Teacher accused of unwanted hugs is suspended

Broward board discusses policy on sex harassment cases

A Broward teacher has received a tougher punishment after being accused of giving improper hugs and making inappropriate comments to high school girls.

The School Board voted Tuesday to suspend Karleef Kebreau, a math teacher at Miramar High, for 10 days. That’s up from a recommended suspension last month of one day.

Board members were scheduled to vote on the lighter suspension last month, but they asked Runcie to review the case to ensure he felt it was appropriate.

Seven students accused Kebreau of making frequent unwanted “full-frontal” hugs, lasting up to 30 seconds. One girl said he asked if she wanted him as her boyfriend. Others said he referred to them as “my African queen” or “my Haitian queen.”

“I went back and looked at this. It isn’t so much the hugging but the actual statements,” Runcie said. “We’ve agreed that we as a board will take sexual harassment cases very seriously.”

Kebreau, 42, has denied the allegations and is appealing to a state administrative law judge. He couldn’t be reached for comment Tuesday.

School Board members said Tuesday they were troubled by the case, and not all for the same reasons. Donna Korn said a jump from one day to 10 days seems dramatic, without any new information.

Others questioned why the district’s professional standards committee, made up of district administrators, concluded that a one-day suspension was appropriate for a sexual harassment case.

“I have very little confidence in the way that we as a district — or [the Professional Standards Committee] — has been dealing with sexual harassment. We need to set param

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Laurie said.

But members of the Broward Teachers Union defended Kebreau, saying he was being assumed guilty without proof. They said there were no cameras capturing anything inappropriate. They’ve said the charges were initiated by a student worried about failing Kebreau’s class.

“I’ve personally seen children out of the blue walk up and hug him. If you have a reputation as a horrible person, I don’t imagine that happens,” said Anna Marie Piermont, a union representative.

Union vice president Terry Preuss added, “Love in the classroom is so important. Affection in the classroom is so important. Kids need people who care.”

She said she believes any hugs Kebreau gave were appropriate.

Korn and Board member Nora Rupert voted against the discipline. All other board members supported it, except Robin Bartleman, who was absent. Board member Rich Levinson