Navy ES Principal Arrested

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Mr. Coch’s mugshot is embarrassing. There is no way he can return to the Navy community.

He can't the reputation is ruined and what kind of message does it send to impressionable 5th and 6th graders who will find out. I hope he gets help and he will get a new chance somewhere else.

I don't think he should return to his job but I don't know how many parents have told their child that their Principal is gone because he was driving drunk and crashed into a house. Honestly, I am not sure that my fifth grader would realize he had a new Principal if his current Principal was replaced. I don't know that he would notice. The kdis are notlikely to know the Principal is gone. If they do notice, you can say that he left for personal reasons. There is no need to tell them that he was arrested for driving drunk.

Parents will know, and that is a different story, but the kids could probably care less.

The student's know and miss him. They know because he knew each student by name and greeted him. He was kind, sensitive , a daily pressence in the lives of students. I have told my students the details. They are sad, compassionate and dissapointed that he left the scene. This has led to wonderful conversation that alcoholism is a disease no different than cancer or diabetes and that we pray that he gets well. Although we recognize why remaining Principal may not e appropriate at present we welcome him back to our lives as an educator when he is well.

Why would you insert your personal opinion to your class like that? Do you realize that not all Navy families feel this way?

Also not appropriate for the class to “pray that he gets well.”

+1 teacher is making a lot of assumptions about his alcoholism as well. I thought this was simply a birthday lunch that got out of hand?!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How many of you would be ok with losing your job for dwi offense? If he gets help and deals with the penalty, I think it's possible he could come back from this. Just as you would want the opportunity to get better and redeem yourself.

Of course no one is okay with losing their job. But he decided to gamble with that when he got behind the wheel of a car plastered. His actions have consequences. I’m also guessing that the people whose house got hit were not okay with that happening to them.

He is more than welcome to get another job somewhere else as a teacher or administrator. But it can’t be at Navy or even FCPS. Here we are discussing it all over a forum that is read by thousands of people. It is easily found with a quick Google. There’s no way he could be effective in this role again at Navy because somewhere out in the community there will be staff and families that don’t trust him. This job is predicated on trust. There would be too many potential distractions for him to do his job effectively. He doesn’t have to like that. But at the end of the day, this is a situation he created.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How many of you would be ok with losing your job for dwi offense? If he gets help and deals with the penalty, I think it's possible he could come back from this. Just as you would want the opportunity to get better and redeem yourself.

A lot of people in this area would lose their job and their security clearances over a DWI. I have known people who received other then honorable discharges from the military for their first DWI. Those are not as bad as a dishonorable discharge but can impact their ability to use benefits. I know people who lost their clearances, which means they lost their job and prevented them from applying for great paying jobs in the future.

There are jobs that require that you show good judgement and make good decisions. If you screw up, like driving drunk, you are screwed. I would expect that a Principal would be aware of the fact that a DWI would most likely cost them their job.

DWI's are not a simple mistake. DWI's can kill people. You are risking the lives and property of others. It is a huge lapse in judgement. Just because many people have driven impaired or drunk and not been arrested doesn't mean that it is acceptable or ok.

I don't know this persons history. Maybe it was a one time mistake. Maybe he has a drinking problem. I have no clue. But I think it is a huge lapse of judgement and I think that his removal is appropriate. I am sure he will be able to be hired in a different school system in a similar position. He will be able to discuss what happened and how he has changed so it doesn't happen again but I don't think it is wrong to remove him from his position at Navy.

All of the people I know who have had DWIs have been able to find other jobs and move on with their lives. Part of the reason why many of those people did not have a second DWI was because the overall cost of the DWI was huge. Between insurance increases, lawyer fees, and needing to find a new job the penalty was enough to make them a whole hell of a lot more careful and use a taxi. I did know one person who ended up being jailed after their 4th offense for the lesson to sink in.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How many of you would be ok with losing your job for dwi offense? If he gets help and deals with the penalty, I think it's possible he could come back from this. Just as you would want the opportunity to get better and redeem yourself.

A lot of people in this area would lose their job and their security clearances over a DWI. I have known people who received other then honorable discharges from the military for their first DWI. Those are not as bad as a dishonorable discharge but can impact their ability to use benefits. I know people who lost their clearances, which means they lost their job and prevented them from applying for great paying jobs in the future.

There are jobs that require that you show good judgement and make good decisions. If you screw up, like driving drunk, you are screwed. I would expect that a Principal would be aware of the fact that a DWI would most likely cost them their job.

DWI's are not a simple mistake. DWI's can kill people. You are risking the lives and property of others. It is a huge lapse in judgement. Just because many people have driven impaired or drunk and not been arrested doesn't mean that it is acceptable or ok.

