Steven Mace
01-13-2002, 06:59 PM
'Shooting' comment puts teacher on defensive
Students unsure if she was serious
By Nancy Mitchell, News Staff Writer
A Greeley math teacher has tearfully apologized after allegedly threatening to shoot a class of seventh-graders, but some of those students still say her words were frightening.
Police and school officials are investigating statements made during class Tuesday by Heath Middle School teacher Janet Willis, 43, a 20-year teaching veteran in Weld County School District 6.
A student in the class, Douglas Steinmetz, 13, said Willis was frustrated because several students had repeatedly forgotten to bring their textbooks and homework.
When a student asked what would happen if they continued to forget the items, Willis replied, "Then I'll shoot you," Steinmetz said.
He said the teacher then asked another student, "Do you want to be my first victim?"
Andrew Puga, 13, said Willis was not smiling or laughing when she made the comments.
"I took it as a threat," Puga said, adding, "If it was us saying that to her, we would be expelled."
Later Tuesday, the parent of a boy in the class reported the incident to Heath Principal Mark Rangel and to Greeley police, sparking the investigations.
Police Sgt. John Gates said the parent gave a similar account.
'The stepson told him the teacher said to the students, 'If you don't calm down, I'm going to have to shoot someone,' " Gates said. "Then the teacher reportedly directed the next statement at one particular student, that being a 13-year-old boy, and asked him if he wanted to be first."
Willis, who continues to teach at the school while the investigations are ongoing, declined comment. But students said she was crying when she apologized in class Thursday with Rangel at her side.
Also Thursday, she sent home letters to parents of students in the class.
"In my passion to have my students achieve their best, what I was thinking and what I was saying were two different things," Willis wrote. "I did not realize what I said until Mr. Rangel came to me with this concern. For whatever reason, I know what I said was unacceptable and (inexcusable)."
In the single-page letter, Willis also wrote, " 'I'm sorry' does not even begin to express my regret for the events that occurred. Please know that this will never happen again. . . . A plan will be devised to help me regain the trust and respect of my students."
Gates said police will attempt to interview the 27 students in Willis' classroom on Tuesday to try to determine exactly what she said. He said Willis could face a misdemeanor charge of menacing, which carries a maximum penalty of six months in jail.
"There would have had to be some specific intent on the part of the teacher to place children in fear" to charge Willis with menacing, Gates said.
Greeley Schools Superintendent Tony Pariso said Heath Principal Rangel and the school district's human resources director are investigating the incident.
"Her status, in the meantime, is she is a teacher at Heath," Pariso said. "When we complete the personnel investigation, we will take whatever action is appropriate."
Students and parents at Heath voiced differing opinions on the incident.
"I was thinking, I hope she doesn't have a gun in her desk or something," student Zane Minney said of Willis' comments. "Now, I'm scared to go back to class."
His parents said they are upset that Willis wasn't reprimanded for her actions, or at least put on leave while the case is being investigated.
"To me, that lady has serious problems," said Lonny Falk, Zane's father. "And who is to say that she won't go to the school and do what she said?"
But Shelli Houser, whose daughter Bethany Dermer is in one of Willis' classes, said she trusted the school to handle the situation appropriately.
Dermer, a seventh-grader, said Willis is known as a strict and frequently sarcastic teacher.
"Some students think she was being serious, but some think she was just being herself," she said.
Added seventh-grader Alyssa Chernoff, "I just think she should have been more careful about what she said."
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
January 12, 2002
http://www.insidedenver.com/drmn/state/article/0,1299,DRMN_21_938439,00.html
Steve Mace
Students unsure if she was serious
By Nancy Mitchell, News Staff Writer
A Greeley math teacher has tearfully apologized after allegedly threatening to shoot a class of seventh-graders, but some of those students still say her words were frightening.
Police and school officials are investigating statements made during class Tuesday by Heath Middle School teacher Janet Willis, 43, a 20-year teaching veteran in Weld County School District 6.
A student in the class, Douglas Steinmetz, 13, said Willis was frustrated because several students had repeatedly forgotten to bring their textbooks and homework.
When a student asked what would happen if they continued to forget the items, Willis replied, "Then I'll shoot you," Steinmetz said.
He said the teacher then asked another student, "Do you want to be my first victim?"
Andrew Puga, 13, said Willis was not smiling or laughing when she made the comments.
"I took it as a threat," Puga said, adding, "If it was us saying that to her, we would be expelled."
Later Tuesday, the parent of a boy in the class reported the incident to Heath Principal Mark Rangel and to Greeley police, sparking the investigations.
Police Sgt. John Gates said the parent gave a similar account.
'The stepson told him the teacher said to the students, 'If you don't calm down, I'm going to have to shoot someone,' " Gates said. "Then the teacher reportedly directed the next statement at one particular student, that being a 13-year-old boy, and asked him if he wanted to be first."
Willis, who continues to teach at the school while the investigations are ongoing, declined comment. But students said she was crying when she apologized in class Thursday with Rangel at her side.
Also Thursday, she sent home letters to parents of students in the class.
"In my passion to have my students achieve their best, what I was thinking and what I was saying were two different things," Willis wrote. "I did not realize what I said until Mr. Rangel came to me with this concern. For whatever reason, I know what I said was unacceptable and (inexcusable)."
In the single-page letter, Willis also wrote, " 'I'm sorry' does not even begin to express my regret for the events that occurred. Please know that this will never happen again. . . . A plan will be devised to help me regain the trust and respect of my students."
Gates said police will attempt to interview the 27 students in Willis' classroom on Tuesday to try to determine exactly what she said. He said Willis could face a misdemeanor charge of menacing, which carries a maximum penalty of six months in jail.
"There would have had to be some specific intent on the part of the teacher to place children in fear" to charge Willis with menacing, Gates said.
Greeley Schools Superintendent Tony Pariso said Heath Principal Rangel and the school district's human resources director are investigating the incident.
"Her status, in the meantime, is she is a teacher at Heath," Pariso said. "When we complete the personnel investigation, we will take whatever action is appropriate."
Students and parents at Heath voiced differing opinions on the incident.
"I was thinking, I hope she doesn't have a gun in her desk or something," student Zane Minney said of Willis' comments. "Now, I'm scared to go back to class."
His parents said they are upset that Willis wasn't reprimanded for her actions, or at least put on leave while the case is being investigated.
"To me, that lady has serious problems," said Lonny Falk, Zane's father. "And who is to say that she won't go to the school and do what she said?"
But Shelli Houser, whose daughter Bethany Dermer is in one of Willis' classes, said she trusted the school to handle the situation appropriately.
Dermer, a seventh-grader, said Willis is known as a strict and frequently sarcastic teacher.
"Some students think she was being serious, but some think she was just being herself," she said.
Added seventh-grader Alyssa Chernoff, "I just think she should have been more careful about what she said."
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
January 12, 2002
http://www.insidedenver.com/drmn/state/article/0,1299,DRMN_21_938439,00.html
Steve Mace