Antioch High teacher in grade scandal quits
The Antioch Community High School teacher at the center of a grade-changing scandal quit her job Friday morning, officials said.
Sara Glashagel submitted a letter of resignation that was effective immediately, according to a news release on the Antioch-Lake Villa Area High School District 117 website.
“The entire staff of the district is committed to focusing all of our efforts on the education of our students,” the statement reads. “We look forward to continuing a positive school year.”
District schools were closed Wednesday for the Thanksgiving holiday.
“I have nothing else to add to this unfortunate situation at this point in time,” school board president Wayne Sobczak said.
Mike Nekritz, District 117 co-superintendent, confirmed Glashagel was no longer a district employee, but did not say whether she would have been fired.
“Obviously, the board would have had a lot to talk about at the next meeting,” he said.
Details of Glashagel's resignation letter were not available and she did not return a call for comment. She was still listed Wednesday afternoon on the district website as a special-education teacher at Antioch High School. She had been a teacher there for five years.
Glashagel, 27, of Elk Grove Village, was charged Nov. 18 with a single count of computer tampering. Authorities said she changed 240 grades involving 64 students between Sept. 15 and 21.
She is free on a $1,000 bond and is due in court Dec. 9. She faces a year in jail if found guilty of the misdemeanor charge.
Forty-one students whose grades were changed were football players, Antioch police officials have said.
Glashagel's husband is head football coach Brian Glashagel. He has denied any knowledge of grade changing.
District 117 officials have said the grade changes were discovered and corrected before the eligibility status of any student athletes could be affected. The Illinois High School Association has been assured that no academically ineligible players participated in any athletic contests.
District officials say Sara Glashagel inflated grades, then changed them back in most cases. The police and school district said they were confident no one else was involved in changing the grades.
Sara Glashagel has said the situation is a “misconception that has spiraled out of control.”
Police said they've completed their investigation of the case.
“Now it's just a matter of going through the courts,” Antioch Deputy Police Chief Daryl Youngs said Wednesday.
Nekritz said the district's computer systems are secure and the investigation was complete barring new information.
“Obviously, it's been a difficult time. Everybody's a little upset, even some anger,” he added.