I don't know this persons history. Maybe it was a one time mistake. Maybe he has a drinking problem. I have no clue. But I think it is a huge lapse of judgement and I think that his removal is appropriate. I am sure he will be able to be hired in a different school system in a similar position. He will be able to discuss what happened and how he has changed so it doesn't happen again but I don't think it is wrong to remove him from his position at Navy.

All of the people I know who have had DWIs have been able to find other jobs and move on with their lives. Part of the reason why many of those people did not have a second DWI was because the overall cost of the DWI was huge. Between insurance increases, lawyer fees, and needing to find a new job the penalty was enough to make them a whole hell of a lot more careful and use a taxi. I did know one person who ended up being jailed after their 4th offense for the lesson to sink in.

+1 to all of this. So well put and articulates some of what I’ve had trouble putting into words with this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How many of you would be ok with losing your job for dwi offense? If he gets help and deals with the penalty, I think it's possible he could come back from this. Just as you would want the opportunity to get better and redeem yourself.

A lot of people in this area would lose their job and their security clearances over a DWI. I have known people who received other then honorable discharges from the military for their first DWI. Those are not as bad as a dishonorable discharge but can impact their ability to use benefits. I know people who lost their clearances, which means they lost their job and prevented them from applying for great paying jobs in the future.

There are jobs that require that you show good judgement and make good decisions. If you screw up, like driving drunk, you are screwed. I would expect that a Principal would be aware of the fact that a DWI would most likely cost them their job.

DWI's are not a simple mistake. DWI's can kill people. You are risking the lives and property of others. It is a huge lapse in judgement. Just because many people have driven impaired or drunk and not been arrested doesn't mean that it is acceptable or ok.

I don't know this persons history. Maybe it was a one time mistake. Maybe he has a drinking problem. I have no clue. But I think it is a huge lapse of judgement and I think that his removal is appropriate. I am sure he will be able to be hired in a different school system in a similar position. He will be able to discuss what happened and how he has changed so it doesn't happen again but I don't think it is wrong to remove him from his position at Navy.

All of the people I know who have had DWIs have been able to find other jobs and move on with their lives. Part of the reason why many of those people did not have a second DWI was because the overall cost of the DWI was huge. Between insurance increases, lawyer fees, and needing to find a new job the penalty was enough to make them a whole hell of a lot more careful and use a taxi. I did know one person who ended up being jailed after their 4th offense for the lesson to sink in.

+1 This exactly. The sooner we can all accept this, the easier it will be to move on.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How many of you would be ok with losing your job for dwi offense? If he gets help and deals with the penalty, I think it's possible he could come back from this. Just as you would want the opportunity to get better and redeem yourself.

Of course no one is okay with losing their job. But he decided to gamble with that when he got behind the wheel of a car plastered. His actions have consequences. I’m also guessing that the people whose house got hit were not okay with that happening to them.

He is more than welcome to get another job somewhere else as a teacher or administrator. But it can’t be at Navy or even FCPS. Here we are discussing it all over a forum that is read by thousands of people. It is easily found with a quick Google. There’s no way he could be effective in this role again at Navy because somewhere out in the community there will be staff and families that don’t trust him. This job is predicated on trust. There would be too many potential distractions for him to do his job effectively. He doesn’t have to like that. But at the end of the day, this is a situation he created.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m a Navy parent and feel sorry for what had happened to Mr. Coch. He made mistakes but he was a good principal. Please stop attacking Navy ES.

It didn't happen to HIM it happened because of HIS actions. Lets stop thinking he's a victim in this. No one is attacking Navy, because of HIS actions Navy is in the news and everyone is talking about the school. I see a theme here, HE is the problem not people expressing their opinions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m a Navy parent and feel sorry for what had happened to Mr. Coch. He made mistakes but he was a good principal. Please stop attacking Navy ES.

It didn't happen to HIM it happened because of HIS actions. Lets stop thinking he's a victim in this. No one is attacking Navy, because of HIS actions Navy is in the news and everyone is talking about the school. I see a theme here, HE is the problem not people expressing their opinions.

+1 yes, everyone is like poor Mr. Coch. The reality is that he owes the community an explanation and an apology. He has ruined this school year for everyone.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Gossip away, ladies!!

The parents drove him to drink.

You know it. The FCPS azzhole parents are the pushiest, most obnoxious, triggered shitheads imaginable!!!!
Also, FCPS only hires the SPECIAL ones.

Clearly you've never met any Loudoun parents.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Gossip away, ladies!!

The parents drove him to drink.

You know it. The FCPS azzhole parents are the pushiest, most obnoxious, triggered shitheads imaginable!!!!
Also, FCPS only hires the SPECIAL ones.

Clearly you've never met any Loudoun parents.

+1 have you seen their school board meetings? Absolute circuses.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't understand how people can believe this is a one time thing. This sort of behavior is typically a pattern. This is the one time he got caught.

+1

Exactly. Plenty of people have driven “tipsy” or drunk and never got caught. If they say they’ve NEVER done it, they are lying.

