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 The Patriot Ledger |
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Teacher charged with forging certificate: Sharon man, 45, taught science at high school By ELENI HIMARAS SHARON - A former science teacher at Sharon High School is facing charges that he used a forged teaching certificate to get his job, prosecutors said yesterday. Stephen Lombardi of Sharon pleaded innocent yesterday in Dedham Superior Court to charges of larceny and uttering a forged document. The larceny charge stems from the more than $29,000 Lombardi earned while working at the school from the summer of 2003 to that December, according to a statement from Attorney General Thomas Reilly. Lombardi, 45, obtained the job in the summer of 2003 after providing a resumé, a teaching certificate and letters of reference as part of school department requirements, the statement indicated. In December 2003, the school found a problem with the certificate and contacted the Department of Education, which said the certificate appeared to be an altered document issued to someone else, Reilly’s office said. Lombardi previously worked as a teacher at the former Boston High School, now a part of the Danvers Public School Department. Investigators found that while he did not claim to be certified to obtain that job, he told the school he was in the process of obtaining a certificate. They also found that Lombardi took some tests to become certified and had failed the science test twice. On ratemyteachers.com, a Web site where students and parents can comment on teachers, he received all high marks from his students, including one posted in June 2005 calling for his return. If convicted he will face up to five years for larceny and up to 10 years for the forged document. Under Massachusetts law, no one is eligible to be a teacher without certification. Sharon High School Science Department coordinator Joan LaCroix refused comment, as did Amy Gruber, Sharon Parent-Teacher Student Organization co-chairman. School Superintendent Claire Jackson could not be reached for comment. Patriot Ledger reporter Stephen Babcock contributed to this report. Eleni Himaras may be reached at ehimaras@ledger.com . Copyright 2006 The Patriot Ledger |
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