Parents voice concern over teacher position.

A meet and greet was held Dec. 19 at the Monocacy Elementary Center (MEC) for reinstated teacher, Kelly Lee Held, who will begin teaching a second grade class on Jan. 3.

Held was charged in October 2015 with identify theft and access device fraud.

She had been a reading specialist at Amity Elementary Center.

A coworker of Held’s said her credit card number had been stolen in Aug. 2015 and used to purchase a one-year Sirius/XMradio subscription.

Sirius/ XM had confirmed to the victim that the subscription account had been opened by Kelly Held on Aug. 8, with the victim’s credit care number.

The Daniel Boone School Board unanimously approved on Dec. 19, the resignation of second grade teacher Tonya Frank, effective Dec. 31.

She was previously out on disability.

The board also announced that Frank’s replacement, long term substitute Kristi Schueler, would cease employment on Dec. 31, and be replaced by Held.

Jen Whelan of Garey Road, Douglassville, said her seven-year-old daughter has had six different teachers since school started in September.

Whelan was one of five parents who pleaded with the school board to offer Frank’s position to Schueler.

“She gets panic attacks, stomach aches, doesn’t trust people, and doesn’t feel safe [at school]. You’re putting someone with questionable morals in the classroom. You’re wrong to let it go on.”

“Mrs. Schueler got them all where they should be, and now this teacher is pulled from them again.”

“I don’t understand how it’s allowed to go on,” said Whelan.

District Solicitor Brian Subers said Held’s assignment to that classroom is a “personnel agreement between the school board and the Daniel Boone Education Association (DBEA).”

He said Held did not plead guilty, there was no adjudication, charges against Held were dropped, and she has been reinstated.

“The person denied, and there was no finding that anything was done,” said Subers.

“This resolves an outstanding grievance. The board determined this is the most effective resolution and least disruptive. This is the best option available and the least disruptive,” said Subers, adding that MEC Principal Melanie Hefter will address any issues.

Board President Michael D. Wolfe said the results wouldn’t be different following a lengthy litigation.

“We could litigate this until we run out of money, and the results would be the same: she has a right to come back — has tenure. DBEA President Amy Hicks and I are on the same page with this.”

“I am not a criminal and I was not convicted of any crime,” said Held.

“When I found out I was being reinstated in a second grade classroom, I got teary-eyed.”

“All I wanted to do was to be a teacher.”

“It was difficult to be away for a year. I didn’t know they had several teachers. My heart goes out to you. I understand you are concerned about your children. I promise to make the classroom a safe place and that I will love your children and give them the best education.”

“Give me a chance. I promise I will be the best for them that I can be.”