New London, CONNECTICUT

October 22, 2008 - Hired in August, Alison Sposato, 34, was arrested and charged with possession of crack cocaine and driving in possession of crack cocaine.

She is an English as a Second Language teacher at Bennie Dover Jackson Middle School. According to Rhode Island court records, Sposato pleaded no contest and was sentenced to one year of probation in 1999 for simple assault and shoplifting.

She resigned. The district will inquire with its attorney on how best to strengthen its screening process to ensure the district does not hire people deemed unfit to work with children.

No public school in Connecticut does random drug testing. Most, including New London, do not do pre-employment testing which would most likely be a matter of negotiations with the teacher's union. (Be sure to read the comments at the story.)

Oct 23 - "Screening teachers for drugs"
Parents would like stricter hiring policies including drug testing. New London police, fire, and public works do pre-employment drug testing and are considering random testing.

Oct. 24 - The Day.com editorial, "Hiring concerns in teacher arrest"
QUOTE The district's application for teaching positions, posted on its Web site, requires applicants to reveal a criminal record if they have one and, if so, to provide details. School officials have not said whether Ms. Sposato answered the question honestly.

In this computer age, information on criminal histories is easily accessible. New London and all school districts must assure they have all the facts before hiring employees. UNQUOTE

New Britain, CONNECTICUT

October 23, 2008 - Michelle Campbell, 36, a special education teacher at Chamberlain School, has pleaded not guilty to charges of abusing her autistic students.

She was arrested October 9 and charged with three counts of risk of injury to children and four counts of cruelty to persons. Police said there are three victims in the case, all of whom are 5 to 7 years old. The warrant has been sealed by the court.

A spokesman for the parents said that the allegations were substantiated by the Department of Children and Families, but that the district never notified the families about the allegations.

The alleged abuse was reported by Campbell's co-workers at the Chamberlain School.

Campbell is due back in court November 21st.

Hebron, CONNECTICUT

September 23, 2008 - Bryan Moore, 25, a social studies teacher at RHAM high school - a regional school serving Hebron, Andover and Marlborough - was arrested after a police investigation that began September 17 when they got a tip from the state Department of Children and Families hot line.

He is accused of having inappropriate sexually based online conversations with one of his female students. He was arrested on charges of risk of injury to a minor and enticing a minor.

Moore is no longer teaching.

Southington, CONNECTICUT

September 23, 2008 - Southington High School social studies teacher William Boulanger, 58, was suspended with pay before the current school year. After learning there was a warrant out for his arrest, he turned himself in to police Sept. 9 on charges of fourth-degree sexual assault, risk of injury to a minor amd unlawful restraint.

The incident, described as "isolated" happened in July. The victim was not connected to the school.

West Hartford, CONNECTICUT

September 26, 2008 - Julie A. Denno, 27, a former teacher at the American School for the Deaf, is facing charges of second-degree sexual assault and risk of injury to a minor after allegedly engaging in a relationship that included "inappropriate physical contact" and sexually charged text messages with a 15-year-old boy over a period of several months. (Other stories say they haven't released the age of the student to avoid identifying him.)

Police began investigating in February, when the boy's mother contacted them about Denno's alleged conduct, which took place between December 2007 and January 2008.
The school suspended her without pay several months and then fired her as the investigation unfolded.

Denno is a single mother of a two-year-old boy. She is currently living with her parents in New York. She was originally placed on a $75,000 bail that was subsequently reduced.

Ansonia, CONNECTICUT

Connecticut Post: (Sept 22) - Man in Taser case faces drug charges
Police on June 23 used a Taser to subdue and handcuff Daniel Buzi, 26, an Ansonia High School English teacher, following his alleged use of hallucinogenic mushrooms. He allegedly went berserk after using hallucinogenic mushrooms, punched out a bedroom window and refused to comply with police. Two other men were arrested. Police found 20 grams of marijuana, 15 grams of hallucinogenic mushrooms and drug paraphernalia.

September 26, 2008 - School officials did not notify parents of the arrest of Daniel Buzi.
He is scheduled to appear Oct. 7 in court.

New Britain, CONNECTICUT

August 30) - In New Britain, Connecticut, parents protested an Early Dismissal plan that would mean about 30 early dismissals for elementary and middle school students and about eight early dismissal days for high school students. So that teachers can "work together to find ways to improve student performance."

