happening in metro and rural communities. And kudo’s to Gwinnett if they were proactive in taking the complaint seriously, not every community reacts to take care of the student before the adult.
Dekalb Mom
May 27th, 2010
12:08 pm
@Atlanta Media Guy…two wrongs don’t make it right. It isn’t right for a teacher to ever have a personal relationship with a student and it isn’t right for an adult male to send nude pictures of himself to anyone. Question is, did you get convicted?
EnoughAlready
May 27th, 2010
12:11 pm
Rebecca – You can’t always judge an entire school or school systems by statistics. So, please give example(s) that you know about first hand; since you are an expert on Shiloh.
Proud Black Man
May 27th, 2010
12:11 pm
“Are you expecting us believe that this is solely a popularity contest?”
It is. In every district that I have had the fortune/misfortune to deal with TOTY are voted on by their fellow teachers. No classroom observations, student assessments, ect. are done. Just a popularity vote.
SallyB
May 27th, 2010
12:16 pm
In my experience, whoever said this teacher/student relationship thing has always been present is absolutely correct.
In fact, in the early 80’s in one of Atlanta’ s most esteemed high schools, a 10th grade student began dating one of his teachers. If anyone knew, and they did, they kept their mouths shut. As of today, they have been married [to each other] for many years and have 3 adorable children.
Proud Black Man
May 27th, 2010
12:16 pm
“Rebecca – You can’t always judge an entire school or school systems by statistics. So, please give example(s) that you know about first hand; since you are an expert on Shiloh.”
I submit that Rebecca’s only criteria for making that statement is that Shiloh is a majority minority school. Another tea (insert the name that cannot be mentioned) exposed.
http://www.gwinnett.k12.ga.us/gcps-mainweb01.nsf/FileAttachments/771FE4F5AC6EDE9C85256BCE004FEE94/$file/ShilohHS.pdf
Political Spectator
May 27th, 2010
12:44 pm
The average individual reads this blog and lose all respect for teachers. There are posters here finding a reason to blame the kid. The teacher is the adult, she admitted to having sex with a student…CASE close… Take her certificate and prosecute her!!!!!
KJ
May 27th, 2010
12:49 pm
If this were a Lifetime movie, it would be about the poor, downtrodden teacher of the year (portrayed by Connie Selleca) being corrupted by a vile, conniving, testosterone-infected student who forced himself on her (portrayed by Eminem).
Lifetime… Television for Idiots.
Texas Pete
May 27th, 2010
12:52 pm
GCPS is the SEC of Georgia school systems. Seriously, their worst schools would be near the top for a lot of school systems in the state. So people like Rebecca shouldn’t be so snobby towards Shiloh just because of this unfortunate situation. And like others have said already, all kinds of things happen in schools all over the state and country that never make it to a major news outlet if any at all. If you think your poop doesn’t stink it’s because you haven’t taken a sniff.
Maureen Downey
May 27th, 2010
1:07 pm
@Shawn, I appreciate the community censure of Ed, but I removed his comment as it crossed the line.
Maureen
Former Female Woodstock High Student
May 27th, 2010
1:21 pm
Does anyone remember when they fired the male teacher at Woodstock High for a consensual relationship with a student?
I think the standards should be the same across the board, regardless of the gender of the offending adult.
David S
May 27th, 2010
1:26 pm
And you parents don’t think you could do a better job educating your children than this? Man, you put way too much faith in government.
triumph110
May 27th, 2010
1:27 pm
This is happening all over the country. Go to http://www.schoolteachernews.com and click on the Scandal page. This year they have documented over 225 of these types of incidents. They also have a map of where the incidents have taken place. In 2009 they found 464 of these kinds of cases.
Proud Black Man
May 27th, 2010
1:44 pm
@ triumph110
I did and found that the OVERWHELMINGLY MAJORITY of said teachers are of the Caucasian persuasion. Why Maureen picked a lady of color, and so soon after the klan teacher debacle, can only lead one to speculate about her motive for doing so.
