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Read comments (57)Tracy Hinson, a Lake County High School science and math teacher, was suspended without pay on May 8 after being confronted with allegations that she'd been sexually involved with a student.
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School Superintendent Joey Hassell issued a press release Thursday morning announcing the school board meeting.
"On Monday, May 19, 2008, at 6:30 p.m. at the Lake County Board of Education, I will present charges for dismissal against Ms. Tracy Hinson to members of the Lake County School Board. This is a special called meeting, and this action will be the only item on the agenda.
"At this point, Ms. Hinson remains suspended without pay pending the investigation regarding allegations that board policy has been violated. While the investigation is ongoing, there will be no further comment."
While the charge against Hinson was dismissed Wednesday, the investigation has not ended. Judge Danny Goodman dismissed the charge without prejudice, a legal term that means charges could be re-filed.
Hassell said: "the school system will continue to cooperate with the Lake County Sheriff's Department and the District Attorney in the ongoing investigation.
"The primary focus of our school system is students, and we will remain constant in this focus."
Sheriff's Department Investigator Joe Vernon declined to comment on the dismissal of the charge, the continuing investigation or how many people might be involved.
Lake County High School Assistant Principal Paul Pillow resigned Tuesday, May 13, in connection with an internal school investigation into the allegations.
Hey Healthgirl it is WHOOPING not wooping. YOU didn't go the the Dyer County schools or you could spell better than that
Dear Healthgirl,
If you don't like the Dyer County School System, Then by all means take your kid out of these schools. I think they are the best in the State. It is apparent that you dont want to help your child at home so it is just easier to blame the teacher. Take responsibility for your child and quit blaming the schools. They can't do everything. Go to school and become a teacher and try putting up with parent's just like yourself and little MISSY you will change your tune.
she didnt make tenure and they told her she would not be rehired so basically she was not fired, just not rehired...I dont believe it will appear on her record as a firing. have not heard anything about cheerleading coach or dance team coach as of yet.
tngranny- do you know if they have said if anyone will take over as cheerleading coach and if there will be a dance team next year. or have they not thought that far ahead yet
so in one way she was fired? i had heard that they were giving her til the end of this week to resign but i didn't know if it was true or not.
she was not rehired. someone else has been hired to teach economics, keyboarding, and to supervise annual staff.
tngranny- what do you mean?
Ginger Hearn has been replaced.
tngranny - Sorry I wasn't clear - I capitalized WITHOUT to emphasize the fact that at this point the charge filed lacked enough evidence to hold up. I apologize if anyone thought I meant that charge (or others for that matter) couldn't be filed again. Unfortunately, I see those words everyday in my job.
LCHSalumni---without prejudice means that these charges plus more or other charges may be brought up against her. The investigation is ongoing.
LCGraduate95- Do you sit at your computer all day and night waiting to write comments on Tracy's behalf?
Do you have nothing better to do.
Rapehater: I really hope you are never accused of a crime because based on your post, it is guilty until proven innocent. Could have sworn the law states innocent until proven guilty.
Also, rumors are just that.......rumors.
Facts are (at this point) - not enough evidence so charges have been dropped WITHOUT prejudice.
You can bet the papers and the tv stations are not going to be putting her name everywhere IF it turns out she is innocent. Innocence just doesn't make as much money.
Falcon95--wording says it all!!! like I said get your facts straight. you said our justice system required beyond a shadow of a doubt. All I did was correct you. Sorry if it offended you.
she was definitely up to something when she was my teacher. there were always rumors about her and coach d. and student A.W.
He said he knew for a fact and I was simply inquiring as to how he knew it for a fact. Don't try to get ticky about wording. It's annoying.
Falcon95---The court requires evidence beyond a reasonable doubt. Do your research first then state your facts.
