Stonington — During a Jan. 14, 2019, meeting with school administrators, then-high school teacher and coach Timothy Chokas argued that allegations he was continuing to sexually harass female students were “misinterpretations” and “exaggerations.”

“I guess I could apologize. Or maybe leave it alone and finish class. Move forward," he said in response to a student's complaint during a class. "I enjoy my job and am passionate about what I do. I don’t want this to mess up my reputation. I don’t want to lose my job because someone is uncomfortable.”

In response to a question about a female student who said Chokas backed off from approaching her when she gave him "attitude," Chokas told school administrators, “That student swore at me and I had to move her. A 16-year-old girl telling me how not to flirt with her. Not who I am. I am about honor/integrity. This is heart-breaking. I can see how they might think that," he said.

The meeting, which was also attended by teachers’ union president Michael Freeman and Connecticut Education Association representative Christopher Tiefke, resulted in Chokas being allowed to quietly resign with full pay and benefits through the end of the school year. School board members have said they were not told at the time about why Chokas resigned and learned the details after The Day began publishing a series of stories about his resignation in June 2019.

The Jan. 14, 2019, interview with Chokas came after school officials received a complaint five days earlier from a student who reported Chokas was sexually harassing a classmate.

It was the latest in a string of complaints that Chokas had inappropriately touched and made sexually charged remarks to female students. Documents show that students had made similar complaints dating back to 2013. No complaints or disciplinary action appear in his personnel file. Since The Day revealed the reasons behind Chokas’ resignation, numerous former students have told the newspaper and posted on social media similar concerns about Chokas.

A transcript of the interview was included in documents the school system recently released to The Day after the newspaper filed a Freedom of Information request seeking documents the school system provided to the state Department of Education, which had requested records about Chokas. In January, the DOE launched its own investigation, which is pending, whether to revoke Chokas’ teaching certificate after learning of the allegations against him. Stonington school administrators never sought to revoke his teaching certificate, which meant he could be hired in another community.

School officials did not release this transcript of the meeting with Chokas and several other documents chronicling complaints against the teacher when The Day filed previous FOI requests.

The Jan. 14, 2019, meeting  

The meeting came after a student reported on Jan. 9, 2019, that Chokas was sexually harassing a fellow student. That unidentified female student told Director of Guidance Margo Crowley that on at least four occasions, Chokas would “back up in to me with his butt as he opens the door to the class and that he presses his knee on my thigh while I am sitting.” The girl also said Chokas would tell her to turn her hand over and he would then slap it but not hard. She also told Crowley that Chokas “has been physical with me” and '"helps me longer than is necessary.”

In response to these allegations, Chokas told school administrators during the meeting that sometimes he would sit next to a student and say “move over” to view their screens or may have bumped into or nonchalantly pushed her but he didn’t want “to make awkward moments.”

“I find the statements shocking — action not meant to be flirtatious — not my way,” Chokas stated in the transcript of the meeting.

Chokas said that reports he backed into the students with his buttocks was “a joking way I tell them to get out of the way. Never intend to make people feel awkward — ever.”

As for telling the girl “You have really soft hands," Chokas said, “Nothing at all like that. I shouldn’t do it. I get that. Not flirtatious. I need to calm kids down in the class. Girls come in crying and hate the class. I tell them I will get them through. I provide a safe environment. Been a teacher 16 years and want to help students be successful.”

Chokas said it was absolutely false that he went on a rant in class and told students how he once got in trouble for touching girls and that if anyone in the class had a problem with him they should tell him first and not go to the principal or administration.

“Why would I talk like that? Maybe what I said was misinterpreted? I said something like if I can’t help you, I will send you to guidance.”

When told the comment was corroborated by other students, Chokas said, “Students talk with one another and conjure up stories.”

When Superintendent Van Riley pointed out to Chokas that in 2017 he was told to come up with strategies to avoid touching students and making them feel uncomfortable (something he was also told to do in 2013), Chokas said, “I have to be more conscious in class, don’t have a plan other than the previous one. I need to be on high alert, truly don’t want anyone to feel uncomfortable.”

“I feel badly for making someone uncomfortable. I feel terrible,” added Chokas.

j.wojtas@theday.com

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