Rebecca
May 27th, 2010
2:11 pm
Those of you that are questioning my comments in regards to Shiloh obviously know nothing about GCPS. I won’t go into the multitude of issues that this cluster has. Compare and contrast them to Brookwood and you will see the difference. It is amazing what a divider line such as Hwy 78 can do. On that note, I have personally seen to it that at least one of those kids was sent back across the Snellville border.
PBM is stirring the pot as usual
Pluto
May 27th, 2010
2:20 pm
I have always been amazed that the whole teacher of the year tag. Let’s see the best evaluation a teacher can recieve is satisfactory yes we are no better or worse than any old 2×4 at HomeDepot. Then the admin and BOEs select one 2×4 to hold up as the yard stick. A colleague and I nominated a “marginal at best” colleague for this charade knowing she was a marvelous self-promoter and guess what; she won!! Then she went way beyond the school candidate to be the district representative. That sort of put things in perspective for us.
Rebecca
May 27th, 2010
2:31 pm
@ Texas Pete If you cared to read my previous posts I most certainly acknowledged problems within my own cluster. That being said, I have a pretty good view of what Shiloh does not have to offer. This incident is the least of their problems, but does bring a harsher light to the many problems that have existed there for a long time. Call it snobby if you wish, it is what it is. TP if you lived in southern Gwinnett county, we would not be having this discussion.
Proud Black Man
May 27th, 2010
2:43 pm
@ Rebbecca
“Those of you that are questioning my comments in regards to Shiloh obviously know nothing about GCPS. I won’t go into the multitude of issues that this cluster has.”
Sounds like a busybody to me. Also possibly a divisive helicopter parent.
“On that note, I have personally seen to it that at least one of those kids was sent back across the Snellville border.”
I bet you have.
“Call it snobby if you wish…”
I call it and YOU racist.
“PBM is stirring the pot as usual”
Pot was stirred long before I was born. If tea (insert the name that cannot be mentioned) hasn’t totally destroyed your frontal lobes take the time to read a book about race in America. Heres a start:
http://www.google.com/products/catalog?rlz=1T4GGLL_enUS381US381&q=books+on+race+in+america&um=1&ie=UTF-8&cid=2929579035101298478&ei=orz-S8CPNcG78gbyoomoDQ&sa=X&oi=product_catalog_result&ct=result&resnum=3&ved=0CC4Q8wIwAg#
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002E19JKU/ref=pd_lpo_k2_dp_sr_2?pf_rd_p=486539851&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=0226744078&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=0G71TJKK4X7EZ633WGDF
http://www.amazon.com/Education-History-theUnited-Beginning-ebook/dp/B000JML224/ref=pd_sim_kinc_3?ie=UTF8&m=AG56TWVU5XWC2
Rebecca
May 27th, 2010
2:44 pm
@ Pluto It is a pity that you, as a teacher, didn’t take this seriously. It’s obvious many hear don’t. It makes me appreciate the fact that there are some people that do the right thing and recognize the exceptional teachers. As I said earlier, my daughter’s science teacher last school year was nominated this year and won for the school, district and as a state finalist. Deborah Stringfellow is a great teacher and I am glad her fellow colleagues and students/parents appreciate her.
Shame on you Pluto, I feel sorry for your students.
Dekalb Teacher
May 27th, 2010
2:46 pm
For all those so called “concerned citizens, concerned parents, and self acclaimed know everythings: I abhor any teacher who in any way mistreats a student or allows a student to be mistreated by anyone. We are obligated by law to report such things. Now I have read several comments about how this stuff happens all of the time. If you are not part of the solution, you are part of the problem. Since you say it happens all the time, and of course you know this for sure, what have you done to help solve the problem. I haven’t read any of you saying, “I reported it each time.” That would weed out the true bad ones. I teach middle school and have only once seen such suspicious behavior. It was from a custodian and not a teacher. I did report it and the custodian was terminated upon investigation. That is being part of the solution. If you say it happens all of the time, do something about it other than blog.