If she was in the Dyer County School System she would have probably gotton a slap on the wrist. The reason I say this is because I think these schools are about as sorry as they come. I believe that the teachers are scared of the students. What happened to the good ole fasion butt wooping
scottfree?- the only way you would know for a FACT that she was having sex with underage boys is if you have personally had sex with her and were underage at the time or you have seen her engage in sex with an underage boy WITH YOUR OWN EYES. Now which is it? This is no time for "well someone told me". The only way you can say it is fact beyond a shadow of a doubt is if you engaged in it or personally witnessed it. Our justice system requires that evidence be beyond a shadow of a doubt and that requires proof.
Let us all hope that those knowing first hand facts come forward to do what it right for the future of children everywhere.
As far as I am concerned she should have been fired on the FIRST day of speculation. Good for Mr. Hassell for taking a stand and doing what is right. I think she should loose her teaching liscense and not be able to teach in the state of Tennessee. I have a friend in California that is a teacher and this same situation happened there. The female teacher was found guilty and she can no longer teach. I think this woman is messed up in the head and she needs help. She has no right to teach children!!!
I wish the best for all who are graduating and to their parents and i do mean ALL! May their future be as brite as their minds are open to new experiences that come their way! May their hearts be strong for life can bring good or evil in many forms!
No, it didn't have to be this way... Tracy made her own choices. Tracy made her own bed, or should I say closet,and now she has to lay in it.
peoples advocate- It didnt have to be this way. The police and school administration chose to move on this when they did and tore this wide open. Would it have really made that much difference if they had waited until graduation or until school dismissed? Rumors or no rumors, was it really urgent to move forward on this last week rather than waiting the two weeks until kids were out of the line of fire?
I do agree on one thing .. there is a time and place for everything and at the graduation is not it! I don't know what they will do but i hope the respect the children graduating and DONT start anything with anyone!
That's funny you say that when I know for a fact Hassell told her that he would not ask her to leave. I'm not going to play "he said she said" game with you because I don't know your source and am not about to tell you mine.
LCgirlie- I do hope that these women will be adults and refrain from approaching her tonight. She is there only to see her child graduate and they should focus on what they are there for as well. Police need to be there. Tracy Hinson is in much greater danger from others than she is a threat to anyone else.
I do know that there will be police there to keep the peace!
I know alot parents who hope she shows up so they can give her a piece of their mind!(along with other things) Now that may or maynot be just gossip but i have heard a few mothers wanting to talk to her... but i don't know what else they gonna do cause they are mad.
I know for a fact that if you are suspended from school you are not allowed on school property and it goes for students and teachers and staff. Read the handbook!
LCgirlie- If what you say is true and even if she was also involved with other coaches/teachers/vice principal, these are not criminal acts. She could have slept with every male teacher in the school system and it would not have been grounds for dismissal unless there's a clause against this in their official policy. Immoral? Absolutely. Illegal? No.
That's not true. She wasn't forced to resign so that she could attend her daughter's graduation- she chose to resign. I know for a fact that she was told she could attend the graduation and that her resignation has nothing to do with it. That doesn't even make sense! If Hassell had told her that she had to resign to be allowed to attend then why would he have issued a press release and scheduled a meeting to fire her. Any idiot would know that a mother would do anything- including resigning her job- to attend her child's graduation. She didn't resign so that she wouldn't be escorted off the property either. The high school is a public place and she is not currently charged with anything. Hassell would have no grounds to ask her to leave. Come on people- find some common sense!
I agree that NO ONE is without sin...I also would like to say if it were my child that had been text or sexed by a teacher....i would be committing a few sins of my own! To Parents------>monitor what you children are doing, ask the hard questions, be envolved in their life.
She resigned this afternoon so she would be able to attend her daughters graduation. Otherwise she would have been escorted off shcool property.
Very smart indeed cause all her dirty laundry was gonna be hung out to dry at the school board meeting!
Very smart choice!
Just heared that Tracy resigned.
This is just the calm before the storm hits!
AS of 1:15 today, Mrs. Hinson has resigned.
