Probe concludes East Rockaway teacher humiliated and intimidated students

A tenured teacher at Rhame Avenue Elementary School was fired recently after a lengthy investigation found her guilty of verbally abusing students on several occasions during the 2012-13 and 2014-15 school years.

District administrators began an inquiry into fourth-grade inclusion class teacher Stavroula Gretes-Coyle’s classroom behavior in the spring of 2014, according to a statement from East Rockaway School District Superintendent Lisa Ruiz.

Hearing officer Lisa Brogan found 15 instances in which Gretes-Coyle acted inappropriately. It was determined that she “engaged in a course of conduct in which she humiliated and/or intimidated her students and caused students to cry,” according to a 93-page investigation summary obtained by the Herald.

Ruiz said that as a result, Gretes-Coyle faced disciplinary charges in accordance with New York state education law, which allows tenured educators to be terminated for “just cause.” After hearing testimony from students, teachers, school faculty and administrators, Brogan recommended that Gretes-Coyle be fired at a hearing on Jan. 19. The Board of Education upheld the decision at its Jan. 24 meeting.

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