NC
May 27th, 2010
2:47 pm
@Rebecca
Perhaps it’s a good thing that you “personally saw to it” that that child was sent back across the Snellville border; at least one soul was saved from the horrid influences coming from the Brookwood school district. And way to go in terms of dividing the city into right and wrong side of the tracks. You fail to mention that schools such as Brookwood and the others (on the right side of the tracks) have their issues too. Need I mention Brookwood’s problems with rich kids and their refined, high quality, dangerous drugs or the fact that they have, on multiple occasions, made people feel so uncomfortable at that school that they have literally broken them down into persons with mental and psychological disorders? While in your personal opinion, you may believe that Shiloh is not the “creme de la creme” of GCPS, I will have you note that we were the first to produce a black salutatorian, one who decided to go to Harvard at that, and we’ve had very successful graduates like every other school in the county, and we continue to do so. Not to mention we have an award winning chorus. And in regards to Brookwood being so wonderful, let’s not forget that no matter how fine the bronco, the general always rides it.
V for Vendetta
May 27th, 2010
2:52 pm
EnoughAlready,
“I have been warning my daughter about teachers since elementary school. It’s really very sad.”
Comments like that are what is really sad. The fact that you’d feel that way after reading a story about ONE teacher with ONE student in ONE school . . . do I stop going to the doctor when I read about ONE instance of malpractice?
People need to get a grip.
Cover up
May 27th, 2010
2:58 pm
How are scores from districts involved in the cheating scandal still not out?
EnoughAlready
May 27th, 2010
2:58 pm
Rebecca
May 27th, 2010
2:11 pm
Actually Rebecca you are incorrect, my child is a very successful student in the GCPS system and I know the system intimately. I also know students who have graduated and are currently registered in Shiloh cluster whom are very successful.
The only thing that Brookwood has compared to Shiloh; referencing the Highway 78 divide, is a little more money. It would be interesting to see the “ruckus” that would happen if redistricting happens the way it actually should; to the Brookwood cluster.
Pluto
May 27th, 2010
3:00 pm
@ Rebecca I didn’t get into teaching for the recognition and if that is important to you; you are probably in the wrong place. I got into the profession to improve the understanding by students of one of the most difficult disciplines to understand and gain an appreciation. As far as my students go, they love me.
Ros Dalton
May 27th, 2010
3:04 pm
The ‘where were these teachers when I was in school’ snickers are extremely distasteful. Be grateful you didn’t have them, or didn’t you read the part where the woman (allegedly) failed the student for not impregnating her? Is that really something you would’ve wanted to deal with as a boy? Or something you’d want your son to have to manage?
Relationships in situations of unequal power are always a bad idea. There are some exceptional individuals who can make it work, but the vast majority end up very badly for both parties. Shame on anyone who watched this happen and let it go with a wink and a grin.
EnoughAlready
May 27th, 2010
3:07 pm
V for Vendetta
May 27th, 2010
2:52 pm
Very funny….. it’s not just ONE teacher, ONE school or One School System or in ONE state. It’s NOT even a NEW THING. You get a GRIP.
If you read correctly; I have warned my daughter since elementary school and for good reason. You are a very sad person and a sad excuse for a teacher; if you think I would allow my child to believe that everybody she is in contact with is an honorable person.
Matter of fact, I don’t think I know any occupation that has maintained a high regards to HONOR and teaching is definitely on the list.
FYI…. If I can’t trust a priest with my child; I know I don’t trust any of you.
Rebecca
May 27th, 2010
3:09 pm
@ NC I am certainly glad you are able to stick it out and find a few redeeming qualities in your school. More parents should fight for their children and stick it out where they are at and not try to dump their problems onto another school. Again, you should have gone back and read my previous posts regarding Brookwood, I never said they were perfect. The statistics and information are out there about the Shiloh cluster, don’t shoot the messenger. Hope your rant towards me makes you at least feel better, though the problems at Shiloh are far from over.