Ms. or Mrs. is proper for a married or divorced woman. Mrs. definitely implies the woman is married. Ms. can be either. Feminists did not like the fact that their prefixes "Mrs." or "Miss" told their marital status where as "Mr." for a man does not imply marital status, therefore Ms. started being used for women that preferred their marital status to be unknown. "Miss" is reserved for women that have never been married.
Just thought I'd give that bit of information since it seems to be such a debated part in this discussion.
Two additional points. First, while the story of the criminal charges being dismissed was reported on line, it was NOT reported the printed version of the newspaper. Why? Second,the lead line from a few days ago was "A teacher accused of having sexual relations with a student has been charged with contributing to the unruly behavior of minor." Being charged with contributing to the unruly behavor of a minor, is NOT the same as being charged with having "sexual relations" with a minor. I realize this might not sell as many newpapers, but it is poor journalism.
madmama- promise, I'm not Hassell. I just have taught for a long time and have a master's degree in administration. I understand the "ins and outs" (process, hiring, firing, educational law) of education.
I agreed with you wholeheartedly on the Scriptures. On the last one I would recommend people read even further. Jesus asks this woman who has been caught in adultery who are those left to condemn her and when she says no one, His response is "Then neither do I condemn you. Go and sin no more." Who are we to condemn one that God doesn't? Yes, there will be natural consequences (such as prison time and losing her job) if she is guilty because she has broken natural laws, but God still has grace for her. I pray she has someone who will minister to her regardless of what she may have done. Where sin abounds, grace all the more abounds.
Before making comments, here are some things for you to think about:
Romans 3:23 For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.
I John 1:18 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
John 8:7 He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.
Instead of everyone being quick to say what needs to be done to anyone involved, let us first remember that we too need to clean our doorsteps. What everyone should be doing right now is praying - for our school system, county, scool officials, people in the community, students, and especially for those involved or that may become involved.
First, if she is convicted of anything having to do with crimes against a minor, she will loose her state license and not be able to get one in any other state. Second, the headline was "charge dismissed against teacher in Lake Co. sex case" they day it happened, look over to the right. I am actually shocked at how well the papers have covered this; even the banner did a good job. Also, they did not jump the gun, they arrested her on the minor charge to get her out of the classroom, question her, and collect more evidence. (Hopefully) They will re-file with more significant charges, in a higher court. They couldn't have suspended her without proper evidence, especially suspension without pay; the t.e.a. would have been all over that. Lastly, I think this is horrible for the students. They should not be a part of this. Above everything else, they should be protected. To the person who questioned why students were allowed to miss school, the school cannot refuse to let a student leave if his/her parent excuses him/her.
Any information on the school board meeting a few nights ago?
"what was going on with her and a certain coach who admitted all that happened with her and then resigned." Was this happening on school property?
LCgirlie- say all you want to. Hassell's case is irrelevant because she's going to resign anyway. I can't imagine she'd do anything but resign at this point to avoid being fired. That way if she's cleared of the criminal charges, then she can find another job without having a dismissal on her record. Just out of curiosity, how do you know things that haven't been made public yet?
She is being fired because of that and what was going on with her and a certain coach who admitted all that happened with her and then resigned. I can't say anything to clear at this moment but after monday night i will. I don't want to harm Mr. Hassell's case.
Mr. Hassell didn't fire Ms. Henson because he does not have the legal right to do so. He can and has brought charges against her and will present them to the board. Are you certain there is a written policy against a teacher communicating with a student? If so, please cite it. If not, there better be clear evidence to show a violation of a specific written policy. I find it interesting that the headline is "board to consider firing teacher" instead of "Criminal Charges Dismissed". Obviously the SRO jumped the gun filing criminal charges without the evidence to back it up. It is true that the charges can be refiled but if they are, hopefully this time it will be based on evidence, not on hesteria.
