New-teacher orientation now will include warnings about inappropriate relationships with students ? a decision made after three reports of sex abuse surfaced this year in Howard?s public schools.
“It absolutely should be self-evident, but I think it?s worth reminding folks because these are new teachers,” said Pamela Blackwell, Howard County schools? director of student services. “I think there gets to be confusion, because teachers by nature are nurturing.”
At least an hour will be dedicated to learning about crossing the line with students, Blackwell said Monday at a meeting of the Howard County Parent Teacher Association Council.
Blackwell said the training session is expected to help new teachers recognize warning signs in other teachers who may be sexually abusing children.
Two of the three people accused of sex abuse were young teachers who had ongoing relationships with students, said Deborah Wessner, executive vice president of the Howard PTA council.
“The co-worker that is likely going to be involved [in sex abuse] is probably not going to respond to this information [in the orientation],” Blackwell said.
Other PTA members called on the school system to give more protection to the students who tell authorities about sex abuse.
“It takes about 30 seconds for everyone to know who the [whistle-blower] is,” said Veronika Carella of the PTA Council. “That student deserves to go to school without harassment.”
Blackwell said the school system has child abuse liaisons who will be on call to assist students.
Court proceedings for all three Howard teachers accused of sex abuse are in progress.
Alan Meade Beier, 52, a former River Hill High School teacher accused of sexually abusing three different students, heads to trial July 23.
Joseph Samuel Ellis, 25, a former Glenelg High School teacher accused of touching several students, has a scheduling conference March 26.
Kirsten Ann Kinley, 27, a former Marriotts Ridge High School teacher, is scheduled for a court appearance March 20. She is accused of having a sexual relationship with a 15-year-old boy.
