Resigned! Timothy Chokas, Pawcatuck, Connecticut (resigned Jan 2019) [inappropriately touching > 30 girls]

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Timothy Chokas, teacher at Stonington High School, Stonington Public Schools, Pawcatuck, Connecticut, inappropriately touching > 30 girls


Stonington school board awaits probe to determine if Chokas allegations reported

Board of Education Chairwoman Alexa Garvey said Monday night the school board is awaiting the outcome of an investigation by the state Office of the Child Advocate to determine if school officials reported numerous allegations against former high school teacher Timothy Chokas to the state Department of Children and Families or local police. Asked why she and school board members could not ask Superintendent of Schools Van Riley and High School Principal Mark Friese, who were at Monday’s school board meeting, that question, she said the report will answer such questions and that she would discuss the reporting at that ...

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https://www.theday.com/article/20190805/NWS01/190809676

[archiv]https://www.theday.com/article/20190805/NWS01/190809676 [/archiv]

[google]Stonington school board awaits probe to determine if Chokas allegations reported[/google]

 

Stonington Board of Ed holds special meeting on teacher allegedly inappropriately touching female students

A special meeting was called by the Stonington Board of Education. A few residents sounded-off on board members and how it handled complaints made against media and technology teacher, Timothy Chokas. An investigation by The Day newspaper found that the school received over two dozen complaints by female students, going back to at least 2013, alleged Chokas, who also coached golf and soccer, touched female students on the butt and thighs, massaged their backs and made inappropriate comments. At least two sources familiar with the investigation, tell News 8 at the number of complaints is nowhere near the 25 that ...

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https://www.wtnh.com/news/connectic...edly-inappropriately-touching-female-students

[archiv]https://www.wtnh.com/news/connectic...edly-inappropriately-touching-female-students [/archiv]

[google]Stonington Board of Ed holds special meeting on teacher allegedly inappropriately touching female students[/google]

 

Stonington Board of Ed holds special meeting on teacher allegedly inappropriately touching female students

A special meeting was called by the Stonington Board of Education. A few residents sounded-off on board members and how it handled complaints made against media and technology teacher, Timothy Chokas. An investigation by The Day newspaper found that the school received over two dozen complaints by female students, going back to at least 2013, alleged Chokas, who also coached golf and soccer, touched female students on the butt and thighs, massaged their backs and made inappropriate comments. At least two sources familiar with the investigation, tell News 8 at the number of complaints is nowhere near the 25 that ...

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https://www.wtnh.com/news/connectic...dly-inappropriately-touching-female-students/

[archiv]https://www.wtnh.com/news/connectic...dly-inappropriately-touching-female-students/ [/archiv]

[google]Stonington Board of Ed holds special meeting on teacher allegedly inappropriately touching female students[/google]

 

Stonington students, parents call for Chokas investigation

The female president of the Stonington High School student council joined a recent graduate, a former school board member and parents Thursday night in calling on the school board to launch an independent investigation into how school officials handled the years of sexual harassment allegations against former high school teacher Timothy Chokas. “As a student, I strongly endorse a private investigation. There’s a lot to be uncovered,” Alexandra Kapell, whose serves as the student representative to the school board. “The opinions of the students need to be heard.” Parent Tracy Swain added that she has talked to 14 former female ...

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https://www.theday.com/article/20200110/NWS01/200119973

[archiv]https://www.theday.com/article/20200110/NWS01/200119973 [/archiv]

[google]Stonington students, parents call for Chokas investigation[/google]

 

4 named:

• Corriche Gaskin, teacher, Bennie Dover Jackson Middle School, New London, Connecticut
  
• Jevon Elmore, paraprofessional, New London High School, New London, Connecticut
  
• Timothy Chokas, teacher, Stonington High School, Stonington, Connecticut
• Anthony Facchini, former coach, Norwich Free Academy, Norwich, Connecticut

1 referenced:

• Melissa Rodriguez, teacher, Bennie Dover Jackson Middle School, New London, Connecticut

Did school officials fail to protect students?

The Day wrote dozens of articles when allegations of sexual assault and inappropriate behavior by school employees surfaced in three towns. After the allegations were revealed, questions arose on whether school officials reacted to them properly. Two former New London middle school employees stand accused of sexual assault and a third is charged with failing to comply with mandated reporter requirements. The Day first reported disturbing details of the allegations against middle school behavioral specialist Corriche Gaskin, accused of using his position to sexually assault students as well as using his cell phone to record and share his sexual encounters ...

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https://www.theday.com/article/20200118/NWS01/200119775

[archiv]https://www.theday.com/article/20200118/NWS01/200119775 [/archiv]

[google]Did school officials fail to protect students?[/google]

 

Protesters gather at Stonington police headquarters in support of assault victim

Strafaci said he was skeptical of an outside investigation. He noted that, in a probe of how school officials handled years of complaints by students against former teacher and coach Timothy Chokas, the investigating attorney initially didn’t interview anyone because she said no one had contacted her about the issue. “We’re not looking for another whitewash,” Strafaci said. “We know too much and have too many facts to show what went on.”

