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Schools

A sad story or a moral failure?

Officials debate whether a teacher who attempted suicide in her classroom broke "immorality" rules.

By MARY SPICUZZA
Published October 19, 2006

	Patti Withers became upset after learning that she had failed a Spanish certification exam.

LAND O'LAKES - Pasco High School was the one place Patti Withers had been truly happy, she wrote in a May suicide note.

But the language and reading teacher had just learned that she had failed a Spanish certification exam by six points. She became desperate.

The school, she decided, was where she wanted to die.

"I was devastated," she told the Pasco County School Board on Tuesday night. "I couldn't foresee a future for myself without being able to teach."

On May 22, Withers, 48, began swallowing pills in her classroom after school. She had with her several suicide letters - one addressed to principal Patrick Reedy, the others to friends and family members - and $300 in cash.

"The money is for you to give to the other teachers and staff at the end of the year luncheon," her letter to Reedy said. "Maybe a cake or chicken wings or deli platter would be nice. Whatever you think appropriate."

But she ran out of water. She left the classroom on her scooter, in search of more water to finish off the pills. A couple of other teachers spotted her, thought she was acting strangely and saw the prescription bottles. Someone called 911.

Mental illness or immorality?

School Board members listened to Withers' testimony at a nearly five-hour hearing Tuesday to decide whether the teacher should be fired because of her actions that day.

Superintendent Heather Fiorentino has recommended that the board fire Withers, citing Florida State Board of Education administrative rules governing suspension and dismissal. The rules address "immorality" and conduct that might bring the education profession "public disgrace or disrespect."

School Board members listened to several hours of testimony - including statements from Withers, her psychiatrist, Pasco High staff members, and Fiorentino - but did not reach a decision. Attorneys from both sides have until Nov. 1 to give the board written statements about the case. Board members will then decide Withers' fate at a Nov. 7 meeting.

Some School Board members questioned the superintendent's recommendation to fire Withers.

Jean Larkin Weightman asked what kind of an example board members would set if they "kick a person when they're down."

She said she worried that Pasco County schools would come to be known as "a school district without a heart." And she said the superintendent's attorney, Edmund McKenna, was assuming that mental illness was "evil."

After McKenna questioned whether a school was an appropriate place for a suicide attempt, Weightman retorted: "Is there an appropriate place to kill yourself?"

But board member Kathryn Starkey questioned whether the focus should be on students, not on employees.

"I thought we were here for the kids," she said.

Kathleen Wolf said the district has obligations to both students and employees. "Go to your policy book," she told Starkey.

What did students at school see?

Fiorentino has argued that young people who witness a suicide are more likely to attempt it themselves.

But it was unclear Tuesday whether any students had clearly witnessed the suicide attempt. Fiorentino and district staff members have been unable to provide the names of any teens, or say exactly how many students might have seen Withers swallowing pills.

But Fiorentino said she believes some students saw Withers tussling with assistant principal Norman Brown, who was trying to take a bottle of pills away from her.

"They had to understand something was going on," Fiorentino said during the hearing.

Other board members raised questions about school policy and events leading up to the suicide attempt.

Marge Whaley asked attorneys what constitutes "public disgrace," according to state education guidelines.

Fiorentino and her attorney questioned whether Withers would try to kill herself on campus again.

"The question before you is, how likely is it to happen again?" McKenna said.

Withers' psychiatrist, Dr. Pius Jacob, said his patient would be fine, as long as she had job security, an income and health benefits.

"I'm concerned if she does not have a job, she will commit suicide," Jacob said.

Withers called her actions that day "really stupid" and assured board members it would never happen again.

"I just wanted to say that I love my students with all my heart," she said.

Teacher's note: 'Time to go. Goodbye.'

Editor's Note: On May 22, teacher Patti Withers had a suicide note for Pasco High School principal Pat Reedy. At the top of a piece of lined, three-hole paper, she wrote:

Mary Spicuzza covers education in Pasco County. She can be reached at 813 909-4614 or toll free at 1 (800) 333-7505, ext. 4614. Her e-mail address is mspicuzza@sptimes.com.

[Last modified October 19, 2006, 07:27:52]