KY substitute teacher charged with harassment, accused of pulling student’s hood

A substitute teacher in the Jessamine County School District was charged with harassment last week after a sixth-grade student told officers the teacher pulled him by the hood of his sweater.

According to the Dec. 2 criminal complaint, obtained Monday by the Herald-Leader through the Kentucky Open Records Act, the student told investigators he had difficulty breathing after teacher Dale Dragomir pulled him “backward and upward” by his hood.

Dragomir was charged with misdemeanor harassment with physical contact (no injury) in Jessamine District Court.

The incident happened Nov. 21 at West Jessamine Middle School, according to the complaint. The student was “forc(ed)... onto his toes to avoid choking.”

The misdemeanor charge was filed Dec. 18. No court dates were noted in court records as of Monday, and no lawyer was listed for Dragomir.

“Jessamine County Schools is aware of a matter involving a substitute teacher who has worked in our district,” Superintendent Sara Crum said in a statement to the Herald-Leader. “The district takes all reports seriously, conducting a thorough investigation and following established procedures, including coordinating with relevant outside agencies as needed,” Crum said.