Girard teacher cleared of disorderly-conduct charge

By Sarah Lehr

slehr@vindy.com

GIRARD

Judge Jeffrey Adler has found a Girard City Schools teacher not guilty of disorderly conduct.

Girard police charged Daniel Nagle, 36, of Struthers with the minor misdemeanor last year after a Sept. 27 incident. A school resource officer had escorted Nagle from the building due to complaints he had acted in a threatening manner.

The district placed Nagle, who teaches seventh and eighth grade, on paid administrative leave Sept. 28.

A teacher’s union representative testified last month during Nagle’s trial that, on Sept. 27, Nagle had yelled, used profanity and said “I’m gonna get her,” seemingly in reference to Junior High School Principal Jennifer Santangelo.

The interaction with the teacher’s union representative happened in the hallway after Santangelo ordered Nagle from her office following an argument about Nagle being written up for tardiness.

Judge Adler said Thursday that while Nagle’s conduct may have been “inappropriate” and “unprofessional in a school setting,” it did not meet the definition of “violent or turbulent behavior” as outlined in Ohio’s disorderly-conduct statute.

Girard schools Superintendent David Cappuzzello said Nagle is still on paid leave pending investigation by the Ohio Department of Education. Cappuzzello said the state’s investigation did not come at the district’s request. The Ohio Department of Education is tasked with licensing teachers.

A spokeswoman for the Ohio Department of Education said the department does not confirm or deny specific investigations.