Stealing Antidepressants & Anti-Anxiety Med 01/04/2010 Texas Woman Teacher Steals $50.00. Superintendent Said She was Acting Out of Character in Many Ways
Stealing Antidepressants & Anti-Anxiety Med 2010-04-01 Texas Woman Teacher Steals $50.00. Superintendent Said She was Acting Out of Character in Many Ways

http://web.archive.org/web/20130202030410/http://ssristories.com/show.php?item=4098

Summary:

Paragraphs six and seven read:  "Brown said she had prescriptions for several anti-depressant and anxiety medications, which she noted medical documentation points to having been the cause for her behavioral changes and impulsive behavior."

“ 'Again, I own my actions. At work, my supervisor and former superintendent told me that I was acting out of character. I thought I was fine and that everyone else had it out for me,'  Brown said."




http://www.sealynews.com/articles/2010/04/01/news/news03.txt


Suspended SHS coach blames illness for ‘change of character’

By ASHLEY TOMPKINS, Interim Editor & Publisher

A Sealy High School coach who was suspended with pay last month says bouts of depression and anxiety may have played a role in her change of character in recent months.

Roshonda Brown, 36, SHS coach and Selman Elementary physical education teacher, last month was issued a Class C citation for theft by the Sealy Police Department after allegedly taking property valued at less than $50 from Ace Hometown Hardware in Sealy.

She was suspended with pay by the district on March 2.

While saying she owns her actions, Brown said she battled medical conditions in recent months that she feels contributed to her change of character and property theft.

“I want to take full ownership,” Brown said. “Although my record with Sealy ISD and criminally are clean, I have and do make mistakes. It is pertinent to mention that I had been taking several anti-depressant/ anxiety medications in an attempt to calmly deal with life’s stresses.”

Brown said she had prescriptions for several anti-depressant and anxiety medications, which she noted medical documentation points to having been the cause for her behavioral changes and impulsive behavior.

“Again, I own my actions. At work, my supervisor and former superintendent told me that I was acting out of character. I thought I was fine and that everyone else had it out for me,” Brown said.

She said her medical condition has been resolved.

Brown said she has talked with Sealy ISD Interim Superintendent Scott Kana, who stressed to Brown that she has not been fired, but that she could be reassigned.

Kana would not comment on the pending personnel matter.

Brown said she doesn’t plan to leave the district, where she attended school and has taught at for 13 years.

“I love teaching kids. I love the things that they teach me,” she said. “As an educator…I am held at a higher esteem and I am expected to possess standards that are above average. Being a teacher/ coach, it is important that I model how to handle adverse situations. This is not easy for me, but it is necessary. “

Per district policy, Brown did notify the district within 72 hours of being cited. SPD also notified the district, per state law.

This marks the second time this year Brown has been cited for theft.

She received a Class C citation on Jan. 5 after allegedly taking property valued at less than $50 from Dollar General in Sealy, according to police records.

Brown was reprimanded at that time. Both cases are pending before the Sealy Municipal Court.

Brown said her record with the district is in good standing and that she has always met and exceeded evaluations.

“These, along with numerous other positive attributes, prove that I am qualified to educate children,” she said. “I hope my record with the district stands for something. Anyone who has ever seen me with kids knows that I would never hurt children and love teaching and coaching them.”

Brown said she will not apologize for being ill, but does regret bringing “shame to my family, community and the children that I strive to teach.”

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