Mulqueen said the new schedule is unrelated to the school restructuring approach mandated by the No Child Left Behind guidelines.
-----------------------------------------------------
WE FOUND:
The New Berlin School District is rated 2 out of 10, with 10 being the highest, by GreatSchools.net.
Student population is 55% Hispanic, 25% White, 18% Black.
Students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch program = 62%
The district has 15 schools with 10,939 students

Google map for the district.

New Britain, CT, city information
Median household income = $38,592 <------
State median household income = $62,818
Population: 71,180

TT - In a lower income area, why send children home early where parents are both likely to work?

The article also notes that the Early Dismissal program has been in effect for decades in Glastonbury, CT (that has, we found, 8 schools and 6720 students, where NO school has a population with less than 83% WHITE, and the median household income is $90,290.) and West Hartford, CT (with 16 schools and 9988 students, where only one school has a majority - 36% Hispanic population link and the median household income for the city is $71,941.)

You simply can't say that these schools have better results because of increased teacher training supposedly achieved by the Early Dismissal of students.

New Berlin schools are low income, with higher crime rates, with significant Hispanic and Black populations forming the majority of students.

What they are, in plain English, are poverty plantation shools in a poverty plantation town where students are recycled into the community as low-wage, low-income and low-expectation workers. Unless, by luck, the No Child Left Behind Act eventually forces the school district to allow the students to attend better schools in more stable communities with more opportunies and less political patronage, they will be mired in poverty. Forever.

Importing Hispanics to fill the void when other residents abandon depressed cities ought to, at a minimum, result in an increased responsibility to decently educate them so they have the same opportunities others have.

(August 19) - In Hartford, the Mayor Eddie Perez has signed a new ordinance that bars police from asking people about their immigration status.

Bridgeport, CONNECTICUT

May 24, 2008 - Thomas Bavedas, 38, a third-grade teacher at Waltersville School, was arrested and charged Friday with raping a child. More charges against him are expected.

The second arrest warrant within two days for Bavedas was issued and served Friday, charging him with three counts of first-degree sexual assault and three counts of risk of injury to a minor. Police are not releasing the age of the victim, but she is under age 16 and Bavedas was known to the family.

The rape investigation, which included a search-and-seizure warrant executed Monday night at Bavedas' home, yielded "evidence of unrelated criminal activity," Nielsen reported. At least some of that activity was drug possession, police said.

Bavedas was charged Wednesday with possession of marijuana, cocaine and drug paraphernalia and released on $30,000 bond. Police said Friday that they anticipate further charges.

There is an indication that the offenses happened between three and seven years ago, which prompted Baveda's attorney to comment.

"I have some concerns about the veracity of the complaints, when no complaint was made for three years," he said. "If there was, in fact, a sexual assault that took place, one would think that you would have reported it [earlier]."

Bavedas resigned under the advice of his attorney. He is expected in court June 10.

TT - Planting doubt about the motives of the victim is a staple of defense attorneys, but the suggestion that a girl who may have been 15 years old (or younger) should have had the courage to face such a vitrolic verbal attack in public by a grown man when she wasn't even old enough to be in high school at the time is ludicrous. That a newspaper would print such a scurrilous remark is irresponsible.

Count on it. Attorneys hope such talk will discourage victims and their families from persisting up to trial because it makes plea deals easier without a determined victim and the strong support of their family. It takes guts to come forward when you know your motives will be impuned by attorneys, your reputation will be condemned by ill-informed students and frowned upon by educated, but even less supportive, teachers who seven chances out of ten will end up sitting behind the defendant at trial and will write letters asking for leniency if he is convicted.

ARRESTED (Again) July 18 - Two months after police accused him of sexually assaulting a girl under 16, Bavedas was arrested again and charged with first-degree possession of child pornography, importing child pornography, two counts of employing a minor in an obscene performance, four counts of risk of injury to a minor and two counts of voyeurism.

Authorities said Bavedas had more than 60,000 photographs and more than 3,000 video images of child pornography on his home computer, including some photos he allegedly took himself. The preteen children in the photos allegedly taken by Bavedas were all from the Milford area, and investigators believe they have identified all of them.

