Print

Email story

Comment

Email editor

Schools

Tough lessons for 3 teachers

In cases in Pinellas, one asks for a hearing, another is suspended and the third resigns.

By DONNA WINCHESTER
Published March 3, 2006

Three teachers, three offenses, three recommendations for discipline.

Among educators whose cases went before the Pinellas County School Board earlier this week was one who suggested a student urinate in a trash can rather than leave the room to use the bathroom.

Another, who teaches youth inmates at the jail, bailed one student out and allowed the student to live with her.

And a third allowed her class to get so out of control that an administrator, responding to screams from the classroom, rescued a child students had locked in a closet.

The first teacher asked for an administrative hearing. The second accepted an eight-day suspension. The third chose to resign.

Lesley Campbell, who would not allow the student to leave the room to use the bathroom, joined Clearwater High School in 1986. With the exception of an alcohol-related offense in 1996, her personnel record is clean.

But on Nov. 17, she refused to let a student leave class to go to the restroom because she thought he would "just wander the halls."

"Do you have a bottle or something?" the student asked, according to a School Board document. Campbell pointed to the trash: "If you have to go that bad, use this." He did.

Superintendent Clayton Wilcox cited Campbell for "exposing a student to unnecessary embarrassment or disparagement" and recommended she be suspended 10 days without pay. That could cost Campbell more than $2,700. She has requested an administrative hearing.

Sue Foster, a teacher at Dixie Hollins Adult Education Center who also works at the Pinellas County Jail, violated School Board and jail policy by getting involved in the personal life of a student inmate. A Sheriff's Office investigation in December found that Foster, hired by the district in 1971, bailed out an inmate and let the inmate live at her home. The Sheriff's Office has banned Foster from working at the jail.

Foster will be suspended eight days, costing her $2,325.28.

Teacher Mary Vanderloop resigned from Dunedin High School to avoid dismissal. Wilcox cited Vanderloop for several offenses including insubordination and misconduct after she allowed a student to remain locked in a closet for about 20 minutes.

According to School Board documents, several boys had pushed the student into the closet, locked the door and stacked chairs against it while Vanderloop stood in the middle of the room and repeated, "Boys, you need to let him out." Vanderloop, who came to the district as a substitute teacher 10 years ago, began teaching at Dunedin High in December after receiving a 10-day suspension without pay and a transfer for violating board policy while at Tyrone Elementary.

[Last modified March 3, 2006, 02:39:04]