It seems to me that Hassell is doing his job. I also think that IF she is guilty of the crime she commited, then she should be persecuted to fullest extent of the law and should never be able to teach again. It seems to me the thing she should have done from the start is quit. I feel so sorry for her kids, and they should not have to go through this. The fact of matter is, she is an authority figure to the students. She misused that trust.
Why weren't those kids in school? That is pitiful that those kids chose court over education and they were allowed to check out of school fully aware of were they were going.
Legal charges envolving a minor child and Henson would keep her from a lot more than difficulty finding a job. We can hope that this matter will find her behind bars where she belongs! Mr. Hassell is following procedure. I can not imagine being in his position with all of the scandal right now. Her being suspended without pay is normal in matters such as this. I feel like he is handling this with the highest professionalism. She is the one who chose to break school policy by text messaging a student. This has been stated by police to have occurred over 4000 times discovered thus far. Administrators have grounds on that alone to fire her. Mr. Hassell is compelled to follow a certain protocol. Why would he do differently considering this matter is so public?
outofLC- I understand the differences in whether she is fired or resigns. I also know full well this is why Hassell wants to fire her which was the point of my initial post. The problem is that he tipped his hand by releasing the information. Even if she wasn't planning to resign before, now she can resign before he has a chance to fire her. If the resignation letter is dated prior to the meeting on Monday, I would think that it would have to be considered prior to voting on his motion to fire her. What's he going to do? Reject her resignation and then vote to fire her? Haven't you ever heard someone say "you can't fire me because I quit"? This is exactly what his premature release of information accomplished. Also I think he should be prepared for quite a scene on Monday night. I saw all the students- current and former- who were there to support her on Wednesday in court. How many more do you think will be there in protest on Monday night? It just might be worth the drive back to LC to watch. This could be interesting...
Falcon95- Are you in education? Do you have a teacher's or an administrator's license? You act like you understand how all of this works; however, I can assure you (I do have a teaching license, am currently teaching, and have an admin. degree) that whether or not charges are brought, Mr. Hassell/the board has legal right to fire her. If he does not bring this to the board then he is not doing his job. Furthermore, Mr. Hassell has fired other teachers (2005-06 school year). He is tough (should be tougher) and makes no apologies for it! A few side notes- Ms. is proper for either a married or unmarried woman. Also, if Ms. Hinson resigns she can get a job in another district (if there are no criminal charges) whereas, if he fires her, getting a position will be much, much harder.
Ms, Miss, Mrs. - heavy stuff in the grand scheme of things, right?
I do know the students call her Ms. Tracy because I was once her student. I'm taking issue with the superintendent referring to her as Ms. Tracy Hinson instead of the proper Mrs. Tracy Hinson. He should know better. Again I hope she resigns before he gets to fire her and can prove that she was planning to all along!
I think the way it goes is if they resign nothing goes on their file but if they are fired then it goes on their record!
Hassell's just trying to be a jerk about this. Trying to look tough moving into his new job I would suspect. Surely he would know that she would likely resign and he's trying to fire her before she can. I say she was likely planning to resign because common sense would tell anyone that she'll never work in Lake County again and they aren't paying her so why not resign. I find a few things funny here. The news media last night was reporting that she had been fired. Hassell doesn't have the power to do that on his own which is why he had to call the board meeting for Monday night. So the media can say all day that she's fired, but Hassell can't say she's fired until the school board votes on it. I think it will be really funny if she resigns between now and then and knocks the wind out of his sails- even funnier if it becomes obvious that she was planning to all along which just makes Hassell look like a fool. I also find it funny that when Hassell released a statement on Wednesday after her hearing he said he would have no further comment while the investigation in ongoing and then said the same thing the next day in that press release. Looks like Hassell is trying to cash in on his 15 minutes here. He also refers to Tracy as Ms. Hinson in the relsease. Maybe he should go talk to one of his English teachers because the proper prefix here would be Mrs. since she's married.
Step one about to be completed! Now if they can only get to the criminal charges.