His next court appearance is August 6. His lawyer said he expects Bridgeport police to file related charges soon. ODDLY, his lawyer also said, "It appears to me that the state would have a strong case if this case were to go to trial. The claims of the state speak for themselves."

July 19: Details revealed in child pornography charges

The Milford Police Department Computer Crimes Unit allegedly found 63,891 images and 3,256 videos of child pornography and child sexual assault saved on Bavedas' computers and storage devices.
They depicted children ranging from 6 months to 15 years old, including the 12-year-old relative he allegedly raped three separate times at his Brooklawn Drive home when she was younger, according to police.

Glastonbury, CONNECTICUT

July 8, 2008 - Zachary Loavenbruck, 31, a Glastonbury High School teacher, pleaded guilty to coercion for having sex with an 18-year-old female student. He was sentenced to two years of probation

Even though the sex was consensual and the girl was 18 years old at the time, state law prohibits such relations between teachers and students. Hartford Superior Court Judge David Gold's sentence also calls for up to one year in prison if Loavenbruck violates the terms of his probation.

News Item: June 14, 2006 - Glastonbury Teacher Accused Of Having Sex With Student
Police were notified by the school board on April 18 about the alleged consensual sexual relationship between the teacher. It is illegal in Connecticut for a teacher to have a sexual relationship with a student, even if the student is over the age of consent, 16 years old.

Loavenbruck was previously arrested in April on drug charges. [Marijuana and drug paraphernalia found in his apartment while searching his computer.]

News Item: June 21, 2006 - Teacher pleads not guilty to charges of sex with student
The girl is 18. Her boyfriend found the e-mails and notified the girl's mother. She filed a complaint with the school and the asst. superintendent called police. (Messages quoted in the story.) Student admitted relationship but refused to cooperate.

News Item: July 19, 2006 - Teacher Wants Sexual Assault Case Dismissed: Lawyer Says Conn. Law Is Unconstitutional
Police obtained e-mails the two sent to one another. Loavenbruck's attorney said the ordeal has been traumatic for the teacher and he just wants to get back to the classroom.

News Item: July 8, 2008 - Former Glastonbury Teacher Pleads Guilty To Coercion

Westport, CONNECTICUT

It's always amazing that when a woman files a complaint after graduation, male defenders of the teacher - and they are always male defenders - ask why she took so long to contact police. It's not a question anyone asks of those abused by priests.

May 23, 2008 - A 22-year-old woman is suing Westport school officials claiming they failed to protect her and that school officials allowed the former teacher, Peter Eramo Jr., of Milford, to remain a teacher despite prior complaints.

A criminal case is pending against Eramo who was arrested in October 2004 on a second-degree sexual assault charge. Authorities allege that the theater teacher had sex with the girl when she was a junior at Staples High School.

Oct 4, 2006 - Former Staples Teacher Charged in Sex Assault of Student

Eramo, who was let go by the Westport school system in 2003 for “inappropriate behavior” according to the court affidavit, was released on $10,000 bond and is expected to appear again in court Oct. 31, the Post said.

Westport Schools Superintendent Elliott Landon today disputed that Eramo was discharged for “inappropriate behavior,” saying that he resigned.

October 5, 2006 - School Officials Upset Over Erroneous Sex Assault Report
Westport school officials said today they were upset over an erroneous newspaper report that a former Staples High School teacher accused of sexually assaulting a student was involved in the school’s theater program. They stress he was an English teacher.

Oct 17, 2006 - Former Staples Teacher Suspended from L.I. Job
Eramo was suspended from his English teaching job at Lindenhurst (N.Y.) Senior High School after he was arrested and charged with second-degree sexual assault. Connecticut authorities say that in 2003, while Eramo was a teacher at Staples High School, he had sex with the student after a night of drinking in New York City.

Eramo's next court date on that case is June 9.

West Hartford, CONNECTICUT

Back in court for failure to comply with probation.

Oct 5, 2007 - Matthew Glasser, 31, a Northwest Catholic High School music teacher, pleaded guilty to two counts of fourth-degree sexual assault and tampering with a witness.

Police arrested him in June 2005 and charged him with eight counts of second-degree sexual assault for a sexual relationship with a 16-year-old student. Police charged Glasser under a provision of state law that deals with sexual relations between teachers and students.

