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Ragusa No Stranger To Turmoil
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Published: May 11, 2008
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TAMPA - Before she became a national spectacle, ridiculed and chastised for smiling eerily after her third arrest involving sex with a student, middle school math teacher Stephanie Ragusa had a history of breaking rules.
She stole money from one job, claimed on a resume to have graduated from college with honors when she had not and checked a box on an employment application that indicated she had never been charged with a serious crime even though she had been arrested on charges of aggravated battery and driving under the influence.
Ragusa still managed to become a teacher - and she still couldn't follow the rules.
She was disciplined for cursing in front of students. Parents remember her bringing a wine cooler to an eighth-grade party.
On March 13, Ragusa became the latest Florida teacher caught in a student sex scandal when she was charged with having sex with a 14-year-old boy. A month later, the 29-year-old was arrested again after investigators identified another victim, now 16.
What happened next seemed implausible.
Authorities say that two weeks after her second arrest, Ragusa drove her live-in boyfriend's white Dodge Ram truck to the 16-year-old's house and had sex with him while his friend sat in the next room. The friend took pictures with his cell phone of Ragusa kissing the teen.
So far, few people have publicly defended her or offered any explanation for the crimes with which she is charged. Ragusa's father declined to comment; other family members could not be reached. Of the friends contacted by The Tampa Tribune, only one agreed to go on the record.
Any insight into Ragusa's personality and mindset come mostly from a litany of problems spelled out in arrest reports, court documents and school district personnel files.
Last week, a transcript of a secretly taped conversation between Ragusa and one of the teens was released to the public, offering a glimpse of Ragusa's understanding of the rules about teachers having sex with students.
"No one would understand," she told the teen. "Let's put it that way. ...You can't explain it to anybody in any way where they would be like, 'Oh, that's cool. Oh, that's OK.'"
Later in the conversation, she adds, "I don't agree with, like, I don't know, society's and people's judgment about this."
Bay Area Native
Ragusa grew up in the Tampa Bay area. She adored her parents, Angela and Ricardo Ragusa, friends say, and was protective of her older brother, Christian, who is autistic. She attended St. Cecelia's Catholic School in Clearwater.
The Ragusas were a tight-knit family, friends say. In 1994, they rallied together when Christian, then 17, was transferred from LaVoy Exceptional Center to Chamberlain High School in Tampa as part of Hillsborough County's push to mainstream special education students.
Saying he was too violent, the district eventually decided to return Christian to LaVoy. Angela Ragusa, an adjunct professor at Hillsborough Community College and Florida Metropolitan University, thought the move would be too disruptive. The family fought the transfer in federal court, but eventually lost.
Ragusa graduated in 1997 from Clearwater Central Catholic High School and attended Florida State University until the summer of 2000. That's where Darren Muse of Tampa met Ragusa. He recalled a cute but awkward girl who tried hard to impress others with unbelievable stories.
"She seemed as though she'd try anything to get people's attention - even if she had to ruin her career doing something immoral - just as long as people would look at her," said Muse, who remembered meeting Ragusa at a fraternity party in the fall of 1997. "To the Stephanie I knew, that would be an acceptable trade-off."
A Downward Spiral
Muse said Ragusa told him she disappeared from Florida State University in the middle of the semester to travel with bands such as Sugar Ray. He didn't believe her. She also tried to convince him once that she was the cousin of a girl he knew, but it wasn't true, he said.
Ragusa left FSU and returned to Tampa, where she enrolled at the University of South Florida and graduated in 2002 with a degree in political science.
During that time, her mother's health deteriorated, and Ragusa's life began a downward turn.
At 22, she was arrested for stealing from her job at the Pottery Barn in Citrus Park mall. She admitted that she credited her charge card with a nearly $300 customer return. Because it was her first offense, Ragusa was allowed to participate in an intervention program. After three years, the charges were dismissed.
On March 15, 2003, her mother died of cancer at age 60. Stephanie was devastated, friends say. They describe Angela Ragusa as the family rock, taking care of everyone's needs.
Now 23, Stephanie attempted to fill those shoes, but found herself stumbling.
For a few years, Ragusa seemed to drift, her friends say, as she dabbled in journalism, worked on her master's degree at USF and volunteered with Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Tampa Bay. She was nicknamed "the cat lady" because at one time she owned about a dozen cats.
She flirted with sports reporting for a couple of Web sites and wrote an article about a boxing match for the Tribune.
