Teachers

"Justice Served: Jury Awards $13.6 Million to Survivors of Teacher’s 1980s Abuse in Landmark Case"

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Torrance, California — A jury has awarded $13.6 million to five women who were sexually assaulted by their former high school teacher in the 1980s. The verdict was reached on Monday after a four-week trial, during which jurors found that the Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified School District failed to protect students from the abuse. The jury determined that school administrators were negligent in oversight of Garry Poe, a longtime English teacher and baseball coach at Rolling Hills High School. Evidence presented during the trial revealed that Poe groomed students so he could exploit them during … Read more

Seventy-One Indicted in Harrison County: Shocking Cases Include Teacher’s Aide Child Abuse and Involvement in Murder

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CLARKSBURG, W.Va. — A grand jury in Harrison County has indicted 71 individuals on various charges during its September 2025 session. Among those charged are a teacher’s aide accused of sexually abusing a student and a man linked to a murder that occurred last year. Victor Chess, 51, from Clarksburg, faces multiple charges in connection with the alleged sexual abuse of a 7-year-old girl while he was working as a teaching aide at North View Elementary School. Arrested in May 2024, Chess is now indicted on three counts of first-degree sexual abuse, three counts of … Read more

Nassau Judge Calls for Tougher Penalty in Case of Theater Teacher’s Inappropriate Conduct with Student

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Manhasset, New York — A tenured high school theater teacher has been found to have engaged in inappropriate physical contact with a student during a rehearsal, prompting a Nassau judge to advocate for stronger disciplinary measures beyond a previous fine and mandatory training. Nassau Supreme Court Justice Catherine Rizzo criticized a hearing officer’s earlier decision that permitted Robbert Fessler to retain his teaching position after he demonstrated acting techniques that included kissing a student’s arm. Rizzo’s ruling emphasized that the original ruling did not sufficiently consider the potential harm to the student involved, stating that … Read more

Judge Rules in Favor of Newton Teachers Union, Dismissing Controversial Strike Lawsuit

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NEWTON, Mass. — A judge has dismissed a lawsuit filed against the Newton Teachers Association, following a strike that occurred earlier this year. The decision comes after a protracted dispute between the local union and the school district over teacher compensation and classroom conditions. The strike, which lasted several days, aimed to address concerns about wages and resources, highlighting the ongoing tensions between educational staff and administration. Parents and community members gathered in support of the educators, many advocating for improved salaries and better learning environments for students. In making the ruling, the judge found … Read more