Teacher Smackdown

In Billings, Montana, special education teacher and reading specialist Koby Gayle Murray, 41, was charged with a felony for trying to illegally obtain prescription pain medication. Murray, who is on paid leave from her job at West High School, faces a maximum penalty of one to five years in prison and a $50,000 fine.

According to police, Murray is called a Billings pharmacy to fill a prescription for the pain medication hydrocodone (also known as Vicodin). Pharmacy staff believed the prescription was fake and called police. The police then arrested Murray when she arrived at the pharmacy.

Between this story and yesterday’s, I’m just saddened to hear about teacher’s problems with drugs and alcohol. These are not bad people or bad teachers. Instead, these are people with addiction problems who need treatment, not jail time.

How very sad.

Koby Gayle Murray, illegally obtaining prescription pain medication

At Goodfriend Montessori (now Middle Creek Montessori) in Bozeman, Montana, five female students ages seven and eight, told a teacher at the school that owner and shop teacher Edward Goodfriend had touched them inappropriately and made them feel uncomfortable.

The teacher reported the behavior to the school’s administration. The school investigated the incident, but didn’t notify parents of the allegations or the investigation. A year later more children told their parents that Goodfriend was touching students. Finaly, the school told parents about the allegations against Goodfriend.

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