Published Monday, January 07, 2008 3:15 PM
Updated Tuesday, January 29, 2008 5:04 PM

 

Teacher rejects transfer offer to Goose Creek

In a controversy that has caught the attention of the entire county, Berkeley Middle School teacher Lori Teuton has rejected a transfer offer to Goose Creek's Sedgefield Middle School.

In what has turned into a high profile incident, Teuton, a National Board Certified, 12-year veteran of the classroom, recently sent a 13-year old female student to the office at BMS.

When the student returned to Teuton's class - upset about the referral - she allegedly told another student, "Let's just cut her, cut her with a knife," according to Teuton.

Teuton said she approached the student near the end of class to ask her about what she had said.

"I didn't want to make a big production out of it," Tueton said. "I didn't want to cause a disruption, so I did repeat it back to her and I said, 'are those song lyrics, or what is that?' and she just shrugged her shoulders, looked at me like I was crazy and said, 'no.'"

In the days ahead, Teuton requested to have the student moved from her classroom but her request was denied.

Communication between Teuton and school officials broke down when Teuton's request to have her own witness present at her recent grievance hearing was turned down.

Ultimately, Teuton was placed on administrative leave and asked to leave BMS.

Teuton and her attorney, Larry Kobrovosky of Charleston, met with Berkeley County School Superintendent Dr. Chester Floyd and a school district attorney for about two hours last Tuesday to discuss Teuton's options.

The school district offered Teuton a transfer to Sedgefield Middle and gave her until Friday to make a decision.

Teuton responded the next day by declining the offer and plans to appeal the transfer request.

"What kind of message does that send to the students, my co-workers and my children that the student who threatened a teacher gets to stay, and I have to go somewhere else?" she said.

Teuton said she wants to return to Berkeley Middle School and for the student who made the threat against her to be removed. For now, Teuton remains on administrative leave with pay as she waits for a response from the school district.

Because school district officials can not comment on the personnel matter until it is resolved, district spokesperson Pam Bailey asked the public not to jump to conclusions.

Bailey expressed hope that "the reading and viewing public understand that they are only reading, hearing or seeing one side of the issue.

"There is certainly a great deal of information that has not been presented to the court of public opinion," she said.