Parents: Boulder Teachers Knew About Sex Assaults
Parents Say Teachers, Administrators Did Nothing To Stop The Problem
Teachers at a Boulder school knew about possible sexual assaults at the school and did nothing to stop them, a group of Boulder parents alleged in a lawsuit filed Monday against the school.
In February, an ugly secret was exposed at the Mountain Shadows Montessori School. Donald Alan Temple (pictured, right), 53, one of the owners and directors at the school, pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting five students.
Things were so bad at the school, 7NEWS reported, that the kids had a secret signal -- they would flash the "peace sign" so that other kids would stay with them and they wouldn't have to be alone with the teacher.
Parents said that the kids were trying protect each other, while the teachers were worried about protecting their own jobs.
One parent, who did not want to be identified, said that his 10-year-old daughter was one of the victims.
"She's having a real tough time sleeping. She's in her room every night with nightmares and stuff. She has a real trust factor now," he said.
He and four other families are suing the school, claiming that other teachers and administrators knew about Temple's behavior but did not do anything.
"I think (teachers and administrators) were intimidated by (Temple). He was the director of the school," Richard Werner, an attorney for the parents, said.
The lawsuit claims that at least six other school officials witnessed Temple engage in several incidents of inappropriate touching, and that the school administrator even wrote a letter to Temple saying that staff had expressed concern about seeing him with a student in a locked room with the lights off.
The letter said that other teachers were concerned about him sharing swings with girls on the playground, according to the lawsuit.
Parents said that the problem was that no one stopped the abuse, or reported it as required by law.
"(The parents) really thought they were sending their kids to a safe harbor, and in reality, their kids were in a trap," Werner said.
The school denies any prior knowledge of any problems with Temple, 7NEWS reported.
Temple is facing a prison term of 10 years to life.
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In February, an ugly secret was exposed at the Mountain Shadows Montessori School. Donald Alan Temple (pictured, right), 53, one of the owners and directors at the school, pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting five students.
Things were so bad at the school, 7NEWS reported, that the kids had a secret signal -- they would flash the "peace sign" so that other kids would stay with them and they wouldn't have to be alone with the teacher.
Parents said that the kids were trying protect each other, while the teachers were worried about protecting their own jobs.
One parent, who did not want to be identified, said that his 10-year-old daughter was one of the victims.
"She's having a real tough time sleeping. She's in her room every night with nightmares and stuff. She has a real trust factor now," he said.
He and four other families are suing the school, claiming that other teachers and administrators knew about Temple's behavior but did not do anything.
"I think (teachers and administrators) were intimidated by (Temple). He was the director of the school," Richard Werner, an attorney for the parents, said.
The lawsuit claims that at least six other school officials witnessed Temple engage in several incidents of inappropriate touching, and that the school administrator even wrote a letter to Temple saying that staff had expressed concern about seeing him with a student in a locked room with the lights off.
The letter said that other teachers were concerned about him sharing swings with girls on the playground, according to the lawsuit.
Parents said that the problem was that no one stopped the abuse, or reported it as required by law.
"(The parents) really thought they were sending their kids to a safe harbor, and in reality, their kids were in a trap," Werner said.
The school denies any prior knowledge of any problems with Temple, 7NEWS reported.
Temple is facing a prison term of 10 years to life.
- March 6, 2001: Former Montessori Founder Heads To California For Treatment
- February 25, 2001: School Officials Want Montessori Director To Resign
- February 13, 2001: School Director Posts Bond In Sex Investigation
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