‘Inappropriate touching’ alleged in emotional meeting

  • [photo by Patric Hedlund, The Mountain Enterprise]

    [photo by Patric Hedlund, The Mountain Enterprise]

By Patric Hedlund, TME

“You’d think it would be common knowledge that you don’t touch a pre-teen’s underwear,” said Samantha Vindigni, speaking about an allegation that a substitute teacher was too familiar with some of the 12- to 13-year-old girls in an El Tejon School class.

At a special meeting of the El Tejon Unified School District Board of Trustees, Vindigni’s fiancé, Adam Danforth, said he wanted to speak in the board’s public session Friday, Sept. 28, rather than in executive session, to tell of his concerns for his daughter, whom he named. He also mentioned three other students whom he said had complained of being made to feel uncomfortable by the same intern teacher: “I would like to point out that touching a student’s bra is a clear violation of the sexual harassment policy already in place here at the El Tejon School District.

“This policy states that there are actions that might constitute…(please see below to view full stories and photographs)

Photo captions:

ETUSD Trustees (l-r) Misty Johnston, Sabrina Rouser, Lisa Duncan, Lark Shillig, John Fleming and Superintendent Rod Wallace listen to teacher Susan Edwards at a special meeting of the ETUSD board about alleged inappropriate behavior by an intern teacher toward 7th grade students. Behind Edwards, (l-r) parents Samantha Vindigni, Adam Danforth, Chris and Angela Deitz, teacher William Shillig and substitute teacher, soccer coach and teaching intern Joe Flores.

Angela Deitz hugs Samantha Vindigni after each spoke to the board on opposing sides about a teacher’s actions.

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This is part of the October 5, 2018 online edition of The Mountain Enterprise.

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