Girard teacher appears in court for disorderly conduct trial

July 21, 2017 at 12:05a.m.

GIRARD

Girard Municipal Court Judge Jeffrey Adler expects to issue a decision from the bench within 10 days in the case of a Girard City Schools teacher accused of disorderly conduct.

The 39-year-old teacher, Daniel J. Nagle of Struthers, appeared for a trial Thursday on the misdemeanor charge.

Girard police filed the disorderly-conduct charge against Nagle due to a complaint that Nagle had acted in a threatening manner after being written up by Junior High School Principal Jennifer Santangelo on Sept. 27.

School disciplinary records indicate Santangelo had given Nagle a notice of reprimand for being late to work on several occasions.

Santangelo later told police Nagle had balled up the notice and voiced his displeasure before Santangelo ordered him from her office, according to a police report.

Jennifer Nicholas, a teachers union representative, testified Thursday that she became concerned after speaking with Nagle in the hallway immediately following the disciplinary meeting with Santangelo in the principal’s office.

Nicholas said Nagle had gestured with his hands, used profanity and said “I’m gonna get her.” Prosecutor Michael Bloom said the interaction made Nicholas fear for Santangelo’s safety. The court reviewed school security footage, which did not include audio, of that hallway confrontation.

Nicholas then spoke to school resource Officer Scott Strain, who escorted Nagle from the building. Strain also testified Thursday.

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

Nagle’s defense attorney, Gerald Ingram, asked the court to find his client not guilty.

“Speaking in a loud voice is not violence or turbulence,” Ingram said. “Using cuss words, I would submit, is protected speech. It may be inappropriate in a school setting and, if it’s inappropriate in a school setting, that’s a disciplinary matter. It does not rise to criminal culpability.”