School officials, according to the warrant, learned of the affair in early May 2005 after the girl feared that she might be pregnant. The girl, according to the warrant, had known Glasser for years. He had been her teacher at St. Thomas School, an elementary school in West Hartford.

He is expected to be sentenced to 10 years' probation on Oct 17. The plea agreement calls for registration as a sex offender.
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SENTENCED (sorta) Oct 17 - Glasser was sentenced to seven years SUSPENDED and five years of probation. The victim was unwilling to testify. He forfeits his right to teach in Connecticut schools. He must register as a sex offender.

When police arrested him and searched his apartment, they took his Spiderman pillowcases and a stuffed frog from his bed. The victim identified them.
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PAROLE VIOLATION - Feb 20, 2008 - Glasser has returned to court, accused of violating the conditions of his probation , including deactivating his MySpace account and e-mail address and finding a place to live approved by his probation officer. His probation restricts him from having any Internet access and requires Glasser to live an adequate distance from minors or public places - such as high schools - where children are present.

Glasser also dismissed the conditions of his probation during one meeting, saying, "My family has taken the stance that I did not commit the offense that I was arrested for and I did nothing illegal," the affidavit says.

At a later meeting, he asked Mandeville-McGeough, "If I become your pal, would I get privileges?"Prosecutor Sandra Tullius said the state also is concerned that Glasser was giving piano lessons to a 13-year-old girl.

His lawyer says that Glasser had two jobs: one in which he sets up sound equipment for concerts and another with the Connecticut Criminal Law Foundation. He will return to court March 7 for a hearing on the violation of probation charge. Later Glasser told his probation officer that he did not understand the conditions of his probation because he has a "learning disability."
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VIOLATION OF PROBATION HEARING March 15 - The hearing is in the second day.
The hearing expected to resume on March 25.

TO PRISON March 31 - After a hearing, a judge ruled that Glasser violated the terms of his probation and ordered the Tolland man held without bond pending a June 3 sentencing.

He failed to find a place to live that was an adequate distance from schools and parks where minors frequent, according to the arrest warrant affidavit filed by his probation officer. He also continued to maintain his Internet and e-mail accounts, including a MySpace account, although the court prohibited him from having online access, the affidavit said.

"He is not following the conditions," Judge Edward J. Mullarkey Mullarkey said.

Apr 1 - One of the violations was failing to delete his e-mail and MySpace website accounts. Glasser tried to deceive the system when he transferred those Internet accounts to his father, Judge Edward J. Mullarkey said.

Because Glasser is a registered sex offender, Mullarkey said, he should be housed by the state Department of Correction with other sex offenders for his own safety.

Plainfield, CONNECTICUT

Feb 26, 2008 - Duane Emmi, 51, a teacher at Plainfield High School, was arrested and charged with breach of peace for after police said he made comments about having a gun at his residence.

Police said a staff member reported to administration that Duane Emmi made comments about other staff members not respecting him and that he had a gun. Emmi made no threats against staff or students.

TT - If only school districts responded so promptly to reports that teachers had sex with their students.

Unfunded Teacher Pensions

Jan 16, 2008 - Governor Rell is hoping the State Bond Commission will approve the sale of $2 billion worth of bonds to help close a nearly $7 billion liability in Connecticut's teachers' retirement fund.

Revenue from the bond sale will be reinvested, with hopes of earning a higher rate of return. The new law also commits the state to fund the teachers' pension fund at 100 percent of recommended contributions, which the state failed to do from 1992 to 2005.

Previous entry on Connecticut's unfunded teacher pensions.
See Unfunded Pension entries.
Pew Study Finds States Face $2.73 Trillion Bill for Retiree Benefits PDF

Stamford, CONNECTICUT

LAWSUIT

Jan 16, 2008 - A lawsuit against the Stamford Board of Education resulted in a mutually-agreed upon settlement. The terms of the agreement are confidential. The Stamford Times is filing a request under the Freedom of Information Act to obtain the information.

A black student and her father sued, claiming the city failed to protect her from racial attacks from four or five boys who sent her a series of threatening messages on her cell phone . The family informed the school of the threats and the identity of the callers, according to the lawsuit. The school district, however, took no disciplinary action.

