Antioch Teacher Accused Of Grade Tampering Resigns

ANTIOCH, Ill. (STMW) -- A north suburban high school teacher accused of changing student grades submitted a letter of resignation, effective immediately, according to school officials.

Sara Glashagel, 27, was placed on administrative leave Tuesday, according to Community School District 117 co-superintendent Michael Nekritz.

And on Wednesday, the district received a letter of resignation from Glashagel, wife of Antioch Community High School head football coach Brian Glashagel, a posting on the district websire said. It said the resignation was effective immediately and she is "no longer an employee" of the district.

Glashagel, of Elk Grove Village, was charged last week with computer tampering, a Class A misdemeanor, for allegedly changing the grades of several students, most of whom where student athletes, Nekritz said. She was a special education teacher in the district.

The incident in question happened about six weeks ago, he said. The school ensured the affected students' grades were corrected and no ineligible students played sports. School personnel locked down the technology right away to ensure permanent grades were not affected, Nekritz said.

"The good news is that our technology worked. We were able to see where and when the grades were changed," Nekritz said. All teachers have changed their passwords into the school's system and their grade books.

No other private information was accessed and the district contacted the Illinois High School Association, which oversees prep sports, to inform them of the tampering and that the changed grades had been corrected. The IHSA said no further investigation was warranted.

The school said Glashagel was traced through an Internet Protocol address. She was allegedly tampering with grades remotely, Nekritz said.

Nekritz said Glashagel was placed on administrative leave as soon as the district received the police report.

School officials contacted Antioch police on Sept. 27 to report that grades in teachers' electronic grade books had been altered without their knowledge. Police said Glashagel admitted making the changes.

She faces up to one year in jail and/or fines up to $2,500 if convicted. She is next due in court in Waukegan on Dec. 9.

In the announcement of her resignation, the district wrote, "The entire staff of the district is focusing all of our efforts on the education of our students. We look forward to continuing a positive school year."

(Source: Sun-Times Media Wire © Chicago Sun-Times 2010. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)