Teacher charged with sex battery

TARPON SPRINGS -- A 29-year-old Tarpon High School teacher and former basketball coach was charged Thursday with sexual battery on a 17-year-old female student, Pinellas County sheriff's deputies said.

Michael Grayer of 2768 Cypress Drive, Clearwater, was arrested Thursday at the high school about 20 minutes after the close of school.

The incident occurred between Jan. 14 and 15 in Grayer's office at school, sheriff's spokesman Cal Dennie said. Deputies did not release further details about the incident.

Grayer was hired by the Pinellas County School District in August 2000, and taught last year at Dixie Hollins High School in St. Petersburg, where he also acted as coach of the boy's junior varsity basketball team.

Grayer transferred to Tarpon High School this year. He taught social studies in the GOALS program, which stands for Graduation Options -- Alternatives to Leaving School. It is a dropout prevention program for unmotivated students who have fallen behind.

Grayer also coached the boy's varsity basketball team until he resigned 12 games into the season on Jan. 10 for personal reasons. The Spongers were 1-11 at the time. Grayer told the St. Petersburg Times last week that principal John Nicely asked him to resign.

Nicely said Grayer resigned for personal reasons unrelated to the charges filed Thursday.

The allegation that led to the charges Thursday surfaced when an unnamed student brought it to the attention of an employee at the school, said Pinellas County school district spokesman Ron Stone. The district then turned over the information to the Sheriff's Office.

"We are cooperating with the Sheriff's Office, which is handling the investigation," Stone said.

Grayer was placed on administrative leave with pay pending the investigation's outcome. Stone noted that Grayer refused to speak with officials from the district's Office of Professional Standards.

If it is determined there is any substance to the charge, Stone said, the district will notify the state Department of Education to determine whether Grayer's teaching certificate should be revoked.

"It's a very rare occurrence," Stone said of the accusation. "I think the best part about this is that a student was willing to come forward and say something to an adult."

Nicely said he would not comment about the arrest until the sheriff's investigation is complete.

"I've been involved in this business for 33 years," Nicely said, "and I have never had anything like this happen at any school I've been at before. It's unfortunate this type of thing happened."

Grayer was charged with one count of sexual battery on a minor under the age of 18. He refused to speak to investigators, Dennie said. He was being held Thursday night without bail in the Pinellas County Jail.

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