I’ve never driven after drinking in my entire life.

and yet I know so many people who have and still do. I don't drink btw and am umc mom. The crap I've seen at my kids sports practices and games. The thing that always upset me the most is the parents who let their kids be driven by the mom/dad who everyone knows is drinking before and during the events.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How kind of FCPS to give Tochterman second and third chances. Don’t make you a bad person.



RESTON, Va. (WRIC) — A Northern Virginia Assistant Principal was arrested after she was caught stealing from a Target.

According to affiliate WJLA, 47-year-old Melissa Tochterman was arrested and charged with grand larceny. She is listed as an assistant principal at Hunter Woods Elementary School in Reston.

According to police, Tochterman left the Target, located at 12197 Sunset Hills Road, last Thursday with a cart full of unpaid merchandise worth $690. Officers who were called to the scene about a shoplifting case arrested her after reviewing video footage.

A Fairfax County Public Schools spokesperson says that Tochterman has since been placed on leave following the arrest.

What second and third chances???? As far as I know, this was the only incident. Are there other reports of her breaking the law? I’m sure we can all agree that theft from a Target is on a different level from driving drunk, hitting a house and driving off.

It is bad enough. $690 worth of Target stuff is a lot. She walked out with a basket without paying. Who the heck does that? That is not trivial.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How kind of FCPS to give Tochterman second and third chances. Don’t make you a bad person.



RESTON, Va. (WRIC) — A Northern Virginia Assistant Principal was arrested after she was caught stealing from a Target.

According to affiliate WJLA, 47-year-old Melissa Tochterman was arrested and charged with grand larceny. She is listed as an assistant principal at Hunter Woods Elementary School in Reston.

According to police, Tochterman left the Target, located at 12197 Sunset Hills Road, last Thursday with a cart full of unpaid merchandise worth $690. Officers who were called to the scene about a shoplifting case arrested her after reviewing video footage.

A Fairfax County Public Schools spokesperson says that Tochterman has since been placed on leave following the arrest.

What second and third chances???? As far as I know, this was the only incident. Are there other reports of her breaking the law? I’m sure we can all agree that theft from a Target is on a different level from driving drunk, hitting a house and driving off.

It is bad enough. $690 worth of Target stuff is a lot. She walked out with a basket without paying. Who the heck does that? That is not trivial.

She didn’t put anyone’s lives at risk though or damage property above $1,000 (Class 5 felony). And she was moved schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How kind of FCPS to give Tochterman second and third chances. Don’t make you a bad person.



RESTON, Va. (WRIC) — A Northern Virginia Assistant Principal was arrested after she was caught stealing from a Target.

According to affiliate WJLA, 47-year-old Melissa Tochterman was arrested and charged with grand larceny. She is listed as an assistant principal at Hunter Woods Elementary School in Reston.

According to police, Tochterman left the Target, located at 12197 Sunset Hills Road, last Thursday with a cart full of unpaid merchandise worth $690. Officers who were called to the scene about a shoplifting case arrested her after reviewing video footage.

A Fairfax County Public Schools spokesperson says that Tochterman has since been placed on leave following the arrest.

What second and third chances???? As far as I know, this was the only incident. Are there other reports of her breaking the law? I’m sure we can all agree that theft from a Target is on a different level from driving drunk, hitting a house and driving off.

It is bad enough. $690 worth of Target stuff is a lot. She walked out with a basket without paying. Who the heck does that? That is not trivial.

She wasn’t allowed to come back to her school. I imagine the same will apply to Mr. Coch.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Mr. Coch’s mugshot is embarrassing. There is no way he can return to the Navy community.

He can't the reputation is ruined and what kind of message does it send to impressionable 5th and 6th graders who will find out. I hope he gets help and he will get a new chance somewhere else.

I don't think he should return to his job but I don't know how many parents have told their child that their Principal is gone because he was driving drunk and crashed into a house. Honestly, I am not sure that my fifth grader would realize he had a new Principal if his current Principal was replaced. I don't know that he would notice. The kdis are notlikely to know the Principal is gone. If they do notice, you can say that he left for personal reasons. There is no need to tell them that he was arrested for driving drunk.

Parents will know, and that is a different story, but the kids could probably care less.

The student's know and miss him. They know because he knew each student by name and greeted him. He was kind, sensitive , a daily pressence in the lives of students. I have told my students the details. They are sad, compassionate and dissapointed that he left the scene. This has led to wonderful conversation that alcoholism is a disease no different than cancer or diabetes and that we pray that he gets well. Although we recognize why remaining Principal may not e appropriate at present we welcome him back to our lives as an educator when he is well.

You lied to your children and told them he is an alcoholic? Wow. I would have had a conversation with my children about someone making bad decisions and choices and the consequences that something like that can lead to. That seems a little more appropriate than making things up like you did.