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Teacher Fibbed About Honor On Resume - And Misspelled It
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Published: April 16, 2008
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TAMPA -- Teacher Stephanie Ragusa, accused of having sex with two Davidsen Middle School students, misspelled "suma cum laude" on her resume when she said she earned the honor from the University of South Florida.
Stephanie Ragusa
It also turns out she didn't even earn it.
Ragusa did graduate from the university in December 2002, USF spokeswoman Lara Wade said today. When Wade checked with the registrar's office to see if Ragusa graduated with honors, however, Wade said she found an inaccuracy.
"She did not receive them," Wade said.
Students graduating summa cum laude from University of South Florida must have at least a 3.9 grade point average.
Wade said she would not be allowed to provide The Tampa Tribune with Ragusa's GPA but that it definitely wasn't high enough for honors.
After being told by the Tribune of Wade's finding, school district spokeswoman Linda Cobbe said she was disappointed to hear of the discrepancy.
"I don't know why someone would put that on, because we get their transcript," Cobbe said.
Linda Kipley, the district's general manager for professional standards, said the district doesn't check whether a teacher has earned honors from a university. Honors don't make a difference in a teacher's pay grade, she said.
Ragusa's GPA from USF did allow her to graduate and meet the district's standard for hiring her, Kipley said.
"She did not lie about having a degree," Kipley said.
Ragusa, 28, was first arrested March 13, charged with five counts of lewd and lascivious battery. Investigators accused her of having sex at least three times with a then 14-year-old boy from January 2007 to May 2007.
She was arrested again Tuesday, accused of having a sexual relationship with a Davidsen student when the boy was 15. She was charged with two counts of sex with a minor and one count of lewd and lascivious battery.
Ragusa and the second teen's relationship started Feb. 15, 2007, when they had sex at Ragusa's former home on Fox Terrier Court in Tampa, investigators said. From then until March 10 this year – three days before Ragusa's first arrest – she and the teen had sex more than 20 times, sheriff's spokeswoman Debbie Carter said.
Contacted today by telephone, Ragusa said, "I'm sorry, I cannot make any comments."
Ragusa also was accused of buying the second teen alcohol during their relationship, investigators said.
She last contacted the boy March 10, when she sent him text messages and they agreed to meet at her home, 15324 Lake Bella Vista Drive, Carter said. She said investigators seized Ragusa's cell phone on a search warrant after her first arrest and found the messages.
That's how the sheriff's office identified the second teen, Carter said.
She said there also might be other victims.
Ragusa was released Tuesday night from Orient Road Jail on $22,500 bail.
She remains suspended without pay, Cobbe said.
The two teens are not being identified because they are considered victims of sex crimes.
Ragusa started working for the school district in 2006 at Madison Middle School in South Tampa, then voluntarily transferred midyear to Davidsen. Most recently, Ragusa was a math teacher at Martinez Middle School in Lutz.
Reporter Josh Poltilove can be reached at jpoltilove@tampatrib.com or (813) 259-7691.
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Reader Comments
Posted by ( pasco_pete ) on April 16, 2008 at 5:46 p.m.
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
Posted by ( StormVet90 ) on April 16, 2008 at 5:46 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
So she lied on her resume AND she misspelled what she lied about? And we wonder why the graduation rate in Florida is 48th in the US? Really, really?
After being told by the Tribune of Wade's finding, school district spokeswoman Linda Cobbe said she was disappointed to hear of the discrepancy.
"I don't know why someone would put that on, because we get their transcript," Cobbe said.
You might get them but you sure as h*ll aren't checking them!!! Everytime we do something (host the Final Four)that helps to put us in a good light nationally we get one of these stories. Fantastic!!!
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Posted by ( gina1108 ) on April 16, 2008 at 5:47 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Stupid bi%^h
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Posted by ( whasup ) on April 16, 2008 at 5:48 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
On the last video of her getting released from jail again after being charged the second time, her reaction was totally inappropriate. She seemed to be smiling and flirting with the camera in a very childish way, as if she's a 13-year-old girl who's enjoying all the attention and who doesn't comprehend the gravity of the situation or her actions. Very, very strange.