Rebecca
May 27th, 2010
3:17 pm
Do people READ previous posts or do they just automatically start vomitting out rebuttals?
@ Pluto I am not a teacher, I am a parent. In your previous post you bragged about nominating a subpar teacher like it was a childish joke. Your students may “love” you, but to do something so immature you obviously don’t love them back.
Dekalb Teacher
May 27th, 2010
3:17 pm
I don’t know what happened to my comment that I submitted so let me try again. I am a middle school teacher. I have read several blogs stating that this type of thing happens all of the time. I abhor any teacher or anyone else who would mistreat a student, misuse their position to do any wrong to any student. This includes teachers, staff, parents or administrators. If you are now part of the solution, you are part of the problem. Since so many of you stated that this happens all of the time, why have you not reported any of it, even if only a suspicion. That means that you are part of the problem. You said you’ve seen it, and you did nothing until this blog, then you claim it happens all the time. In my teaching career, I’ve only seen it once, by a custodian, not by a teacher. The custodian was always giving gifts to female students and was involved in other suspicious behavior. I did report it, and he was soon terminated. I don’t know if anything else happened because I never heard about it again. We are required by law to report any suspicions of any type of abuse that we observe. Since some of you claim to be or have been teachers, and state that is happens all the time, did you report it or did you become part of the problem by ignoring it?
plc
May 27th, 2010
3:18 pm
For anyone who wants actual data on Shiloh’s performance compared to the district and state, here’s a link:
http://www.gaosa.org/FindASchool.aspx?PageReq=106&FromSection=report&TabRequested=SchoolScoreBoard&ScoreBoardId=2&DisplayOrder=1&SchoolID=43934&SY=2009
I just don’t get why teachers or students want a relationship with each other. I have NO interest in students nor would I EVER want to think of a teacher/professor that way. However, if she was pushing him for a baby, it seems there are much deeper psychological issues there. Maybe GCPS needs to add more questions to the screening survey they ask all hopefuls to fill out.
Ernest
May 27th, 2010
3:20 pm
I believe that this teacher should be de-certified, asap.
As for the Teacher of the Year, like most things, sometimes it does recognize good performance sometimes it doesn’t.
As a lawyer for someone who walked away from this school system because of a derranged former student who was stalking his family (with no wrongdoing on his end) and the system would not respond, always wait for all the facts before you leap. In my case, this teacher chose his family over his career and is now flourishing elsewhere.
My experience with this system is that it is heavy handed, and skirts employment practices and open-records acts in a bunker mentality.
Rebecca
May 27th, 2010
3:29 pm
“The only thing that Brookwood has compared to Shiloh; referencing the Highway 78 divide, is a little more money. It would be interesting to see the “ruckus” that would happen if redistricting happens the way it actually should; to the Brookwood cluster”
“A little more money” has nothing to do with, it’s called the Brookwood “community” for a reason. The Brookwood “community” is dedicated to protecting and improving the lifestyle and education that exists there. The “community” is the reason for our sucess and it’s worth fighting for. The proof is there. Instead of bashing me for telling the truth, get out there and fight for Shiloh and your kids.
cobb mother
May 27th, 2010
3:33 pm
I graduated from High School in upstate NY in 1978, in my highschool the Male English Teacher, year book advisor was carrying on a sexual affair with a female class mate since our Junior year. Everyone new about it. He was married with two kids. Nothing is done about it, she graduates they move to Florida together and marry. They have the nerve to show up at each of our 10, 20, 30 year reunions as Mr. and Mrs. Miller, ( real last name) everyone in our class feels very uneasy at every class reunion when this pair shows up. Nothing was ever done to him.
