Former Poland teacher had distinguished record

He received consistently positive performance
evaluations.

By DENISE DICK

VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER

POLAND — Comments like “outstanding,” “dedicated professional” and “impressive” fill the personnel file of a 19-year Poland teacher who resigned this week during a school district investigation into his reported relationship with a former student.

Troy Massey, 41, of Boardman, a Poland Seminary School physics teacher and cross country and track coach, resigned his duties Monday. He will remain on paid sick leave through Aug. 29.

The girl with whom Massey is accused of having a relationship is now 18 and graduated in June, but she was 17 and a student when the reported relationship is believed to have began, according to school officials. The school district’s investigation started in September.

The issue was reported to the school district by the girl’s parent, according to documents submitted by the school district to the Ohio Department of Education’s Office of Professional Conduct.

Superintendent Dr. Robert Zorn wouldn’t say what kind of relationship the teacher and former student are accused of having. The girl wasn’t a member of the track or cross country teams, he said.

Massey couldn’t be reached to comment.

His personnel file contains consistently positive performance evaluations both as a teacher and a coach from his superiors.

Former principal Brian Wolf assessed Massey’s overall performance as excellent, according to the review of Sept. 28, 2006.

In September 2005, former principal Robert Rostan wrote, “Simply put, Mr. Massey is an outstanding teacher and a dedicated professional. He establishes one of the finest learning atmospheres I have seen; consistent in physics and integrated science.”

Massey’s career at the high school, where he started in 1988, also included three years as assistant principal, from 1996 through 1999.

In March 1999, Massey wrote a letter to Zorn asking to be released from the remainder of his administrative contract. He asked to be considered for a science teacher position for the 1999 to 2000 school year. No reason was stated in the letter.

Both requests were granted. Zorn would say only that the move was at Massey’s request.

Now, the school district’s submittal to the state education department will prompt an investigation by that agency. Karla Carruthers, an ODE spokeswoman, said the length of time of an investigation into a teacher’s possible misconduct is determined by the individual case.

As long as an individual maintains a teaching license, as Massey does, that person may teach as a substitute.

If a teacher loses his or her teaching license, he or she may reapply to ODE to try to get a license to teach as a substitute.

“It’s highly likely that they would be denied if they had lost their license,” Carruthers said.

There is no ongoing police investigation.

Court records show that Massey was cited for driving while impaired in May 1997 by the Ohio State Highway Patrol. The charge was amended to reckless operation, and Massey pleaded no contest and was convicted in Mahoning County Court in Boardman. He was ordered to take a 72-hour driver intervention program.