THE Guam Department of Education has launched its own investigation into allegations that an Okkodo High School teacher left her students alone for a few hours.
Mary Beth Nolte, 45, of Dededo, was arrested Monday afternoon and charged with child abuse and official misconduct. She was later booked and released.
Acting GDOE Deputy Superintendent Robert Malay said Nolte is on summer break but she was asked to come down to the central office to provide a statement on the allegations.
Malay admits the allegations are questionable.
“A lot of this doesn’t make a lot of sense to us. The students claimed they were left unattended for two to three hours. But the class periods at Okkodo aren’t even two hours long,” Malay said. Classes last for an hour and 30 minutes.
It is also not clear when the incidents occurred, whether they happened during the regular school year or during summer school.
“We did learn the complaint didn’t come from a faculty member or an employee of the school and the concern was not brought directly to the administration of the school,” Malay said. “Now that central office has wind of this, we’ve launched our own investigation.”
When asked if the students making the claims will also be questioned, Malay said that is still pending.
GDOE probes Okkodo teacher
- Wednesday, 08 Aug 2012 03:30am
- BY ZITA Y. TAITANO | VARIETY NEWS STAFF
- Hits: 445
