SC - Dorothy Van Der Sterre Smith, Berkley Cty teacher, wrapped legs around male student, Dec 2019

[imstilla.grandma]

The South Carolina Board of Education has suspended a former Berkley County School District (BCSD) teacher’s certificate of education after she was accused of inappropriately hugging a student.

According to the order of suspension, published Tuesday, Dorothy Van Der Sterre Smith was a teacher at Timberland High School in December 2019 when the incident took place.

A staff member at the school “reported seeing Ms. Smith hugging a male student with her legs wrapped around the student’s waist.” Smith said that the student was an athlete and she “felt he was joking by picking her up to show off his strength.
South Carolina teacher suspended for wrapping legs around student while hugging him | WBTW

 

[LoveyG]

Well that was a dumb thing to do.

 

[TGIRecovered]

I think most female teachers, if approached by a male student athlete who is trying to give them a bear hug, would step sideways or back to avoid full-on frontal contact, not lift her legs and wrap them around his waist. But that’s just me. MOO

 

[imstilla.grandma]

Well that was a dumb thing to do.

Giggles…

This teacher has over fifteen years of educator experience and has no prior record of disciplinary action with the State Board, the document states. (Credit: Google Maps)

ST. STEPHEN, S.C. – The South Carolina State Board of Education has temporarily suspended the teaching certificate of a former Timberland High School teacher.

According to a consent order of suspension record, on Dec. 4, 2019, a custodianat the school reported seeing Dorothy Van Der Sterre Smith hugging a male student-athlete with her legs wrapped around his waist.

During the Berkeley County School District’s investigation, Smith admitted she often hugged her students. She felt that this particular student was joking by picking her up to show off his strength, the document states.

In a statement on the incident, Smith said that while she intended to form an emotional link with her students, she may have made herself too approachable and available to them. She has not worked as a certified educator since leaving the district in 2019.

Smith has over fifteen years of educator experience and has no prior record of disciplinary action with the State Board, the document states.

On Tuesday, the State Board voted to accept the consent order of suspension of Smith’s educator certificate for a period of one year, to be served partly retroactive, beginning on June 30, 2021 and ending on June 30, 2022.
Ex-Timberland High Teacher Inappropriately Hugged Student, Certificate Temporarily Suspended: Officials

Smith said that she hugged her students often and “intended to form an emotional link” with them, but conceded that “she may have made herself too approachable and available to them.”

Smith left the district in 2019 and has not worked as a certified educator since.

She will also be required to complete a National Association of State Directors of Teacher Education and Certification (NASDTEC) Prevention and Correction Course before she is eligible for reinstatement.
South Carolina teacher suspended for inappropriately hugging student | FOX8 WGHP