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Posted by ( Desmo ) on April 16, 2008 at 6 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
So basically you can lie about anything on your resume and the school district won't check it out? Brilliant!!
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Posted by ( frankly ) on April 16, 2008 at 6:23 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
pasco_pete...Don't think your comment was not regonized as the "Comment of the Century!" I laughed so hard I fell out of my chair...and I wasn't sitting down!
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Posted by ( Guy_LeDouche ) on April 16, 2008 at 6:25 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Ok Politlove...you're diggin' too deep man.
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Posted by ( tedh1112 ) on April 16, 2008 at 6:27 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
What is up with all the smiling in the mugshots? She has three arrests since 2006, including a DUI. She is smiling in all three.
There looks like an insanity defense on the horizon.
Defense attorney to Judge: "Look, she has to be crazy, she is smiling in her mugshots. She obviously is delusional and does not understand right from wrong. She must be hospitalized, not incarcerated."
Judge to defense attorney: "Looks like a possibility. Has the defendant ever asked for a 'pinkie-promise'?"
Defense attorney to Judge: "Why yes she has, as recently as today when she was watching cartoons."
Judge to defense attorney: "OK, house arrest it is and tell her to get a job working in fast food around a bunch of other kids who may be able to get some pointers from the pro."
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Posted by ( Guy_LeDouche ) on April 16, 2008 at 6:28 p.m.
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
Posted by ( kimbo ) on April 16, 2008 at 6:32 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Teachers, Cops...what next "the milk man"
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Posted by ( Justin_Case ) on April 16, 2008 at 6:32 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Hello, Fla. Dept of Education, may I help you?
Yes, I was interested in becoming a educator in one of the fine schools here in the state. How do I go about it?
Well, do you have a degree?
Uh, yes I do.
Do you love children?
You bet.
Well, that's about it then. Oh, have you been convicted of a felony within the last, oh I don't know, half an hour or so?
No, definately not. You can check me out if you want though.
Nahhh, that's OK. I trust you. Your interview is next Tuesday at 10 am, OK?
A little early for me, can we make it in the afternoon?
What do you mean by that?
I mean the appointment....can we move it to the afternoon?
No prob....
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Posted by ( frankly ) on April 16, 2008 at 6:47 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
pasco_pete....Your comment has to be the "Comment of the Year!" I laughed so hard I fell out of my chair...I wasn't even sitting down!
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Posted by ( nuts1999 ) on April 16, 2008 at 6:52 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
She's too pretty to go to jail. Plus, there's always "under the table" plea deal to the judge
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Posted by ( JackNelsonSteward ) on April 16, 2008 at 6:54 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Well, she misspelled her "Some a Come a Whatsis" there and the personnel office of our school system (hiring a teacher) didn't NOTICE that?
OH, spelling optional for math teachers?
Hel LOOOOOOO!!!
But, you know, I gotta ask: What's the point of publishing her address in the paper? If I wanted to know it I could look it up, I guess, but it just looks like easy access to any mouth-breathing cretin with a vigilante compulsion. No value to the story.
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Posted by ( Doug ) on April 16, 2008 at 7:56 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Just my 2c worth, but lying on her resume is the least of her problems...
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Posted by ( tngator ) on April 16, 2008 at 8 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
man.... wish that i was a young school boy.
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Posted by ( picogator ) on April 16, 2008 at 8:27 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
As a former high school teacher, I say---cancel her teaching credentials. She is earning extra curricular credit with a group of dumb a@@ school boys.
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Posted by ( c_jay ) on April 16, 2008 at 9:49 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
My guess is that her smile is more that of an insecurity. What else does she have left?
I am still dying to find out what Pasco Pete said. Can anyone repeat it (without it getting "censored"?)
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Posted by ( c_jay ) on April 16, 2008 at 9:56 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Picogator, it's called "anatomy and biology"
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Posted by ( DarthSilverstein ) on April 16, 2008 at 10:03 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Justin Case: nice, i wanted to do that. I would love to meet Poltilove. This poor guy must get to work late every day when they're handing out hot leads. On his resume, he should have said he was a Politzer Prize receipient.