Tweets that mention The Teacher of the Year and the football player: Sounds like a Lifetime movie | Get Schooled -- Topsy.com
May 27th, 2010
3:35 pm
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by DC Public School and DC Public School, MONISE SEWARD. MONISE SEWARD said: From @AJCGetSchooled Teacher of the Year & Football Player: Sounds like a Lifetime Movie http://ow.ly/1QMtf #education #parenting [...]
Proud Black Man
May 27th, 2010
4:02 pm
The heavy hand of censorship is back.
Pluto
May 27th, 2010
4:13 pm
@ Rebecca Who voted for you as the chair of social consciousness? Teachers can’t have a sense of humor; immature or not??
DJ Sniper
May 27th, 2010
4:20 pm
First of all, I don’t think race has anything to do with this situation. I’ll admit that I wasn’t expecting this teacher to be black (since most of these situations involve white teachers), but still, it’s quite a stretch to call racism simply because this story was posted after the one about the teacher and the students dressed as Klan members.
Now, several people have already mentioned this, but I’ll say it again: It’s way past time for equal punishment for this type of offense. It kills me how female teachers don’t seem to receive the same type of punishment when they get involved with students. I still remember the teacher in Florida whose lawyer made the argument of “she’s too pretty for prison.” Let’s get this issue under control.
TOTY
May 27th, 2010
4:35 pm
The teachers nominate each other for teacher of the year (TOTY). You can accept or decline the nomination. If you accept, you fill out an application. A committee picks three. The three are filmed. The videos are shown and the staff votes based on the video (or popularity). Often it is an amazing teacher…sometimes just a popular teacher. Sometimes it’s the politically correct nominee.
Gail
May 27th, 2010
4:48 pm
Rebecca: Please do not use this unfortunate situation to bad mouth Shiloh High School. My older 2 children attended Shiloh and each enrolled in college with almost 20 AP credit hours. I think they received a fine education. They are making fantastic grades at their university. And no, they are not attending a community college. I hope you read a few weeks ago that one of the 141 2010 US Presidential Scholars is from Shiloh.
Proud Black Man
May 27th, 2010
5:25 pm
@ Gail
Waste no breath on Rebbecca. According to her we are all “bad” parents who do not “get out there and fight for Shiloh and your kids…” Tea (insert the name that cannot be mentioned) of her ilk love to engage in patronizing stereotypes.
Show Me
May 27th, 2010
6:19 pm
I’ve got news for you all,… GCPS is not the creme de la creme of school systems!
@ Earnest, I would like to know how to contact you. I formerly worked for Gwinnett, when an EBD student (not my student) threatened to kill me after I wrote him up for testing violations. He was even calling my home and leaving threatening messages. GCPS refused to do anything at all. GAE told me to go to GC Police. The GC police told me to report to the school resource officer, but my principal circumvented my call and put a stop to any investigation. I never felt safe teaching in Gwinnett. GCPS’s reputation is a house of cards. Boo!
J Moore
May 27th, 2010
6:56 pm
We are getting what we deserve. We hire and promote “people” based upon their skin color–not their intelligence. In this case, obviously intelligence was not a factor. What was this teacher’s SAT or IQ score anyway? Secondly, the student should be rushed to Wal-Mart–obviously he cannot see well.
the prof
May 27th, 2010
7:00 pm
PBM isn’t black and is afraid of honesty.
Dan
May 27th, 2010
7:08 pm
Some people are just dumb.
Proud Black Man
May 27th, 2010
7:38 pm
@ J Moore
“We are getting what we deserve. We hire and promote “people” based upon their skin color–not their intelligence.”
And what about the previous high profile, ALL WHITE, teachers caught screwing around with their students? More white right jibba jabba from an obvious tea (insert the name that cannot be mentioned).
Where are the test scores?
May 27th, 2010
7:41 pm
The biggest cheating scandal in Georgia’s educational history, the test have long since been returned, and no one will report the test scores?
Does this not strike anybody as odd?
Mr. Peepers
May 27th, 2010
8:37 pm
Good giggly wiggly–that teacher is butt ugly. Dang J Moore–Student does need glasses.
Where are the test scores?
