INDIAN RIVER COUNTY – Sebastian River High School Coach Joe Nathaniel has been suspended but will continue to be paid while his future within the Indian River County School District continues to be debated.
More than two dozen people spoke for an hour on behalf of the coach and criminal justice teacher who is facing termination following a physical altercation with a student at Sebastian River High in November, pleading with the School Board to not fire the man they called an inspiration, a father-figure, and a mentor.
In November, Nathaniel got involved in an altercation with a student, during which video tape purports to show Nathaniel as the aggressor, taunting a student and ultimately causing the student to fall backward.
Despite the two videos, 26 people spoke favorably of Nathaniel. None expressed an opposing view.
A longtime friend of Nathaniel, Patrick Thompson reminded the Board that Nathaniel’s work prior to coming into the School District was working with drug dealers, with gang members, helping them turn their lives around. Such work gave him the backbone and fortitude to work with Sebastian River’s challenging students, he added.
“We have our limits,” he said, imploring the Board to not allow one incident to determine Nathaniel’s fate.
“This was an extremely tough decision,” Schools Superintendent Dr. Mark Rendell said, addressing the Board after the public’s input.
Dr. Rendell recommended terminating Nathaniel’s employment with the District. Nathaniel has exercised his right to fight the termination and has requested a hearing.
After more than a half hour of discussion, the Board ultimately decided to suspend Nathaniel with pay and send the matter to Tallahassee to the Division of Administrative Hearings.
Members of the audience raised concerns about “politics” having played a role in how Nathaniel’s case was handled. To address that concern, the Board agreed to have the matter heard by an independent third party.
The Division of Administrative Hearings will be notified of the case before the end of the week, School Board Attorney Suzanne D’Agresta told the Board. The Division has up to 60 days from then to conduct that hearing.
The hearing master will then craft a recommendation and send it to the Board for further discussion. D’Agresta told the Board it would have the final say in what happens to Nathaniel.