Only one of the callers has been arrested. Another of the callers, the lawsuit says, is the son of Stamford Mayor Dannel Malloy. Malloy confirmed that his son is involved in the case and has cooperated fully with the police investigation.

East Hartford, CONNECTICUT

Jan 11, 2008 - Benjamin Cortese, 62, an East Hartford High School shop teacher, was charged with inappropriately touching a female student and making a sexually suggestive comment toward her in the classroom

He was arraigned on charges of fourth-degree sexual assault, risk of injury to a minor, and disorderly conduct.

Cortese's lawyer argued that Cortese should be allowed to work because he has no criminal history and the school system did not substantiate the charges.

But [Judge Eliot] Prescott disagreed."You think the East Hartford school system is going to allow a teacher with pending sexual assault charges against him to return to the classroom?" Prescott asked.

Cortese is on unpaid administrative leave.

The three incidents involving two female students occurred in October. Cortese was reported to have touched one student's shoulder and another student's buttocks, and at another time to have made a sexually suggestive comment to the latter student.

None of those incidents were substantiated by a school system investigation, and Cortese was able to continue working at the high school until his arrest.

In November, one of the students' parents complained about the incidents to the high school administration at which time the school system alerted the state Department of Children and Families and started an investigation. He is due back in court Jan 25.

TT - School districts and schools should never investigate themselves. For one, most do not have resource officers who are trained in the law and evidence, but mostly, school officials have no incentive to uncover misconduct.

East Haddam, CONNECTICUT

Nov 16, 2007 - The East Haddam School Board voted this week to allow the use of dogs to detect drugs, alcohol and tobacco on school grounds. They voted unanimously for the new policies.

This is how a reporter for the Hartford Courant reported it,

With little fanfare, the board of education voted this week to allow the use of police-trained dogs to detect drugs, alcohol and tobacco on school grounds, and adopted a new attendance policy that will crack down on excused absences.

The new policies will be added to the student handbook and go into effect in January. There was no discussion before the board unanimously approved both policies, which were lumped in with such mundane items as the dates of next year's board meetings.

TT - If the reporter had read previous school board minutes she would have been alerted. The policy has been in development since September. Sept 11 Board Meeting Minutes pg 7-8

The term is "drug-sniffing dogs"

New Milford, CONNECTICUT

ARRESTED Nov 10, 2006 -
Richard Cea, 27, New Milford High School math teacher has been arrested and charged with multiple counts of second-degree sexual assault and impairing the morals of children.

The local paper reports that "during classes Mr. Cea allegedly chatted with female students and showed them his tattoos, belly button piercing and how he shaved his legs."

Cea is accused of meeting with the teen and her friend at his apartment while his girlfriend was out, Fletcher said. Cea served the girls Smirnoff Ice Blackberry coolers and had sex with them.

PLEA DEAL: From the Republican American, August 14, 2007 -

A former New Milford High School geometry teacher accused of having sex with a student and changing the grade of another who sent him photographs of herself wearing skimpy underwear took a plea deal Tuesday.

The agreement Richard Cea accepted in Bantam Superior Court calls for him to serve at least three years in prison.

Cea, 27, pleaded guilty to multiple counts of second-degree sexual assault and risk of injury to a minor. He could receive up to six years in prison. [Missing at site] pleas came under the Alford Doctrine, meaning he did not agree with all of the facts in the case but figured a jury would find him guilty if it had gone to trial, where he could have received a stiffer penalty.

He will be sentenced October 26.

August 16 - Times New Media goes into greater detail on the case. The girls were 15-years-old.

SENTENCED Oct 26 - Cea was sentenced to three and a half years in prison. A discovery by the mother of a teenage girl triggered the investigation.

From a story on his arrest, the mother found a note about Cea in her daughter's bedroom.

"I can't believe I slept with Cea, EW! Lol But I was drunk and horny what can I do? Lol Still you can't say anthing cause you slept with him five times now EW! No it was weird to say the least!"

One encounter had the three of them having sex.

CONNECTICUT

Van Clifton McKenzie-Adams reports to prison, having lost all legal challenges.

Feb 20, 2007 - The Connecticut State Supreme Court ruled that laws that criminalize teacher-student sex do not infringe on one's constitutional right to privacy.

the justices said sexual acts "between individuals who are situated in an inherently coercive relationship, such as the teacher-student relationship" are not guaranteed the right of sexual privacy.

