(WXYZ) - Teachers are supposed to be role models for their students. So why is one local social studies teacher spending his nights in the Macomb County Jail… and his days in the classroom?
Action News Investigator Heather Catallo has the story.
Heather: It’s a good rule: the students in Warren’s Van Dyke public school system are not allowed to threaten each other.
So why is it okay for one of the teachers in the district to break the rules?
Donald Colpaert’s morning commute is anything but typical.
Last week our undercover cameras caught this 37 year old getting picked up each morning from the Macomb County jail.
After a stop at a nearby McDonald’s drive-thru, and what looks like a quick wardrobe change in the car, Colpaert gets dropped off at work.
And where does this inmate on work release spend his hours during the day? Here at the Thomson Community Center – an alternative school in Warren.
You see, Donald Colpaert is a middle school social studies teacher.
Tina Christian/Parent: "It’s not setting a good example at all, considering it’s already an alternative school for students that are not going to the main district schools."
As soon as Colpaert wraps up at school, he has to be back in custody.
Parents I spoke to don’t find the situation funny at all, but Colpaert tried to laugh about it when I confronted him at the jail doors.
Heather Catallo & Donald Colpaert/Teacher: "I’m wondering why you’re still teaching if you’re in jail? I’m not in jail. I’m bringing lunch for my friends. No, you’re going back to your work release position. How can you be a role model for your students? Are you familiar with what’s going on at all with the case? Why don’t you tell us? I don’t really feel like explaining it. The court’s done a pretty good job of that."
In fact the court files tell quite a story. The problems started when Colpaert’s relationship with a married school secretary ended badly.
According to court records, the secretary says Colpaert started harassing her husband with phone calls and text messages after she decided to patch up her marriage.
During a hearing to obtain personal protection orders against Colpaert – the secretary and her husband submitted several of Colpaert’s email messages to Macomb County Judge Ed Servitto.
In one from October – Colpaert writes to another school co-worker about what he was allegedly planning to do at a party that the secretary was going to attend with her husband. One message states: "me and some of my friends will be waiting outside." and "the s**t is definitely gonna hit the fan." In another message Colpaert allegedly told the party hostess "I cant [sic] and WILL NOT promise that nothing will go down at your house."
As for the text messages that Colpaert allegedly sent to the secretary’s husband – they’re so obscene we can not describe them on television.
When the judge granted the PPOs for the school secretary and her husband, according to the hearing transcript, he had some strong words for the teacher.
Judge Servitto said "I can’t believe you’re an educator." He also told Colpaert: "I don’t know that you should be a teacher. I don’t know. It just amazes me"
What’s truly amazing is that Donald Colpaert violated the PPO within minutes of leaving Servitto’s courtroom.
According to police reports, in the court hallway-- Colpaert told the secretary’s husband, "we could have settled this man to man, it’s on now, it’s on."
After those comments – a judge sent Colpaert to jail for 30 days for violating the PPO.
So why is this teacher still allowed in the classroom?
Heather Catallo & Daniel Colpaert/Teacher: "How can you be a role model for your students? You’d have to ask them. (to jail camera) Colpaert, 3:30. Why did you send those obscene text messages? I didn’t send obscene text messages. Why did you violate your PPO?"
The Van Dyke Public School District did suspend Donald Colpaert for 3 days without pay for violating a directive they had given him to stop contacting the secretary. An attorney for the district tells Action News at this point, that’s the highest level of punishment that can be leveled against a tenured teacher.
Meanwhile, parents of students at the Thomson school are furious they weren’t told that one of the teachers is serving a work release jail sentence.
Valerie Tolson/Parent: "Oh my God, I didn’t know nothing about that. They should let the parents know what’s going on in the school."
Heather: The attorney for Van Dyke Public Schools tells me they are still exploring all of their options. If they determine that Colpaert engaged in misconduct on the job he would be subject to more discipline, which could include being fired.
