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Ragusa Complained About School's Public Reprimands

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By JOSH POLTILOVE and HOWARD ALTMAN

The Tampa Tribune

Published: August 8, 2008

TAMPA - Months before she was accused of having sex with two boys, teacher Stephanie Ragusa complained to school officials about a confrontation with her principal centering on Ragusa's relations with male students.

Ragusa wrote a seven-page complaint against Martinez Middle School Principal Kathleen Flanagan to the Hillsborough County School District's office of professional standards, according to discovery documents released Thursday by the state attorney's office.

After a student approached Ragusa wanting to complete a math test, Flanagan and another teacher "charged up to my classroom and confronted me in front of two students," Ragusa wrote in the complaint.

"Again, I was reprimanded out in the hall, with doors ajar, ELP classes in session, and other faculty gawking while exiting their classrooms at the end of the day. You disclosed aloud your perception of matters that occurred at previous schools, exclaiming, 'Haven't you had trouble with being alone with male students in the past?' I have since had to endure whispers from faculty wondering 'what happened to Ms. Ragusa at her last school.'"

Flanagan denied that allegation, district spokeswoman Linda Cobbe said.

Cobbe said the district was aware Ragusa previously had issues regarding conduct with students but was not aware of any sexual relationships.

"There was a pattern of inappropriate behavior," Cobbe said of Ragusa's teaching record before the investigation. "It was never anything that rose to the level of sex, but it was clear she didn't know her boundaries."

However, one of the instances Cobbe cited as inappropriate behavior ultimately led to sex between a Davidsen Middle School student and Ragusa during the 2006-07 school year, according to court records.

Cobbe said she was unaware that the instance she mentioned led to sex.

Ragusa, 29, was arrested March 13 after investigators accused her of having sex at least three times from January 2007 to May 2007 with a then-14-year-old student, according to records. That was the student Cobbe cited.

As the investigation continued, Ragusa was arrested again April 15, accused of having a sexual relationship with another student, starting when the boy was 15. 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.

Ragusa is in Falkenburg Road Jail. She declined to comment Thursday.

Linda Kipley, the school district's general manager for professional standards, met with Ragusa and her union representative Dec. 12, Cobbe said. They discussed Ragusa's complaints against Flanagan.

Ragusa's complaints were not investigated and were quickly dismissed, Cobbe said.

On Jan. 22, based on complaints from her principal, Ragusa was reprimanded for "a pattern of behavior that demonstrates a loss of effectiveness," Cobbe said. Those complaints included using profanity while speaking with students in class and discussing her personal life with students.

Ragusa made another complaint against Flanagan that involved male students.

One instance occurred after an Oct. 7 bomb threat drill, Ragusa wrote. She said Flanagan yelled at her in front of students and colleagues because the principal thought she refused to leave the building during the drill, instead staying behind with a student.

Flanagan, she said, yelled that Ragusa was "totally unfit to work with children" and that she "would definitely be contacting professional standards" to report Ragusa.

Regarding that Oct. 7 incident, Cobbe said Ragusa was alone with a student in a classroom after the drill and Flanagan maintains that she responded properly.

Reporter Josh Poltilove can be reached at (813) 259-7691 or jpoltilove@tampatrib.com. Editor Howard Altman can be reached at (813) 259-7629 or haltman@tampatrib.com.

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