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Posted by ( spidyfan ) on April 17, 2008 at 3:11 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
By the way, BOTH the Hillsborough County School Board AND the Florida Department of Education run "level 2" background screenings on all teachers. Ragusa cleared both or else she wouldn't have a) been allowed to even interview at schools, nor b) been issued a teaching certificate. And I'm sorry to say guys, but that decision was TOTALLY JUST in that she has no prior convictions, and even further, both her cases were dismissed early on in the criminal process. So are we to say that there are major failings in both the Hills. Co. School System, the FL Dept. of Ed., and Hills. and Pasco Co. court systems? Let's face it, she passed all of our societies' systems of "checks and balances" to gain empolyment in her field. Let the debate go!
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Posted by ( RangerDave ) on April 17, 2008 at 8:34 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
Is this the best we have to offer the next generation? We had the "Builders" who were the grandparents of the Generation X'ers (of which I'm one). They worked their tails off to fight for and build this country with goods made in the USA. Then we had the "Boomers" who took the country to the next level, again fighting and working for our country. Both of these generations had to do without something for the good of the country. The women/mothers only worked when the men were off fighting for our freedom. I'm sad to say, the next generations if the "Buster" generation. We're filled with the "I want it now" mentality, and we've never had to go without for the good of a greater cause. Psychologists and government officials got involved and started parenting instead of the parents parenting. Look at the fruits of their labor! Higher taxes and more entitlements.
Are teachers, public servants, and the general population like this lady the best we have to offer? It makes being the parent of young children that much more difficult. They wonder why they can't ride their bikes around the neighborhood. When I was 7 years old, I could be up to a mile away from home and felt perfectly safe. My parents didn't have to worry. I knew not to play too close to the water because they taught me so. I knew not to talk to strangers because they taught me so. I knew I had boundaries and when I crossed those boundaries there would be consequences.
When I lied I got spanked. When I was disobedient I got spanked. When my parents called my name, I said "Yes sir/ma'am". Only once, and mean ONLY once when my mother called me did I say "Yeah, what do you want?". I was 12 and my father quickly corrected my actions.
I fear articles like this one and others in the recent headlines are only the beginning and will quickly become the norm.
Sorry for the long post. I'm just getting more and more disappointed by society. It makes me want to buy 100 acres in the middle of nowhere and move the family there.
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Posted by ( Aquaholic ) on April 17, 2008 at 9:21 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
"I don't know why someone would put that on, because we get their transcript," Cobbe said
Are they only checked after they have been arrested for having sex with teens? They sure weren't checked first if this is how they are finding out about it.
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Posted by ( TpaGrl31 ) on April 17, 2008 at 10:38 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
The school board spokeswoman said that they don't pay attention to whether or not their teachers achieve any honors from college; that it doesn't make a difference in their pay. It does however say something to her character if she is willing to lie about that on her resume!
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Posted by ( nprvoice ) on April 17, 2008 at 11:36 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
so she lied...she's one of the beautiful people...the interviewer wasn't paying attention because they were swept up by her looks
what is the schools' excuse? they're supposed to be so smart...and they didn't catch this?
why is this even a story any more? she needs to move on to her next job at Bottoms Up
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Posted by ( tish ) on April 17, 2008 at 2:41 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
I'm not surprized. My daughter was in first grade and her teacher asked a question on a test: 9 + 0 = ? My daughter wrote her 9's by making a circle with a line next to it, not always touching. It looked like she had answered 01. The teacher wrote 10 next to her "wrong" answer, I suppose to let her know 9 + 0 = 10 and not 01. We home schooled for a while after that until we left Hillsborough county.
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Posted by ( JeffFruth ) on April 17, 2008 at 3:37 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
The question is....is she too pretty to go to jail?
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Posted by ( KnotBobHite ) on April 17, 2008 at 6:49 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Come on folks, she was just teaching the lad how to get down there and properly nibble. I wonder if her orgasams were fake as well.
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Posted by ( signit4bes ) on April 29, 2008 at 2:59 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
my gosh she's bad at covering up....her tracks too
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