Flag Teachers Who Sexually Abuse Kids
New idea on sex abuse: flagging accused teachers
Teachers facing allegations of sex abuse will no longer be able to teach at other public schools under legislation some Maryland lawmakers are considering introducing next month.
“If somebody resigns who’s under investigation, there should be some kind of flag in their record,” said Sen. Nancy Jacobs, R-Harford, a member of the Senate committee that considers sexual offender bills. “And if someone is found innocent, then that flag should be removed. I think protecting our children is more important than a personnel issue.”
Jacobs’ proposal came in response to a series of Examiner stories that detailed how former teacher Timothy Gounaris, 50, was allowed to teach at three different schools despite allegations of sexual misconduct. Gounaris subsequently was arrested in November on charges of child sexual abuse in connection with a 13-year-old former student.
Gounaris resigned from his job with the Baltimore County Public Schools in July in the wake of the abuse investigation. He was not charged at that time, and he was then hired this fall to teach at a middle school in Baltimore City.
Previously, he taught in the Harford County Public School System, where there were other sexual allegations but no charges. Schools officials insisted they were not notified of the allegations against Gounaris when they hired him.
Jacobs said she would favor the flagging of personnel files only for investigations into child sexual abuse allegations, not other criminal accusations.
“If the person’s found not guilty, the flag comes off because there are a lot of people who are charged with things they’ve never done before,” she said.
SOURCE
This needs to be a nationwide policy in all school districts. No one should be able to abuse a child and then take a job in which they are in a position of authority over children. Ever.
Teachers facing allegations of sex abuse will no longer be able to teach at other public schools under legislation some Maryland lawmakers are considering introducing next month.
“If somebody resigns who’s under investigation, there should be some kind of flag in their record,” said Sen. Nancy Jacobs, R-Harford, a member of the Senate committee that considers sexual offender bills. “And if someone is found innocent, then that flag should be removed. I think protecting our children is more important than a personnel issue.”
Jacobs’ proposal came in response to a series of Examiner stories that detailed how former teacher Timothy Gounaris, 50, was allowed to teach at three different schools despite allegations of sexual misconduct. Gounaris subsequently was arrested in November on charges of child sexual abuse in connection with a 13-year-old former student.
Gounaris resigned from his job with the Baltimore County Public Schools in July in the wake of the abuse investigation. He was not charged at that time, and he was then hired this fall to teach at a middle school in Baltimore City.
Previously, he taught in the Harford County Public School System, where there were other sexual allegations but no charges. Schools officials insisted they were not notified of the allegations against Gounaris when they hired him.
Jacobs said she would favor the flagging of personnel files only for investigations into child sexual abuse allegations, not other criminal accusations.
“If the person’s found not guilty, the flag comes off because there are a lot of people who are charged with things they’ve never done before,” she said.
SOURCE
This needs to be a nationwide policy in all school districts. No one should be able to abuse a child and then take a job in which they are in a position of authority over children. Ever.
Labels: Child Safety, Teachers