May 27th, 2010
10:26 pm
Have the test scores ever been released so late in the year as they have this year, the year after the biggest cheating scandal in Georgia’s educational history?
Hmmm....
May 27th, 2010
10:42 pm
This has nothing to do with race, but has to do with extremely poor judgment. While I do not personally know this teacher, I was aware of her last year during a county sponsored staff development. She struck me as a kind and intelligent person who was passionate about teaching. She obviously had a serious lapse in judgment and there is no excuse for that, but I think that people are being quite heartless. Her life is in shambles. I think that is the beginning of her punishment.
jpfromtheA
May 27th, 2010
11:20 pm
I see a lot of people that think this stuff wasn’t going on when they were in school. Well I hate to burst your bubble but it happened when you were in school too.. It was just kept hush hush. I had a teacher (20 yrs ago) we all suspected was sleeping with some of the girls. To my surprise, years later I ended up working for the school system in the records management department where I came across all the proof on that teacher and how they got a student pregnant. It’s happening folks and it’s been going on forever.
Ole Guy
May 27th, 2010
11:45 pm
As for teachers and students doing “close order drill”, there is only one answer…BAD, BAD, BAD. When teachers…former teachers of the year, much less…allow this sort of thing to happen, they denegrate the meaning of such an award, and of the very profession.
As far as that wall in the classroom…the student body at my alma mater was almost entirely vets of the Viet Nam era. Students and instructors/teachers would often belly up to the bar, not in a superior/subordinate role, but as fellow vets and aviators. In the classroom, it was ALWAYS Mr. So-and-So between students and teachers…at the bar, at parties, or on the golf course, it was generally a first name basis.
It’s all about maturity and respect, something of which the teacher and student in question are entirely devoid.
Mr. Peepers
May 28th, 2010
12:02 am
PBM–you can spot a racist ten miles away–does my comment make me a racist? Or can a white man say a black woman is ugly without him being one step removed from being a kluck kluck??
Proud Black Man
May 28th, 2010
6:11 am
No it doesn’t make you a racist but your screen name makes you sound like a pedophile. Satisfied?
Understanding Atlanta
May 28th, 2010
9:15 am
Hey Y’all. I’m still wondering why this is suprsising to people. Not all teachers sleep with students but it happens and has been happening for a while. Couple of weeks ago I was at a family gathering going through my mom’s yearbook from ‘72. My mom and aunt’s were pointing out the few students that went with teachers.
While in college, I volunteered at a HS in S. Georgia and there was a teacher married to another teacher, except they started dating when the wife was still a HS student. Is it wrong, yes. Is it suprising, no. Are you going to get rid of everyone that would have a relationship with a student, unlikely.
Let’s be honest, especially if you’re a first year teacher about 23-24 and you have a student that’s 18. I can see them dating as long as they weren’t in the same district.
booklover
May 28th, 2010
10:46 am
To all the posters complaining about sexism and the fact that female teachers supposedly aren’t punished as harshly as male teachers:
A study by the associated press found that, while male teachers were much more likely to COMMIT acts of sexual misconduct, female teachers were much more likely to be prosecuted. Incidents involving female teachers were also much more likely to be intensely covered by the news media.
In my district, a male teacher was forced to resign last year for a very similar incident–some misconduct (exactly what was never determined) between him and a 17-year-old female student. Because of the laws at the time, he was never prosecuted, and the scandal barely touched the pages of the local paper, let alone the big papers in Savannah or Atlanta.
