Ferris High teacher resigns

A Ferris High School teacher resigned from his social studies and history teaching job this month after district officials discovered he sent at least six love notes to a girl and they had engaged in a sexual relationship last school year.

But Sayeed X will continue to earn a salary for another seven months under an agreement reached between the teacher and the district.

In his notes to the girl, X thanked God for bringing them together and referred to her as his “present and future wife,” according to an investigation into the relationship. In another note, he wrote to compliment the girl – now a high school junior – on her shirt and wonder if she was sexually aroused in his class.

X was placed on leave when a teacher who discovered the notes reported the situation to school officials. X resigned on Feb. 7, with the condition that his salary continue until his contract ends Aug. 31. He agreed not to pursue claims against the district.The incident will not show up in his June 2005 evaluation because of his resignation, according to the agreement. He agreed to not apply for any future jobs in the district.

X could not be reached for comment.

District officials have reported the situation to the Spokane Police Department and state Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction.

This was the second year X had taught at Ferris, said Barb Wright, Spokane Public Schools assistant superintendent for human resources, who investigated the situation.

The day after X resigned, Spokane Public Schools Superintendent Brian Benzel notified the OSPI, which will determine whether X will retain his teaching certificate.

“When we get complaints of this nature, we take them seriously. We placed Sayeed on leave and commenced an investigation. I think our actions speak to how seriously we take it,” Benzel said.

The agreement between X and the district ends a potential dispute that could have stretched for two years if X had fought to keep his job, Benzel said. During due process disputes, a teacher is paid full salary until the matter is concluded.

The agreement to let X resign likely saved tens of thousands of dollars, Benzel said.

X was a popular teacher who was known among students as being flirty with girls and generous with hugs, according to Wright’s notes from interviews with seven people.

The first note X sent to the girl was last year, according to the investigation. They often had long talks and friends noticed a lot of hugs and interactions between the two. He gave her gifts, such as a book and jewelry, and gave her specific times to call him at home.

He never called her at home or on her cellular phone and they never went anywhere together, the girl told Wright.

At first, talking to X was like talking to a counselor, the girl told Wright. Then their hugs escalated into his kissing her and touching her body, the girl reported. X masturbated in front of her in school, according to the investigation notes.

She performed oral sex on him twice in the school before spring break, the investigation found.

After spring break, he stopped speaking with her, the girl told Wright. On the last day of school, she told him “to burn in hell.”

As this year started, the girl said X kept commenting on her body. Her friends told Wright that she wanted the comments to stop, but the girl didn’t know how to confront her former teacher.

“She didn’t know how to say no. She was tired of it,” one student told Wright.

Students told P.E. teacher Linda Bushinski, who was shown copies of the love notes. Bushinski explained to students that she had to report the situation.

X helped coach last year, said boys basketball coach Barry Olson.

“He was a very nice young man who had a great relationship with kids and worked well with them,” Olson said.