It is unclear exactly what Beauvoir knew beforehand. They don't admit to that much, but there were some things parents heard like Mr. Toth was told not to have his door closed, or kids in his lap, for example. Not sure if this is true, or if this applied to all teachers or were specific instructions/reminders for him. By the way he continued to do both anyway.

They also knew he was there late at night. I doubt they knew for sure he was living there but some people had to suspect. Why on earth would a 3rd grade teacher pull all nighters there all the time? It is hindsight but many of the parents suspected too. They have security cameras, and could see the comings and goings and therefore it would have been easy to see he never left.

Sadly their security on information was not as tight as it was certainly breached by him. He probably read all the files of all the kids, and he often conveyed information which he should have had no way of knowing. Another red flag.

There are many other stories -- like teachers seeing him in the woods alone with kids, running down the hallway chasing kids, and the pieces of the puzzle only coming together in hindsight. He was a highly requested teacher and though most thought him strange, he was still sought after as a teacher. Parents and staff saw him rubbing backs, legs, putting kids in his lap (kids too big to be in a grown man's lap), etc. but he always had a good excuse for what he was doing (there late because he took medication and did not feel safe driving home) and it was strange to "tell on him."

There were other red flags too, like supposedly he never went to faculty meetings. He worked for way way too many families as a tutor or as a weekend babysitter. This is inappropriate, espeically when current families. Supposedly a a year or two before he was caught, he had an unnatural reaction to a particularly favorite student graduating where he weeped openly. Stuff like that should have set off warning bells.

I doubt anyone could have known about the surveillance cameras he set up or what his sexual predilections were. But there were other things they should have known, and should have disclosed.

Anonymous wrote:I think the difference with the Sidwell teacher vs. Beauvior is probably in how the school learned about the abuse. With Beauvior, they found out through a camera at school. As far as I know, they were not alerted to any abuse from the harmed families, the police, etc. Contrast with Sidwell and chances are, the school was notified by either the family or by the police. I think Beauvior just was taken completely off guard and how no idea what to do. Hindsight is 20/20 and we now know that they did not act in the best manner.

Sidwell is a completely different scenario and did what I think any other organization would have done - immediately barred the teacher from going on school property and teaching as soon as allegations were made, but - b/c he hadn't even been charged yet - it would have been hard for them to flat out fire him at that time. Not sure how else they could have handled it.

Oh gawd, now i'm borderline "sock puppeting" I was writing the above post when the SFS parent shared the school never asked parents not to ask on this board (which had surfaced earlier this week - but now clearly another rumor). I appreciate the parent's clarification in setting the record straight.

Anonymous wrote:It sounds like you're suggesting that Sidwell parents were complicit in covering this up, in order to protect the image of the school. I certainly hope that was not the case, because child abuse should never be covered up. Does anyone have anyone info on this?

I am the PP and I actually feel that nothing good comes from gossip. I was not insinuating the Sidwell parents were complicit. I just feel as the investigation unfolds, for the protection of the child(ren) who were been abused, it's in the not in the best interest of the school community for current parents to post about such a serious matter on an anonymous board. This inevitably leads to gossip/rumours and just make the tragedy worse. I'm sure there were "red flags" which are easier to detect 20/20 hindsight but not so obvious when no one was looking for them. As much as a part of me wants to know the details, in my heart of hearts I know it really is none of my business. This is not about a "cover up", but rather about letting the school heal & grieve together privately without the judgement of anonymous posters who may have alterior motives. Someone posted a few days ago on this board that this year the Sidwell adminstration asked parents not to post on DCUM, perhaps they were setting boundaries during the calm before the storm period, but that's just my gut. I honestly think it is valid to keep personal details related this matter as private as possible due to the extremely sensitive nature. For the sake of the students & parents who have been personally affected. Let's pray for their community and trust the administrators are doing their very best to get to the bottom of the heinous allegations which may run deep, while provide emotional stability and counseling to the community so it can ultimately heal.

What were the red flags before finding the camera in the Toth case? I am curious and not a sfs or beauvior parent.

I'm a Sidwell parent, with a child who could have been (but was not) affected. Sidwell has never asked parents not to post on any board, on this or any subject. I have no clue how such a rumor got started. For my part, I haven't posted before because there was nothing to say! All of the details which are known to the parents are public; anything else is pure speculation.

It sounds like you're suggesting that Sidwell parents were complicit in covering this up, in order to protect the image of the school. I certainly hope that was not the case, because child abuse should never be covered up. Does anyone have anyone info on this?

I think the difference with the Sidwell teacher vs. Beauvior is probably in how the school learned about the abuse. With Beauvior, they found out through a camera at school. As far as I know, they were not alerted to any abuse from the harmed families, the police, etc. Contrast with Sidwell and chances are, the school was notified by either the family or by the police. I think Beauvior just was taken completely off guard and how no idea what to do. Hindsight is 20/20 and we now know that they did not act in the best manner.
Sidwell is a completely different scenario and did what I think any other organization would have done - immediately barred the teacher from going on school property and teaching as soon as allegations were made, but - b/c he hadn't even been charged yet - it would have been hard for them to flat out fire him at that time. Not sure how else they could have handled it.