That said, this teacher clearly suffers from bad judgment.
citation: http://blackbirdwhistling.wordpress.com/2007/10/30/when-boys-cry-gender-bias-and-sexual-abuse/
Hot Dog
May 28th, 2010
1:05 pm
Rebecca sounds like a “Teacher of the year” last year in a county just north of atlanta that was nominated as a joke, by a guy that was leaving the district before he was forced. Teachers at the school were shocked and a few with connections polled every department and could not find one single teacher that voted for her although it was reported that she was elected by a land slide. The “Teacher of the year” mess is a bigger pile of dog poop than Sonny Boy. By the way I can’t think of anything more laughable than Sonny Boy getting involved in education ( something which he knows absolutely nothing about and the fact that he is educated is in much doubt )
Tony
May 29th, 2010
8:55 am
For purposes of the ciminal justice systems, 17 years old means that you are a legal adult. My respectful opinion is that everyone is making this young man out to be a victim when it is clear to me that he was the opportunist. The young and obviously socially inexperienced bookworm teacher (who must have big issues with self esteem) was infatuated by the big strong football star. Even though the teacher was twelve years older than he was biologically, his street I.Q. was higher than hers. He used her for six months while it benefitted him and when he did not get his way, he outted her. Now, her career is over and his life is just beginning. The real victim here is the teacher. Obviously, her upbringing did not allow her to mature enouch socially and she has paid a heavy price. Sometimes perception is not reality.
Economicwoes
May 29th, 2010
11:04 am
Former Woodstock High Student- You won’t see Danny Porter do anything to GCPS. He never has, or least not in the last 14 years.
VeronicaDekalbTeacher
May 29th, 2010
5:51 pm
It is sad, but I believe the teacher of the year is no longer an honor. A PE teacher at my school became teacher of the year, and then DISTRICT-WIDE teacher of the year. He can’t put two words together to make a sentence and doesn’t teach the children anything, not even sports. What criteria is used for teacher of the year? We believe he was hand picked by the principal…..and there you have it!!
Teacher of the year? Please!
May 30th, 2010
1:15 am
I work in Dekalb where theTeacher of the Year award is a joke! At one particular school it is clockwork that if a White person wins one year, the next year a Black person wins. Qualifications does not matter; the hue of the skin is more important. In addition, this award is given to the teacher who is most popular; it has nothing to do with merit. I have known teachers who are excellent in the classroom but not held in high regard by their peers; hence they are not even nominated. As you all know, DeKalb has many issues and this is one of them.
7 Days in May
June 1st, 2010
10:30 pm
Ahhh….she had “TENURE” (”…seven years of teaching…”).
and:(this post)SPOT ON! ROFL! Perfect! Exactly! Not an idiot sexually insecure whack job pervert unbalanced predator robe wearing cross burning freak among any of the teachers I know that were RIFed either!!!
Just want to say that all the teachers I know who were RIF victims neither had sex with students, nor did they dress in klan robes.
A CONSERVATIVE
June 5th, 2010
8:17 am
LIBERALISM & its lack of moral values is at the core of this problem…SEX outside marriage…& SEX with a teenage boy should have been a NO-NO with this female..Public Schools are not allowed to enforce Christian moral values in schools…
Truth
June 10th, 2010
2:01 am
Look at affair Dr. keith Thompson of GIVE West Middle had with fellow admisnistrator. Another prime time drama.
Like Im Really Gonna Reveal My Name
June 24th, 2010
12:23 am
I was a current student of Ms. Hall when this situation began and just so you all know Ms. Hall was a great teacher. She helped me become a better writer and helped me pass my Gateway Exam. She gave her classes an interesting twist to make lessons enjoyable and fun. It was very unfortunate situation Ms. Hall got herself into. But let us not forget that BOTH Teacher of the Year AND Football Star were in this together. BOTH of them were wrong. I also know the student and his grades were not that great to begin with. Im not saying that he’s lying, but the fact that he received an F….not that suprising. I also do not appreciate the fact that SOME people are saying things like “Shiloh is certainly not the creme de la creme of GCPS so no suprises there” (Rebecca). That is really offensive. A school’s reputation should not be based on what ONE teacher was accused of doing. I have had a great exprience at SHiloh. The principal, the teachers, and the students make the experience worth wild. Plus their Concert Choir, which i participate in and also directed by Mr. Craig Johnson, KICKS BUTT!!!!!!!