Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: FRIDAY, April 8, 1994                   TAG: 9404080141
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: B-5   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: STANARDSVILLE                                LENGTH: Medium

`FIGHTING' TEACHER FINDS WIDE SUPPORT

The students last week brought assault charges against John A. Washalefsky, 37, a physical education teacher at Greene County Primary School.

Dozens of parents and teachers waited for more than three hours Wednesday outside a School Board disciplinary hearing for the two William Monroe High School students.

The board voted unanimously to follow the recommendation of Superintendent Raymond Dingledine III on a student disciplinary matter, which they did not specify.

Dingledine said last week that both the students and Washalefsky had been removed from school after the March 29 incident. He declined Thursday to comment on whether the three had returned to school.

He also would not elaborate on the matter the board discussed.

Several teachers and parents said Washalefsky's students would be greatly disappointed if he were not allowed to teach anymore.

"This man is the greatest man," said Joan Russell, whose grandson is a student of Washalefsky's. "Those children love him to pieces, and Greene County doesn't know how lucky it is to have him."

Tim McMillin, a teacher, said, "We want the teachers to be supported in the school system."

The more than 50 people who showed up to support Washalefsky applauded as he emerged from the closed session Wednesday.

Sheriff William Morris said the boys and Washalefsky gave contradicting reports about the altercation.

The boys, 17-year-old twins, claimed that Washalefsky looked like he was preparing to strike one of them, causing the other boy to come to his brother's aid.

Washalefsky said the boys attacked him without provocation.

"The only facts that we have is that this teacher was beat up pretty bad," Morris said.

One of the boys also had bruises, but the fight appeared to be one-sided, Morris said.

"If there was any effort on the teacher's part, it was very minimal," he said.

Washalefsky has declined comment on the charges against him on the advice of an attorney, though he said he was told by court officials last week that he had completed the necessary procedures for filing assault charges against the boys.

No charges had been filed with the Greene County General District Court against the boys.