Helen Tobia, a tenured supervisor and longtime employee of the Lakewood School District who faced a slew of charges following her suspension, was fired from the district, TLS has learned.
Tobia, who has been serving in the district since 1995, has served in the capacity of assistant principal, supervisor of special education, supervisor of social studies among others. She became tenured in the district in 1998, and current serves as Supervisor of Pupil Personnel Services, documents show. She was suspended in August, and in September, she was charged with a slew of charges, including perjury and more.
The announcement about her firing came this morning in an approximately 150-page document from the arbitration.
Since 2006, Tobia’s responsibilities primarily involved oversight of the district’s special education program.
“During her Supervisor of Pupil Personnel Services, Tobia has engaged in various actions, which among other things, are illegal, and/or highly improper, fail to meet her performance responsibilities, place the district in negative light, expose the district and its employees to significant to legal and financial liability, and have the potential to negatively impact the educational program provided to the districts special education students,” court documents read.
The charges were filed by State Monitor Michael Azzara, who states, “I hereby charge Helen Tobia, a tenured supervispr employed by the board, with unbecoming conduct, inefficiency, and/or other just cause warranting dismissal.”
According to court documents, Tobia was charged with perjury, willfully violating various state and federal special educations regulations, directing that a student be found ineligible for special education services even prior to the Child Study Team evaluation of the student, making unilateral student placement decisions, failing to work with district representatives and legal counsel, and violating district policies, among other charges.
In one particular incident, the charges allege, the parents of a student enlisted in the Special Children’s Center filed for a “stay put” order to maintain the child’s placement in the school, to which Tobia allegedly opposed. In opposition to the petition for due process, Tobia provided false testimony in an affidavit, claiming the “SCC (Special Children’s Center) has religious symbols and icons present in and around the building.” The Board then prepared that affidavit based on her statements under oath.
During the court proceedings, the judge referenced the statement by Tobia that the school contained religious imagery, and questioned if the school is sectarian.
But later, Tobia admitted that she had never seen any religious images on the walls, and that she could not attest to the affidavit being true, according to the charges.
“By her actions, Tobia lied under oath in a litigation matter involving the school district, or, at best, misrepresented facts to the court while under oath, placed the district at risk of liability and misled Judge Kerins in her analysis of the issues related to M.W’s request for emergent relief,” the documents stated.
These actions, the charges allege, “placed both the student and the district at risk, and undermined the district’s creditability and constitute gross misconduct, conduct unbecoming a teaching staff member, and/or other just cause requiring dismissal.”
A total of 18 charges were filed against Tobia, according to earlier documents, and the case went to an arbitrator who after testimony upheld the District’s suspension.
“The Tenure charges brought by the Lakewood Township School District are sustained, with respondent terminated from her tenured position as supervisor of social studies, fine arts, and pupil personnel services,” court documents obtained by TLS read.
The Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office tells TLS that should the district wish to pursue charges, it would be handled by the State.
[TLS]
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Where is the decision available?
Good riddance. I never liked her. She was always unprofessional and condescending towards me. I tried so hard to work with her but she was just too nasty for me.
Good riddance!!! Now maybe the district can concentrate on the needy children…not the abusers of justice!
All is well that ends well.
Tenure rules are silly. It takes years to fire someone. Thank you unions.
I don’t believe she was acting on her own, not in the Lakewood district, waiting to see who else will get charged/fired….
This just the very beginning. There are many more to come. Lakewood BOE is full of corruption. Just everyone is afraid to talk.
Putting the busing debacle aside…this event would never have happened without Mike Azzara. Thank you Mr. Azarra for doing the right thing.
Is she still sitting on a fat pension and benefits even though she was fired or does she have to be indicted to lose those benefits ?
What a Shame that Getting rid of a crooked “tenured” Person, qualifies as NEWS. This should Be standard.
Yes, we are all suffering from the public worker union’s advocating for “WORKING PEOPLE”.
Working People, My Foot !
Azara deserves credit where credit is do, so we are grateful for that. I only hope he finishes the job with locking her up for a couple of thousand year and put out of circulation from civilized people!
Who was allowing Helen all this freedom??? She is a public official empowered by the superintendent. The superintendent gave Helen the unofficial status of “assistant superintendent” Helen got away with so much over the years blaming others, firing teachers and staff that questioned her, and overall bullying of the entire district. So many upstanding administrators came and left the district because they would not stand for her lies and bullying tactics. Let her blame others. Justice has been served.
Rumor has it that the “State” may be reading these comments.
Good riddance. While I was in elementary she was the worst. She always yelled at me and at my brother. I’m glad they fired her. Karma finally reached destiny.
I too want to that those who got rid of a unhealthy person who abused her power. It seems from reading the articles- it was Mr Azzara who stood up and It is very appreciated and admired. Lakewood is a unique community with complex needs for our special needs students. I am hopeful the new administrator-mRaymond Dorso will work together with us to place children where they will learn best
Good Riddance. She was a nasty bully. Did whatever she wanted, was above the law and answered to no one. And that’s putting it mildly.
All ways good to do housecleaning. Its about time. Now we will see who all the other loosers are. What a waste of tax payers money.
She was the worst my wife would come home from school crying everyday.Laura winters should be next. They where best friends in and out of work they need to go back a few superintendents and start there to find out how she got all her power. Funny most people actually like there jobs now that she is gone. Good job by the state now if the fbi would just finish and start locking people up we may be able to at least make the public schools in lakewood great. I think they are on the right track for now. Best thing is having state in there
Why did it take so ong to get rid of her? why are you dragging your feet? Get the rest of them out and maybe the system will work. Winters you should be next and get the others too. and don’t give them big pensions for doing wrong>>>>>>