Anonymous wrote:I agree with the poster about Sidwell v. Beauvior scandals: Beauvior I think was caught more off guard, finding out accidentally and did not see obvious red flags (was that Toth person really living in the classroom). Sidwell was notified by the poilice which makes the situation easier to deal with (at least more cut and dry). both situations are awful and I feel for the school communities. We are a Maret family and it would break my heart to have this happen in my child's classroom.

I am 10:15 and think these posts are much better than they expressed than mine. I also agree poster who succintly pointed out that Toth fleed and Peterson appears to have cooperated with authorities. I hope and pray for the SFS community that other children were not harmed. I realize this is pure speculation, but I cannnot help but wonder if Sidwell adminstrators asked parents not to post on this board in the beginning of this school year because they knew this may be forthcoming and they want to protect the students and understandably possibly for damage control. As a community we need to come together against child abuse in schools.

As a former Beavoir parent who was happy with the school, I was pretty shocked with how they've handled the Toth incident. I am not referring to letting him get away, I don't think they anticipated that and it really is debatable what they should have done in that moment. But when I found out about all the red flags, I assumed the head of the school would have to resign. This was a major, major failure. And if they aren't providing ongoing counseling, well, its just shocking.

Anonymous wrote:Hmm...

Charged in both Montgomery and Queen Anne's counties:

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/dcschools/2010/01/sidwell_teacher_fired.html?hpid=newswell

Well, I guess you get what you pay for...

What is wrong with you??! There was a child who was abused. This is one of the saddest things in the world. This is not an opening for snide remarks about the expense of private school. No one deserves this to happen to them.

Anonymous wrote:mine was a victim (at the other school).

I wish beavoir had:

held him on the grounds
known he was living in the classroom
informed the parents about their initial suspicions
immediately alerted the police
had more supervision of their classrooms
not let teachers into the school at all hours (they changed this)
guarded/secured their files and confidential information
prevented teachers from working/living for/with current students (they changed this too)
hired better assistant teachers (why the assistant teacher never told is still beyond me)
stayed in touch with the affected classes beyond asking them for $ for the auction and annual fund
provided ongoing counseling (for more than one session)
held someone ANYONE accountable for all of this
not waited until the last day of school to find the pictures
contacted the affected families the day it happened and not have waited 5 days and more
refunded our $ for a wasted year

my list could go on...

I'm so sorry and so angry for you, this is just awful.

I agree with the poster about Sidwell v. Beauvior scandals: Beauvior I think was caught more off guard, finding out accidentally and did not see obvious red flags (was that Toth person really living in the classroom). Sidwell was notified by the poilice which makes the situation easier to deal with (at least more cut and dry). both situations are awful and I feel for the school communities. We are a Maret family and it would break my heart to have this happen in my child's classroom.

I think the difference with the Sidwell teacher vs. Beauvior is probably in how the school learned about the abuse. With Beauvior, they found out through a camera at school. As far as I know, they were not alerted to any abuse from the harmed families, the police, etc. Contrast with Sidwell and chances are, the school was notified by either the family or by the police. I think Beauvior just was taken completely off guard and how no idea what to do. Hindsight is 20/20 and we now know that they did not act in the best manner.

Sidwell is a completely different scenario and did what I think any other organization would have done - immediately barred the teacher from going on school property and teaching as soon as allegations were made, but - b/c he hadn't even been charged yet - it would have been hard for them to flat out fire him at that time. Not sure how else they could have handled it.

I am sad for the Sidwell community that this trusted teacher of 30 years has betrayed the community like this. I am aslo sad for the Beauvoir community as well. Both schools are in a no win situation some people will think they did the right thing and others won't. The blame lies with these scum bags who "hunt" for minors. Lets keep in mind that the President's children go to Sidwell, don't you think that the secret service at least checked the backgrounds of the faculty and staff? Even they didn't find anything on that scum bag!

i'm very sorry for your child and your family. i'm saddened that beauvoir hasn't done enough for you.
two things I have wondered about: the division director was reassigned to an invisible admin role and then disappeared. after something like 30 years at beauvoir there was no retirement, no farewell, nothing. was she (quietly) held accountable?
i'd always assumed it was the assistant teacher who found the pictures...it wasn't?

mine was a victim (at the other school).

I wish beavoir had:

held him on the grounds
known he was living in the classroom
informed the parents about their initial suspicions
immediately alerted the police
had more supervision of their classrooms
not let teachers into the school at all hours (they changed this)
guarded/secured their files and confidential information
prevented teachers from working/living for/with current students (they changed this too)
hired better assistant teachers (why the assistant teacher never told is still beyond me)
stayed in touch with the affected classes beyond asking them for $ for the auction and annual fund
provided ongoing counseling (for more than one session)
held someone ANYONE accountable for all of this
not waited until the last day of school to find the pictures
contacted the affected families the day it happened and not have waited 5 days and more
refunded our $ for a wasted year

my list could go on...