For the second time in two years a Marysville teacher has been asked to sign a last chance agreement with the district following allegations of inappropriate interactions with female students.
At a recent Marysville Board of Education meeting the agreement with Chad Sines, a middle school math teacher and former football coach with 16 years of experience in the district, was approved.
The move comes a year after a high school teacher in the district, Scott Hamilton, signed a similar agreement, ultimately leaving the district when additional allegations surfaced.
A letter in Sines’ personnel file showed that he was placed on paid administrative leave on Jan. 3 as the district investigated a complaint from a female student who claimed he had made her feel uncomfortable.
A letter setting up a pre-disciplinary hearing on the issue detailed some of the allegations.
“It was reported by students last school year and the current school year that you have had interactions with female students that made them feel uncomfortable including touching them on the back, leg, and hair and physically ‘getting in their space.’ It was also reported that you have made comments to female students including asking them if they need a hug, telling them that you love them, and asking them if they missed you.”
The parents of the student originating the complaint reportedly took the issue to the Bunsold Middle School principal who moved the student to another math class. The parents then took the complaint to the Superintendent Diane Allen, launching the investigation into the matter.
Through the investigation similar complaints from additional individuals surfaced.
Allen said none of the comments or contact were sexual in nature and were not related to anything that would be considered grooming behavior.
“If it were criminal or broke the bounds that are allowable by our code of conduct, or professional code of conduct with the state department, there would have been a potentially different consequence,” Allen said.
The last chance agreement, applied in lieu of more severe punishment, stipulates that any further misconduct by Sines could results in his termination.
It also stipulates that he will receive a one-day, unpaid suspension, participate in professional development centering on student-teacher interactions, and shall not seek retaliation of any kind against district staff or students. The agreement also holds that Sines’ classroom can be monitored at any time to ensure professional behavior.
Allen said the district took action so that students feel safe and secure in the school environment, but also so that the teacher can feel supported and get the assistance they need to understand clear boundaries.
“If there’s something we can do to help the teacher be more successful in building relationships and keeping a clear line of professionalism,” Allen said. “…We just want to make sure we’re in the situation that we’re helping support Mr. Sines.”
With this being the second such incident in just the last few years, Allen said the district will focus training on teacher-student interaction, noting that the high school staff just completed a development program on appropriate ways to build connections with students.
The superintendent noted that the challenge of teaching is getting to know students on a personal level while still respecting boundaries. She said educators have to be creative in their approach to buildings connections, but a technique that builds a connection with one student could cause another to disengage.
“That’s a challenge, knowing those different dynamics with all the kids that are coming to us,” Allen said. “Picking up on when people are resistant to engage, picking up on when students might shut down.”
“It doesn’t mean we give up. It just means we look for a different approach to connect, or maybe a different person to connect.”
The superintendent said the relationships built between students and teachers are paramount to the growth and education of young people. The trust in the teacher can be as crucial as the details of the lessons, she said.
“Students don’t really care how much you know, until they know how much you care,” Allen said. “So, it’s just making sure we get that across in a professional manner.”