Abuse Suspect Left Last Job Abruptly

By David Giuliani
The Times
March 23, 2017

http://www.mywebtimes.com/news/local/abuse-suspect-left-last-job-abruptly/article_1eecc4d0-ce3c-5293-8037-bb7b66daa105.html

The former Marquette Academy science teacher accused of physically abusing students was fired from her previous job at a Bureau County school district, a decision the school board later rescinded before giving her a $60,000 severance package.

Tammy Tieman, 46, who started at the Ottawa Catholic school in 2016, was charged last week with five felony counts of aggravated battery to a child and one misdemeanor count of battery. The crimes are alleged to have involved six students on Marquette school grounds.

Tieman, of Princeton, worked at the LaMoille School District in Northeastern Bureau County for 22 years before joining Marquette.

The LaMoille school board fired Tieman, who made $57,000 a year as a high school and junior high science teacher, in May, but the district gave no public reason for its decision.

In an interview Wednesday, Mike Foley, an attorney for the school district, declined to provide many details about Tieman's departure. But he said the circumstances had nothing to do with abuse, neglect or harassment of children.

"I've been an attorney for the better part of 20 years for the district, and we've never had a case involving abuse, neglect or harassment of children in that time," the attorney said. "Nothing like that has happened."

This week, LaMoille Superintendent Ricardo Espinoza also declined to discuss the circumstances surrounding Tieman's exit from the school district. During a brief interview, he referred to the alleged abuse at Marquette: "Whatever happened there didn't happen here."

Through an open records request, The Times obtained a severance agreement between Tieman and the district the board approved July 25.

Under the terms, the board rescinded its May 6 decision to fire Tieman and removed all documents referring to the dismissal, including the board's record of proceedings.

The agreement called for giving Tieman $60,000 in severance for the 2016-2017 school year, which represents one year's salary, and $3,000 in back pay owing up to June 30, 2016.

In return, she agreed to make no claims against the district.

The parties to the agreement were prohibited from disparaging one another and required to keep the agreement's terms confidential, though acknowledging it must be released upon an open records request.

The board unanimously approved the agreement, according to the meeting minutes from July 25, 2016.

Under the Open Meetings Act, all board actions regarding personnel and other issues must be made in public. As such, minutes of such actions are open record. Although the district posts its meeting minutes to its website, its May 6 minutes are not posted. The Times obtained them through a records request.

In a statement for The Times, the LaMoille superintendent said the school board and staff consider safety their highest priority.

"We were therefore disturbed to learn of the charging of a former employee for child endangerment," Espinoza wrote. "We cannot discuss personnel matters of course."

LaMoille school board members couldn't be reached for comment.

Marquette Academy Principal Brooke Rick declined to comment on what her school knew about Tieman's departure from LaMoille, referring questions to the Catholic Diocese of Peoria, which didn't return a call for comment.

Tieman was unable to be reached for comment.

According to La Salle County Court records, Tieman allegedly hit one child on the upper back and neck at Marquette, another on the back and kicked another in the ribs. The arms of two others were pulled and another was shoved, police said. All the alleged victims were younger than 13.

Authorities didn't release any more information.

At LaMoille, Tieman was recognized in 2010 through a national program for her dedication to education, according to the Bureau County Republican newspaper.

Six representatives of OfficeMax showed up in Tieman's classroom, bringing her a certificate of appreciation, a new desk chair, flowers and classroom supplies, the newspaper said. She had been chosen for the "A Day Made Better" program, co-founded by OfficeMax and Adopt-a-Classroom.

Tieman also has been active with the Prairie Arts Center in Princeton.

On March 15, Marquette Academy fired Tieman and Ottawa police were contacted, according to the school.

Tieman is free on $3,500 cash bond.

davidg@mywebtimes.com, 815-431-4041