TPS principal suspended after harassment claim

Principal Anthony Bronaugh speaks during parent power hour at Robinson Elementary last year.

A Toledo Public Schools principal has been placed on paid suspension while the district investigates allegations by a teacher that he sexually harassed her.

Anthony Bronaugh, 38, principal of Robinson Elementary, is on paid leave while a TPS harassment board investigates the allegations of a Robinson teacher, Julie Greenberg. Ms. Greenberg, 47, filed a petition for a civil stalking protection order against Mr. Bronaugh on Nov. 16 in Lucas County Court of Common Pleas; the order was granted that day by Magistrate John Wilmore.

In her petition, Ms. Greenberg alleges Mr. Bronaugh made a series of unwanted sexual advances toward her, despite her protests.

Toledo Public Schools is conducting an internal investigation through its harassment investigation committee, which will make a recommendation on whether the accusation is sustained and district policy was violated. Mr. Bronaugh, who has been suspended since Nov. 16, will remain on leave pending the investigation.

Jerome Pecko, TPS superintendent, said he wasn’t at liberty to say when the committee will make a recommendation.

“It has met, and other than that the matter remains under investigation,” he said.

The Toledo Police Department's sex-crimes unit is also investigating, Sgt. Tim Campbell said. He declined to discuss the case further, citing the ongoing investigation.

Contacted at his home, Mr. Bronaugh said he could not comment on the matter while it is under investigation. A reporter left a business card at the address listed for Ms. Greenberg but received no return phone call.

Mr. Bronaugh was selected last year to run a remade Robinson, which is restructured under a federal grant and is modeling potential initiatives for TPS.

District officials have adopted a monthly program Mr. Bronaugh developed while at Sherman Elementary called “Parent Power Hour,” which brings parents into the school and boosts engagement, to be spread to other schools. Mr. Bronaugh has been a national presenter on implementing social and emotional learning techniques in schools.

His personnel file contained no disciplinary records aside from his current suspension. He received $87,839 in gross pay last year, according to the district.

This is Ms. Greenberg’s first year in Toledo Public Schools. Before Robinson, the special education teacher worked in a Toledo charter school and in Michigan and Toledo area school districts.

Ward Barnett, assistant principal at Pickett Academy, was named acting principal of Robinson.

Contact Nolan Rosenkrans at: nrosenkrans@theblade.com or 419-724-6086.