Toms River Mayor Daniel Rodrick Suspended from Teaching Job Amid Student Complaints!

Toms River Mayor Daniel Rodrick has been suspended from his teaching position at Thorne Middle School in Middletown, a job he has held since 2002.

The suspension, effective December 20, was announced after students complained to their guidance counselor, asking to be removed from his class.

The document titled “Tenure charges and a sworn statement of evidence” revealed that these complaints were unusual, leading the school administration to investigate further.

Allegations Against Mayor Rodrick

The investigation highlighted several issues related to Rodrick’s conduct during instructional time.

One of the main complaints was his use of personal and school phones for non-school-related calls during class hours.

Students reported that he made personal calls on both his cell phone and the hardwired school phone on his desk. Call logs confirmed that these calls were not related to school matters.

Email and Phone Activity During Class Hours

Rodrick was also accused of sending emails and making phone calls during his teaching hours.

The Board of Education (BOE) reported that he sent 11 emails using his Middletown email address during instructional time in January and February 2024.

Additionally, he made seven calls using the school phone between January and April 2024, none of which were related to his teaching duties.

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Issues with Grading and Lesson Planning

The investigation further revealed complaints from parents about Rodrick’s grading practices. Parents accused him of entering grades late, an allegation he initially denied. However, computer records contradicted his claims.

The BOE also pointed out that Rodrick failed to prepare lesson plans on time, did not attend faculty meetings, and did not respond to parents’ questions about grades.

Political Context and Rodrick’s Response

Both Mayor Rodrick and the leadership of the Monmouth County school board are Republicans.

Rodrick denied all allegations when speaking to New Jersey 101.5 but refused to discuss the details on the record. He stated that his attorney was preparing a lawsuit in response to the suspension.

Reference

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