Kettering teacher suspended for allegedly calling students names

Fairmont faculty member accused of unprofessional conduct.

Jill Kelley

Staff Writer

Updated 2:48 PM Wednesday, August 3, 2011

KETTERING — The Kettering school board on Tuesday night approved the suspension of Fairmont High School English teacher Michael Togliatti without pay, pending the termination of his contract.

Togliatti, a 10-year veteran of the school with no prior disciplinary record, is accused of engaging in unprofessional and disrespectful conduct toward students.

Principal Dan VonHandorf said an investigation began when a student in the spring complained to the staff about comments Togliatti made.

“Then the student said we (also) should talk to other students,” said VonHandorf. He said that after talking with several students, he felt the claims had been substantiated.

Togliatti was escorted from the school April 18 and has not been allowed back on school grounds.

A letter sent to Togliatti on July 8 from Jim Justice, Kettering City Schools’ director of human resource services, contained specific examples of the some of the comments the district reportedly received from students.

“You demeaned and embarrassed certain students,” Justice wrote, by allegedly calling them “idiots,” “airheads,” and “freaking morons;” telling students to “shut up” and “repeatedly” using profanity directed at students.

“You told a student that nothing smart could ever come out of her mouth, and that nobody likes her anyway,” the letter stated. “You had a picture of the superintendent next to your desk, and periodically ridiculed him to your students.”

The claims were disputed by students who supported Togliatti in letters and school protests. More than a dozen spoke at Tuesday’s board meeting. They characterized him as “respectful and caring,” “a real educator who teaches us about world issues,” and one who motivated them to excel.

Jim Williams, a former teacher and guidance counselor at Fairmont, said he visited Togliatti’s class often. “The idea that he would do something that would cause him to be terminated is impossible.”

Williams also noted that “it was no secret that there was some personality conflict between Mr. Togliatti and some administrators,” but he asked that personalities be taken out of the board’s decision-making.

John Doll, Togliatti’s attorney, said there are definitely two sides to this story.

He said the next step is to appeal the board’s decision and conduct a hearing with an objective third party.

“We believe these allegations based on their investigation will not be substantiated at the hearing,” he said.

A hearing has not been set to determine the status of Togliatti’s contract.

VonHandorf said he is “absolutely” saddened by the potential loss of Togliatti, but he does believe he overstepped with students.

Justice agreed.

“Given the information that was presented to us, we are doing what we believe is necessary to protect and preserve our students’ right to be educated in a safe environment,” he said.

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