On Oct. 21, 2004, she was charged with aggravated battery after her 24-year-old boyfriend, Michael Zak, told authorities Ragusa hit him repeatedly with a golf club at the Plantation Palms Golf Club in Land O' Lakes after he accused her of cheating on him. The charge was dropped.
Less than a year later, on July 15, 2005, Ragusa was arrested by Tampa police at 2:30 a.m. in Ybor City for suspicion of driving under the influence. She refused a breath-alcohol test, records show. The charge was dismissed at trial.
Problems In The Classroom
In 2006, Ragusa turned her attention toward becoming a teacher. Records show her time with the Hillsborough County Schools district was turbulent from the start.
She wrote on her July 2006 teacher application to become a Hillsborough County teacher that she had never been charged with a serious crime. A routine fingerprint check uncovered her criminal history a month later. Ragusa acknowledged her previous arrests and was allowed to continue teaching after meeting with a school investigator from the professional standards office.
When applicants fail to disclose information on their resume, they usually are given a second chance if the falsehoods are considered relatively minor and if they admit it, a school district spokeswoman said. Since Ragusa's arrests, the district has decided to review its procedures for hiring teachers.
Ragusa had said on her resume she graduated from USF with honors and misspelled "summa cum laude," writing "suma cum laude" instead. There were no honors, the university said.
Problems surfaced during Ragusa's first year in the classroom. Child welfare investigators were called in September 2006 to look into accusations Ragusa physically restrained a female student to keep her from leaving the classroom. School officials referred Ragusa to an anger management class. She completed the program and was allowed to transfer from Madison Middle School to Davidsen Middle School in December 2006.
Within a few months, she started a sexual relationship with a 14-year-old student, according to an arrest report. During the same year, she pursued a second relationship with a 15-year-old student, the report said.
Ragusa received a letter from school officials in January, reprimanding her for using profanity while speaking to students and sharing with them what she did over the weekend.
"Your actions continue to be of concern, and have been determined to be a pattern of behavior that demonstrates a loss of effectiveness," wrote Linda Kipley, general manager of professional standards. Kipley put Ragusa on notice: any more problems and she would be terminated.
The next month, Ragusa took a leave of absence. She told one of the boys she was accused of having sex with that it was for medical reasons, records show.
Personal Turmoil
Ragusa's personal life appeared equally chaotic.
She filed a petition in September 2006 for a temporary injunction against Zak. She wrote in court records that the pair broke up in May 2006, but that he wanted to get back together.
Ragusa accused Zak of leaving messages on her telephone in which he threatened to physically harm her. Zak also made threats to "blackmail" her by giving incriminating information about her to her bosses or authorities, she said in court documents.
The case was dismissed after Ragusa missed court appearances. She wrote that she was unable to attend hearings because of her school schedule.
A year later, Ragusa won a petition preventing her current boyfriend, 26-year-old Tony Irvin, from having contact or coming within 500 feet of her.
After winning the petition, though, Ragusa called and repeatedly sent text messages to him, Irvin said in court records. He pleaded not guilty to battery domestic violence. The case was later dismissed.
On Ragusa's Reunion.com profile, when asked what she thought she would be doing 10 years from now, she wrote on June 12: "I am way too old to be saying this, but I don't know. I hope I have a family as wonderful as the one I grew up in."
Researchers Stephanie Pincus and Michael Messano contributed to this report. Reporter Sherri Ackerman can be reached at (813) 259-7144 or sackerman@tampatrib.com.
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Reader Comments
Posted by ( ernstruntz ) on May 11, 2008 at 1:52 a.m.
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
Posted by ( Perla ) on May 11, 2008 at 5:56 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
While in prison for your crime Ms. Ragusa, and it should be for quite a long time, I hope that you are treated for your mental illness.
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Posted by ( CrazyIvan ) on May 11, 2008 at 6:47 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
Wow. To say this lady has "issues", is probably putting it mildly.
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Posted by ( SOG_Girl ) on May 11, 2008 at 7:49 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
She's whacked.
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Posted by ( katomate ) on May 11, 2008 at 9:02 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
You can lie on an application...be sent to anger managment and STILL be a teacher? Are you kidding me?
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Posted by ( ToTheBeachWeGo ) on May 11, 2008 at 9:04 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
Wow, were the signs there or what? I still can't figure out why she wasn't reported when she showed up to a kids party, dressed in a mini skirt, drinking a wine cooler. And I still can't figure out why people are allowed to lie once on their teacher application. No wonder she got as far as she did with these kids. I know she's still responsible for what she did but look at the signs! I am in education and I firmly believe that teachers need to be held to a higher standard.
