Thursday, February 10, 2000
Champion coach quits over bogus certifcate
BY MICHAEL D. CLARK and SUE KIESEWETTER
The Cincinnati Enquirer
MONROE — The varsity girls basketball coach at Lemon-Monroe High School resigned Wednesday, after earlier losing his Madison Junior School teaching job because he had used a bogus state certificate.
Greg D. Brown's resignation came two days after his team clinched a Mid-Miami League division title with an overtime victory at Franklin. A veteran assistant coach will take over the Monroe team for its remaining regular season games and the state tournament.
Mr. Brown, 32, could face criminal charges, officials said. The Madison Junior School social studies teacher resigned his teaching job Friday.
The timing was coincidental, officials said, following a routine check by the Ohio Department of Education.
Madison Superintendent William Caudill said the state education department informed Madison school officials last Thursdaythat Mr. Brown did not have a teaching certificate. Each year, the district sends the names of its teachers along with other information to the state through the Education Management In formation System. That information was submitted in October, Mr. Caudill said.
Confronted Friday, Mr. Brown resigned from his teaching position, as well as assistant Madison High School football coach and Madison Junior School track coach.
“What he gave us looks like a certificate,” Mr. Caudill said. “It was a four-year provisional certificate for 1996-2000. We had no reason to check. He must have had another certificate and changed the names and information. I've been in this business for 42 years, and it's the first time I've seen this.”
Mr. Caudill said that Mr. Brown is a Miami University graduate with a degree in teaching. But he apparently did not pass one section of the National Teachers Exam, which is needed for certification.
Mr. Brown did not come to the door of his Trenton residence in the 400 block of Park Drive on Wednesday nor return phone messages seeking his comments.
Before coming to the Madison as a teacher, Mr. Brown, an Edgewood High School graduate, taught in the Middletown/Monroe district under a two-year temporary certificate and then a substitute-teaching certificate, Mr. Cau dill said.
Middletown/Monroe Superintendent Wayne Driscoll confirmed that Mr. Brown had been a substitute teacher in the 1998-99 school year and had been involved in the Jobs for Ohio Graduates program. That program does not require a teaching certificate. It helps seniors at risk for failure to find jobs and improve their academics.
“We as a school district are dedicated to providing our students with the most highly skilled teachers and coaches who have a high level of integrity and the ability to be positive role models,” Mr. Driscoll said.
“We're accepting his resignation in the best interest of our students. I have confidence they will continue to compete at the same level and go even further. This is an unfortunate situation and in no way should take away from the achievement of the girls. It's been their achievement. Their dribbling. Their shooting.”
Assistant coach Mary Jo Gephart, who has coached many of the girls since they were at Verity Middle School, will take over, Mr. Driscoll said. Mr. Brown was in his fourth year as the varsity girls coach.
Sara Flannery, a freshman at Lemon-Monroe High School, said she and other students were disappointed to hear that Mr. Brown allegedly lied about his credentials.
“He should not have done it. The girls team would still have a good coach if he hadn't lied,” said Sara. “Teachers are supposed to be role models in life.”
Brad Kraemer, spokesman for the Butler County sheriff's office, said deputies are investigating whether to charge Mr. Brown with any criminal offenses. Mr. Caudill said the district had been in contact with its lawyers to see whether it could recoup any wages or money spent on benefits paid to Mr. Brown.
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