TRANSFER, PA. State education department takes action against teacher

The teacher involved resigned from the school district six years ago.
TRANSFER, Pa. -- It took seven years but the Pennsylvania Department of Education has finally taken action against a former Reynolds School District teacher accused of improper conduct with students.
The department's Standards and Practices Commission announced Monday that it has revoked the teaching license of James R. Poetteiger, 35, a former industrial arts teacher in the district.
A Department of Education spokeswoman said the revocation was for "inappropriate relationships with students, including providing students with marijuana and alcohol and engaging in inappropriate discussions of a sexual nature."
The state had no further information available on the case or on Poetteiger.
Complaints: Dr. Charles Cagno, Reynolds superintendent, said the case preceded his tenure at Reynolds but that the investigation into Poetteiger's behavior was initiated by the school district following receipt of complaints.
Allegations of misconduct first surfaced in May 1994, he said.
Poetteiger, who joined the district as a long-term substitute in August 1990, later became a full-time teacher.
He resigned from the district in June 1995 and his whereabouts are unknown, Cagno said.
No criminal charges were ever filed in the case.
Cagno said the district apparently took its concerns directly to the Department of Education which conducted its own investigation and eventually took action.
Were the case to surface today, state law would mandate that criminal charges be filed against the teacher involved, he said.
Poetteiger was one of nine teachers recently disciplined by the state.