There are theories on the rational criminal actor, but I doubt Susan Dinnean, 55, would qualify in Wilton, Connecticut. The teacher at Middlebrook Middle School is accused of stealing $20 from the purse of another teacher — resulting in her loss of a $95,000 a year job.
The veteran teacher of 22 years was reportedly caught on camera taking the money from the teacher’s purse in her classroom on October 21st. The hidden camera was set up after the teacher previously reported $170 missing.
Dinnean reportedly admitted to this theft and others. She has been charged with three counts of sixth-degree larceny.
For the full story, click here.
If you’re a thief, you’re a thief. It doesn’t matter how much money you make.
erykah–
You wrote: “Regarding the comment about vacation time, it is great, but think about all of the over time teachers put in during the school year. They bring their work home. I come from a family of educators. Christmas, spring break, summer vacation, etc. are all well deserved breaks. For nine months teachers are literally busting their asses. They are never paid what they are worth.”
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As a former teacher of thirty-four years, I remember well all the hours of overtime that many of my colleagues and I worked at school and at home during the school year–as well as the weeks we spent during the summer preparing our classrooms and educational materials for the upcoming school year. There were days when I spent nearly twelve hours at school. But that was my choice–I wasn’t required to devote that much time to my teaching. I would agree that “good” teachers are never paid what they are worth.
I have friends who worked long hours “busting their asses” in other professions who made about the same amount of money as I. They had no where near the amount of free time that I had. In addition, I had fifteen days a year of sick leave–if I needed it; six weeks of paid maternity leave; five days of funeral leave; and two paid personal days that I could take. I was trying to make the point in my previous comment that while I didn’t earn a high salary–I enjoyed lots of benefits that many people in other lines of work do not.
I didn’t become a teacher to make lots of money. I loved my work and I had a great quality of life during the years that I taught.
Dang Martha, your salary seems awfully low for a college professor unless you are at a teaching college. I know tenure track assistant professors who make more money than you.
Regarding the comment about vacation time, it is great, but think about all of the over time teachers put in during the school year. They bring their work home. I come from a family of educators. Christmas, spring break, summer vacation, etc. are all well deserved breaks. For nine months teachers are literally busting their asses. They are never paid what they are worth.
As for this woman, she got issues.
rcampbell,
I wasn’t commenting negatively on her salary amount … I was noting that with such a generous salary the need to allegedly steal
$20 from a fellow teacher seems somewhat questionable and perhaps there is further insight into her behavior from the words “and others” in the sentence phrase … “Dinnean reportedly admitted to this theft and others …”
I realize there are many tax-freaks out there who think teachers should still work for meals and a room over farmer Jack’s barn. I’m not one of them.
Leah,
There is a “Corrections” tab at the top of the page. Hint, hint.
“Can you tell me of other professions where having two degrees and that much experience wouldn’t earn that kind of money?”
Well . . . I am a college professor with a PhD and 21 years of experience and I make $66,000. I don’t live in CT, but this teacher’s salary still sounds high to me.
My wife taught in several districts around the country and eventually retired from teaching here in AZ. Because of our moving several times for my career, she was not able to put in 30 years in any one school system. However, among her associates those salaries are not at all uncommon here or in CA for Master+ level teachers with longevity.
Should that be “stealing money FROM another teacher?
rcampbell–
I retired from teaching when I was older than Dinnean–with thirty-four years of service. Neither I–nor any other teacher in the affluent community where I taught–made anywhere near $95,000…even with advanced degrees and many more than twenty-two years of service. I was aware that teachers in Connecticut had much higher than average salaries–but not that much higher.
I taught in Massachusetts, which is also a very expensive state in which to live. The cost of housing here in the northeast part of my state is astronomical. $300,000 might buy you a house that’s a “fixer-upper.”
You may find that my comment rings hollow–but I’m speaking from my own personal experience!
Another thing in regard to my teaching: I felt there were “trade-offs.” I didn’t earn as high a salary as most other professionals–but I had lots of vacation time. Not many professionals or other workers have two months of vacation in the summer–as well as three week-long vacations during the school year. That meant that I was home with my child when she was on school vacation. That time spent with my daughter when she was young was more valuable to me than money.
This is as good as it gets. Bookmaking is school, what better values could one teach the students?
Oh yeah, life skills, sounds like that is done as well.
CCD is correct I think. Such behavior represents disordered thought processes in response to some kind of desperation. Education, intelligence and affluence have little to do with whether people respond to tension logically.The “fight or flight” hard wiring when transferred into the human range of behavior provides a variety of solutions many of which, like this one, high impractical.
Elaine and Blouise
There’s a fair bit of information missing from the article that makes your comments about a teacher’s salary ring hollow.
First, we don’t know her level of education. She must have a bachelor’s degree and many school districts require teachers to do continuing education every year or so to maintain their teaching certificate. Many or most of those attain their Master’s degree. Even then, school districts require continuing education at the university level (at the teachers’ expense) and generally without additional pay.
The teacher in question is 55 years old with 22 years in the classroom. Most teachers her age have closer to 30 years teaching. It doesn’t seem out of line to me for a person with an advanced degree and 30 years of job experience to earn $95,000. Can you tell me of other professions where having two degrees and that much experience wouldn’t earn that kind of money?
Also, Conn. is a relatively expensive place to live and salaries in all fields tend to compensate for those differences.
Dinnean made $95,000 a year as a public school teacher? Wow! Sure wish I had taught in Connecticut.
When they say their going to “pay it back” it’s a gambling issue. Ms. Dinnean behavior gives us a peak into her private life.
AA & NA aren’t for Susan, she needs GA.
The Colts did not cover the spread Vs the Pats. Those who needed to know, knew. Those who didn’t know, could care less.
Teach your children well, oh I feel a CS&N coming on:
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p6pphVs8bF0&hl=en_US&fs=1&]
Considering the generous salary of $95,000 a year, I strongly suspect the words “an others” is an understatement.