Behavior: Seven students accused him of sexual touching, then admitted they lied. Regrets fail to explain conduct.
Just after 11 a.m. on Wednesday, February 16, 2000, gym teacher Ronald Heller was called to his principal's office.
He was shown written statements from several sixth-grade students saying they'd seen him in the girls' locker room, hugging one girl in her bra and panties, slapping another on her behind and calling yet another "hot sexy mama."
The wind went out of him.
"I did not do this," Heller, 54, said. "This is a lie."
Students Charged
A Lie Lasts
Daily News of Heller & Accusations
He looked at the names--six girls and a boy. Only two were in his class. The rest he didn't even know.
The principal of Roberto Clemente Middle School in Germantown, Md., handed Heller a letter informing him that he was suspended with pay, effective immediately. He was given 15 minutes to leave the school.
"I was flabbergasted," said Heller, a teacher and coach for 32 years. "I thought it was all a big mistake and that I'd be back at work by Friday."
For the full article, click here.
No comments:
Post a Comment