4 Others Admonished
Accuse Teacher Of Improper Touching

By RICHARD STEIER

The school system's top investigator has recommended that a Teacher at P.S. 345 in Brooklyn be fired for touching female students in an inappropriate manner and that four of his colleagues be disciplined for not reporting his conduct.

The Chief-Leader/A. Haywood-James RICHARD J. CONDON: Teacher crossed the line.

Special Commissioner of Investigation Richard J. Condon cited testimony by a half-dozen students, who were between 6 and 12 years old at the time, that Gregory Michaelides had touched them in disturbing ways.

Denies Misconduct

Mr. Michaelides declined to speak with investigators from Mr. Condon's office. His attorney, Donald Vogelman, said in a Nov. 29 phone interview, "He categorically denies inappropriately touching any students. Four Teachers in the school didn't think he did anything wrong."

The United Federation of Teachers, which represents Mr. Michaelides and the other Teachers facing discipline in the case, issued a statement saying that he was "entitled to the presumption of innocence" and questioning why the others should be punished "for not reporting behavior that they did not consider inappropriate."

The touching, Mr. Condon noted in his report, was not blatantly sexual, although one girl - whose claim was corroborated by a classmate - said he frequently touched her in the area of her chest. In all cases, according to the report, the touching made the students feel uncomfortable.

The school's Librarian, Benita Mackower, said that in early April, Teacher Joyce Sticco told her that Mr. Michaelides had been "all over a female student." When investigators asked Ms. Sticco about the incident, she initially denied witnessing improper behavior by Mr. Michaelides and said she had not spoken to anyone in the school library.

Changed Her Story

In a subsequent conversation with probers, however, she admitted speaking to Ms. Mackower because the student seemed uncomfortable as Mr. Michaelides touched her fingers, even though Ms. Sticco said he was using "a bona fide teaching method for math." Ms. Sticco was among those Mr. Condon recommended should be disciplined for not coming forward about her colleague's conduct.

An 8-year-old complained that Mr. Michaelides frequently touched her hair and upper back, and gave her a Barbie doll and backpack for Christmas. A 6-year-old who said that Mr. Michaelides touched her in the same fashion was given a teddy bear by the Teacher.

Another Teacher, Evelyn Carillo, said she had observed Mr. Michaelides touching the hair and arms of female students and asked him why he gave the 6-year-old the teddy bear. Mr. Condon recommended that she, too, be disciplined for not coming forward about his actions.

One investigator was told by Teacher Darlene Jones Hardwick that she had advised Mr. Michaelides not to be so "touchy-feely" even though she believed that his actions were "harmless." She, too, is facing discipline.

Only 'Unwise'?

Teacher Daphna Gutman said she had seen Mr. Michaelides touch the shoulders of male as well as female students, describing his conduct as "unwise" but not inappropriate. But she also noted that during an April 4 parent-Teacher meeting, one student who complained of Mr. Michaelides's touching said she was most upset about the way he touched her classmate in her chest area.

Ms. Gutman the following day informed Barbara Cromartie, the Teacher responsible for conflict resolution at the school. Ms. Cromartie earlier that week had heard allegations of improper touching from two other students and reported them to P.S. 345's Principal, Wanda Holt, who contacted Mr. Condon.

Although Ms. Gutman quickly reported what her student had told her, Mr. Condon recommended that she be disciplined because she minimized Mr. Michaelides's touching by describing it as "affectionately physical." Mr. Condon's report noted that Ms. Gutman said she had seen male students pulled away from Mr. Michaelides "when he touched them on the back."

Mr. Condon referred the findings to the Brooklyn District Attorney for possible prosecution.