Court opinion here. [TT- graphic language warning.]

The teacher, Van Clifton McKenzie-Adams, was sentenced in 2004 to seven years in prison for having sex with two Career High School students. He acted improperly to a third student who rebuffed him.

Oct 13 - Having lost all his legal challenges, McKenzie-Adams surrendered in Superior Court Friday and went to prison for sexually assaulting two of his students.

Senior Assistant State's Attorney Gene Calistro Jr. noted what prosecutors have stressed throughout the years of litigation against McKenzie-Adams: "Even though the claim is it was consensual, a teacher is in a position of authority. Having that power over a student is the crux of the case. There is an inequity between a teenage student and an adult teacher. The sentence was fair."

Further,

When Emanuel argued the case in the state Supreme Court in September 2006, he asserted the court had ruled that people 16 or older are deemed to be adults for sexual purposes. He said such conduct is protected by the right of privacy.But state Attorney General Richard Blumenthal, who filed a brief supporting the prosecutors, said at that time, "A teacher does not have a constitutional right to sex with a student. Teachers are authority figures with the unique responsibility to effectively educate - not sexually exploit - our children."

After Emanuel lost that round in the state Supreme Court last February, he appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court. The high court has declined to hear the case.

Milford, CONNECTICUT

Movie of the week stuff.

June 29, 2007 - Robert Dulin, 49, was summer league basketball coach when it is alleged he had a three-year sexual relationship with a student in 2003, starting when she was 16. The girl also allegedly became pregnant during the relationship and Dulin paid $575 for an abortion according to police.

He was first arrested in December 2005. He was placed under house arrest this week for allegedly making threatening phone calls to the victim. One of the calls came while the now-20-year-old woman was at the police station. He had his bail raised before for the same thing. (Charges still pending in Massachusetts for harassment.) The arrest in June 2006 was his third arrest for violating the court order to have no contact with the now 20-year-old woman. This, apparently, is his fourth arrest. He was charged this week with tampering with a witness, violating a protective order, threatening and harassment.

Dulin was a University of Connecticut basketball star and later, a former Merrill Lynch Co. vice president. He left his job in August 2005 about a month after being arrested for assaulting a former boyfriend of the alleged victim. The boyfriend supplied the first indication of the sexual relationship with the student. Dulin is married.

From the Milford Weekly:

Ordinarily the affair would have been legal under Connecticut law. The legal age of consent is 16, but those in a position of authority like a coach or teacher are barred from having sexual relationships with anyone under their care who is younger than 18.

Whether Dulin qualifies under that law will be decided in the courts.

NO CONTEST PLEA July 5 - A judge found Dulin guilty on five counts of second-degree sexual assault, two counts of breach of peace and one count of criminal violation of the protective order, after Dulin's lawyer had entered no contest pleas on his behalf.

Several other pending cases against the former Merrill Lynch vice president, including a breach of peace charge in Derby Superior Court, will be dropped as part of the plea agreement when Dulin is sentenced in September, court officials said.

Dulin will be sentenced September 14. (New Haven Register: The plea calls for a minimum mandatory sentence of nine months for the sex assault charge. As part of a plea agreement reached with prosecutors, Dulin also must serve five years of probation and register as a sex offender for 10 years.)

SENTENCED: Sept 14 - Dulin was sentenced to seven years, suspended after 18 months served, with four years probation. Dulin also must register as a sex offender for a 10-year-period.

Westport, CONNECTICUT

LAWSUIT -
But the town, the school board and officials still do not admit wrongdoing.

September 6, 2007 - The town of Westport, the school board and school officials agreed to a $150,000 settlement with the family of a 12-year-old girl who was fondled in 2002 by recently-sentenced Paul Held.

He was allowed to retire from the Westport Public Schools after being suspended with pay in 2002 when the girl whose family sued and another sixth-grade girl reported he touched them inappropriately. The case went to trial and Held was acquitted.

The family of the 12-year-old filed the lawsuit in 2003. Held was sentenced in August 2007 to 10 years for child pornography and lifetime Federal supervision. He had 3 to 4 MILLION images of child pornography. He also took pictures of his students under their desks.

TT - Link to Held.