THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, April 5, 1996 TAG: 9604050473
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JON GLASS, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 74 lines
Saying she has done nothing wrong, high school drama teacher Connie Hindmarsh defended her 20-year record with the city school system Thursday and said she plans to fight for her job.
``For my children, my students, I have to set the record straight,'' Hindmarsh said.
Hindmarsh, who led the school system's Performing Arts Repertory, said at a news conference that she has no idea why school administrators suspended her from her job two weeks ago. She said school Superintendent Roy D. Nichols Jr. has recommended she be fired.
In a March 27 letter, Nichols wrote that Hindmarsh had ``failed to report in a timely manner the misconduct of students and staff under your authority'' and that she ``failed to provide appropriate supervision'' to those same staff and students. The letter was made public by her attorney after a reporter inquired about the matter.
Students and parents who have rallied to her defense said school officials had questioned them about students having sex and also about students using drugs or alcohol on a trip the company took to Northern Virginia last fall.
Hindmarsh, who once taught children good behavior as ``Miss Connie'' on the nationally televised ``Romper Room'' show, said that she tried to set a good example and that she had done nothing that warrants her dismissal.
``I have never observed any misconduct of students while under my care that I did not report to the proper authorities, and I have always taken every measure possible to protect my children,'' Hindmarsh said.
She added: ``However, even with the best of supervision by parents, teachers and other professionals, children sometimes display disappointing behaviors. Unfortunately, the Beaver Cleaver family no longer exists, and I have made every effort to model my personal life as well as my teacher life in such a way that my students can emulate family and personal values. And I have done a good job.''
Some students and parents have said a disgruntled student passed over for a starring role in the company's recent production of ``The Wiz'' told officials about alleged misconduct by students in the company.
``It appears that there has been a conspiracy . . . against me,'' Hindmarsh said in a later interview.
In a statement issued Thursday after Hindmarsh's news conference, Nichols said he would not comment on specific allegations because ``I do not believe it is appropriate to try a professional in the news media.''
Nichols said in the statement that school officials began investigating the company late last year after receiving a complaint. He said that ``we came across several allegations which were of a serious enough nature to warrant the actions taken by administration.''
Hindmarsh said school officials have not shared the results of their investigation and that ``I have no idea what they found out.''
She said she had never encountered students using drugs or having sex while they were under her charge.
``What they do on dates is their own concern,'' she added.
Hindmarsh charged that Nichols ``violated my privacy, the children's and the law by discussing personnel matters with the press.''
Nichols said the charge ``shocked me to my very core.'' In the statement, he said: ``It was apparently the choice of Ms. Hindmarsh's attorney to go public with this - not ours.''
Hindmarsh's attorney, Allan D. Zaleski of Norfolk, said Hindmarsh on Wednesday requested a public hearing to air the case. Under a policy provided for by state law, Hindmarsh is seeking the hearing before a three-member panel, which would include a person of her choosing, a person picked by the school system and another selected by mutual agreement. ILLUSTRATION: Photo
Connie Hindmarsh, who led the Norfolk school system's Performing
Arts Repertory, plans to fight for her job.
by CNB