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Posted by ( ttommiejo ) on May 11, 2008 at 9:59 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
ToTheBeachWeGo: Good point & I agree with that furthermore, comming to a kid's party wearing a mini skirt & a halter top along with drinking a wine cooler I don't know about you but if that doesn't raise a red flag I don't what does. Teachers do need to held up to a high standard I agree with that also & it's teacher's like her that give the profession a bad rap wouldn't you agree?
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Posted by ( gillnetter ) on May 11, 2008 at 10:07 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
Now go back to where you came from
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Posted by ( BBro ) on May 11, 2008 at 10:33 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
Where were these teachers when I was in school???
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Posted by ( mariposa05 ) on May 11, 2008 at 11:43 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
"volunteered with Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Tampa Bay"
Yeah, I bet.
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Posted by ( DennyPCrane ) on May 11, 2008 at 11:55 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
BBro your name says it all. It is sickos like you that egg on people with this type of behavior. Either you are a child or have the mantality of one. >>This whole story shows that pedophiles cannot be cured. There is no known psychotherapy that can help them. That is why we need a law with continuous GPS monitoring of these people for life. They continue their behavior because they do not think it is wrong. If their thinking cannot be changed they will continue their behavior. That is why it is just a matter of time until Debra Lefave commits the crime again and ends up in lockup.
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Posted by ( ceibert ) on May 11, 2008 at 12:52 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Did you ever notice this state is shaped like an uncircumsized penis. That is why we have all the nuts!
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Posted by ( secretroses ) on May 11, 2008 at 1:23 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
She obviously is mentally disturbed and needs help...why does it have to mean she should go to prison?
She is a tragedy!
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Posted by ( reptaddict ) on May 11, 2008 at 1:41 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
To say this lady fell through the cracks is the understatement of the year.
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Posted by ( demum ) on May 11, 2008 at 2:13 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
I guess Mr. Crane has never made a mistake of any kind. Also, he apparently is an expert in the field of Psychology and can predict the future. What a guy! Right.
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Posted by ( mexybug ) on May 11, 2008 at 3:21 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
so she lied on her app, got caught....had repeated diciplinay issues...and rather than be let go, she was transferred to another Middle School. Way to go school board!
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Posted by ( jbsteel ) on May 11, 2008 at 3:26 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
demum you hit the nail on the head. DennyCrane is another cocky, arrogant, clairvoyant LEO. He knows it all. If you don't believe me just ask him.
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Posted by ( life4takin ) on May 11, 2008 at 3:55 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
A word to the wise, there are Older men like myself that can still do a better job then a 14 year old and your not going to go to prison. Give us older guys a try.
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Posted by ( Petey90 ) on May 11, 2008 at 4:16 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Hey VatoLoco..my child goes to East Bay High school and the teachers there use profanity to include the F-word on a daily basis and NOTHING is done to them. In fact, one substitute was discussing his pot useage to the kids.
Public school teachers are the WORST.
Don't think that this kind of behavior by teachers is isolated to this teacher in particular.
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Posted by ( flea ) on May 11, 2008 at 5:10 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
because of the small class room amendment, school administrators are forced to hire whatever is out there. Therefore, we can look forward to many more stories like this in the future.
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Posted by ( ToTheBeachWeGo ) on May 11, 2008 at 5:25 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
ttommiejo, I agree with you. I used to teach in the public schools and there are still lots and lots of wonderful teachers out there. But with the craziness, I actually homeschooled for awhile and now am heading to a christian school where I'll make $10,000 less a year. I do not want my own kids getting an education in that mess.
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Posted by ( Zipnby ) on May 11, 2008 at 6:31 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
You have perverts teaching kids and you have perverts posting here saying it's ok. Can it be controlled?????????????
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Posted by ( alneri ) on May 11, 2008 at 6:48 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Sex with a young person over who you hold a position of authority is wrong and warrants jail time. But enough about Bill Clinton. You liberals must have trouble with these all too frequent events. Everything is for the children and this was a child, but then again the public schools are perfect for everyone's children but yours so they can't be the problem. Maybe we just need more sex education.....
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Posted by ( drdneast ) on May 11, 2008 at 7:05 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Alneri, leave it to a facist conservative to bend the facts. President Clinton was not Moica Lewinsky's boss. She was also 22 or 23 when the affair started. She may hve been younger, but is it a crime now to have sex with a younger "legal" person or shuld we just have sex with prostitues and in bathroom stalls like leaders of the family value party do. Give it a rest, your hatred is showing and that, sir, is not a family or christain value.
