Teacher at Alamo subject of query
A substitute teacher has been removed from the classroom and is being investigated on allegations involving improper conduct with students, a source close to the investigation said Wednesday.
A district police spokesman did not disclose the nature of the allegations, but parent Kevin Velardo said the teacher hugged his fifth-grade daughter and attempted to have her sit on his lap Tuesday at Alamo Elementary School.
The source close to the investigation, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the investigation is focusing on conduct involving more than one student.
Lt. Ken Young, a spokesman with the district police, said the teacher is being investigated to determine whether any criminal conduct occurred. Young would not disclose the name of the substitute. Velardo also wouldn't disclose the name, saying he was told not to do so by Alamo's vice principal.
He said the substitute shouldn't be allowed to teach again.
A letter was sent home to parents Wednesday from Alamo's administration assuring them that allegations against the teacher were being taken seriously. Alamo is south of Interstate 215 near Warm Springs Road and Torrey Pines Drive. Velardo said he and other parents met with school administration, a regional superintendent and school district police Wednesday morning to discuss the allegations.
Velardo said he learned about the teacher's behavior after his daughter came home Tuesday and told him how nice the teacher was. Velardo said his daughter told him the teacher kept hugging her and her classmates.
After Velardo insisted that his daughter tell him more, he said he found out the teacher gave his daughter his e-mail address from the popular MySpace Web site. The MySpace page was deleted Tuesday evening, Velardo said.
Dave Sheehan, a spokesman with the Clark County School District, said substitute teachers go through the same screening process as full-time teachers. That process includes having the applicant's fingerprints checked by the Nevada Central Crime Repository, Las Vegas police and the FBI.