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https://www.theday.com/article/20200711/NWS01/200719882

[archiv]https://www.theday.com/article/20200711/NWS01/200719882 [/archiv]

[google]Protesters gather at Stonington police headquarters in support of assault victim[/google]

 

Stonington releases transcript of Chokas interview that led to resignation

During a Jan. 14, 2019, meeting with school administrators, then-high school teacher and coach Timothy Chokas argued that allegations he was continuing to sexually harass female students were “misinterpretations” and “exaggerations.” “I guess I could apologize. Or maybe leave it alone and finish class. Move forward," he said in response to a student's complaint during a class. "I enjoy my job and am passionate about what I do. I don’t want this to mess up my reputation. I don’t want to lose my job because someone is uncomfortable.” In response to a question about a female student who said Chokas ...

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https://www.theday.com/article/20201116/NWS01/201119540

[archiv]https://www.theday.com/article/20201116/NWS01/201119540[/archiv]

[google]Stonington releases transcript of Chokas interview that led to resignation[/google]

 

State, not Stonington school officials, seek to revoke Chokas teaching certificate

The state Department of Education began the process of revoking the teaching certificate of former Stonington High School teacher and coach Timothy Chokas in January after learning he was accused of sexually harassing female students. Chokas currently holds a valid teaching certificate that expires June 30, 2023. On Tuesday, DOE spokesman Peter Yazbak said the revocation investigation is ongoing. After a female student accused him of sexual harassment in January 2019, school officials allowed Chokas to resign with full pay and benefits through the end of the school year using accumulated sick time. They also agreed not to discuss his ...

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https://www.theday.com/article/20201117/NWS01/201119484

[archiv]https://www.theday.com/article/20201117/NWS01/201119484[/archiv]

[google]State, not Stonington school officials, seek to revoke Chokas teaching certificate[/google]

 

State child advocate report criticizes Stonington's handling of Chokas allegations

The state Office of the Child Advocate has found that school officials knew of the sexual harassment allegations against high school teacher and coach Timothy Chokas from 2013 to 2017 and did not take all the steps it could to respond to the allegations before allowing him to resign after more complaints in 2019. In a 52-page report, the office also criticizes school officials for not documenting or following up on the allegations against Chokas or placing complaints in his file, and pointed out that at least one teacher failed to report concerns about suspected abuse to the state Department ...

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https://www.theday.com/article/20210513/NWS01/210519752

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[google]State child advocate report criticizes Stonington's handling of Chokas allegations[/google]



UPDATED: State child advocate report criticizes Stonington's handling of Chokas allegations

The state Office of the Child Advocate has found that school officials knew of the sexual harassment allegations against high school teacher and coach Timothy Chokas from 2013 to 2017 and did not take all the steps it could to respond to the allegations before allowing him to resign after more complaints in 2019. In a 52-page report, the office also criticizes school officials for not documenting or following up on the allegations against Chokas or placing complaints in his file, and pointed out that at least one teacher failed to report concerns about suspected abuse to the state Department ...

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https://news.yahoo.com/updated-state-child-advocate-report-160300537.html

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[google]UPDATED: State child advocate report criticizes Stonington's handling of Chokas allegations[/google]

 

State child advocate report criticizes Stonington's handling of Chokas allegations

The state Office of the Child Advocate has found that school officials knew of the sexual harassment allegations against high school teacher and coach Timothy Chokas from 2013 to 2017 and did not take all the steps it could to respond to the allegations before allowing him to resign after more complaints in 2019. It also criticizes school officials for not documenting or following up on the allegations against Chokas or placing complaints in his file, and pointed out that at least one teacher failed to report concerns about suspected abuse to state Department of Children and Families or police ...

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https://news.yahoo.com/state-child-advocate-report-criticizes-205600753.html

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[google]State child advocate report criticizes Stonington's handling of Chokas allegations[/google]

 

Stonington fired high school coach for 'inappropriate' messages to female students

The school system fired an unidentified high school coach in December 2019 for sending "inappropriate" Snapchat messages to two female students. The firing was revealed Tuesday, when the state Office of the Child Advocate published a 52-page report that criticized school officials for their handling of the sexual harassment allegations against former high school teacher and coach Timothy Chokas. The OCA report states that during its investigation, another set of allegations emerged about a male coach's "inappropriate communications with two minor girls," one of whom was 15. The termination of the coach was never mentioned by school administrators in the ...

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https://news.yahoo.com/stonington-fired-high-school-coach-160200423.html

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[google]Stonington fired high school coach for 'inappropriate' messages to female students[/google]