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Posted by ( signit4bes ) on May 11, 2008 at 8:23 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Lie on your resume? ....ok here.
Steal from employer? ....that's ok too.
Take a golfclub to your boy's head? ...no worries.
Violate your own restraining order? ...cool.
DUI? ....ha ha ha...move on.
Do a magic trick for the class? ...APPALLING!
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Posted by ( taxhappens ) on May 11, 2008 at 8:54 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Perhaps if the system would seriously punish the females who commit these crimes it would deter others. Stop with the slaps on the wrist for woman and give them some serious jail time. Enough already.
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Posted by ( alneri ) on May 11, 2008 at 8:54 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
drdneast - so you deny that Monica worked directly under Bill Clinton?
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Posted by ( Elijah ) on May 11, 2008 at 8:57 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
signit4bes....
Couldn't have said it any better...I bet she probably offered up her "services" to those review boards at her school.
Something the magic trick guy couldn't do.
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Posted by ( fairplay ) on May 11, 2008 at 9:23 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
175,000 teachers in Fla. Only a few are bad. Try to match those numbers in any other profession. How about the cops, correctional officers, lawyers, politicians, health care, the church. FYI: for some real interesting numbers, check out private day care. This lady is deranged. She needs time in a mental health institute.
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Posted by ( wheredotheyfindthem ) on May 11, 2008 at 9:43 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Just like the Catholic Church did with all the priests they got complaints on, they just moved her around to avoid any confrontation and look who suffers because of it? The kids. SHAME ON YOU!!!
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Posted by ( mcox567 ) on May 11, 2008 at 9:53 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
"volunteered with Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Tampa Bay"
mostly the Big Brothers, I'd reckon.
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Posted by ( fairplay ) on May 11, 2008 at 10:45 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
wheredotheyfindthem: you missed the point. The school system played a major role in having her arrested (unlike the church). What do you mean, shame on me? What have I got to do with anything. I suggested she needs to be in a mental institute. What's your problem? Did I touch a nerve somewhere?
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Posted by ( elizabeth1977 ) on May 12, 2008 at 1:32 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
With all her elaborate storytelling she sounds like that character on SNL that has to one-up everyone she talks to. Seriously, this girl sounds like something out of a tv show. She definitely needs some help.
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Posted by ( fairplay ) on May 12, 2008 at 5 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
with a name like "wheredotheyfindthem" it's obvious you have an agenda beyond the teacher in this article. Your prejudice is apparent (no not race, you idiot). My point was that with only a few of the 175,000 teachers acting in criminal ways, the system does a pretty good job of filtering out the bad ones. You, however, are ready to condemn everything for the sake of a few. What are you harboring?
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Posted by ( DaddyLutz ) on May 12, 2008 at 7:21 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
TBO pulls the ol' bait and switch. This article is hardly about her past turmoil. Especially since besides the ag. bat. and dui everything else has been said before.
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Posted by ( scootertoo ) on May 12, 2008 at 8:04 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
Does this mean the school system can be sued like the churches were for knowing about a 'problem' with the help and just shuffling them to another location, ignoring it or covering it up? If so, get out your wallets taxpayers,the lawyers' kids need a new set of wheels.
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Posted by ( Hairs ) on May 12, 2008 at 10:20 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
Ive met a few of these people in my time; people who are always telling fantastic stories about themselves and their lives. There's something really pathetic about someone who's own life is so meaningless that they have to create an entire fiction just to make people like them or pay attention to them. This lady is a mess and I find it hard to believe that no one in the system saw the potential problems with her. Giving them the benefit of the doubt, I guess hindsight really is 20/20.
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Posted by ( Cristy12 ) on May 12, 2008 at 11:36 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
Anyone else hear 97x this morning? Apparently the 15 y/o boy is a retarded mexican.
Anyways, enough of this story! Put her in jail and let that be the end of it.
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Posted by ( bossimareek ) on May 12, 2008 at 1:05 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
she would be having a family with someone the kids will think is there older brother and she has to sit them down and tell them no honey he is your dad i have a fetish for kids and your friends are not allowed over because people are scared i will have a sexual
relationship with them and that is bad
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Posted by ( demum ) on May 12, 2008 at 3:04 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Make that "blind retarded Mexican" if he wanted to bang her.
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Posted by ( alneri ) on May 12, 2008 at 10:03 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
I think the Tampa Trib should explain why they hired this woman without a background check. They are rather vague on when she wrote the article but it appears it was after she first started to exhibit problems. Clearly the Trib is not doing an adequate job of screening their writers which could lead to biased and inaccurate articles. Ooops, too late.
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