Teacher hurt defusing fight claims pressure to resign

Steve Norton went to pick up his check recently at the Kingman Unified School District office. Norton met briefly with Roger Jacks, assistant superintendent for personnel.

"I was told to put the matter behind me by Christmas or I would be allowed to resign in good standing," Norton said.

Although Norton wants to continue teaching, he said the subject of his resignation had come up before. He requested a resignation form from Jacks.

But before he could give serious consideration to submitting the form, Norton said he wants to contact an attorney to find out if it would mean losing his workers' compensation benefits. Workers' compensation pays just one-third of his normal teaching income, he said.

Jacks' version of the conversation is different.

"We'd love to have him continue with us," Jacks said. "He said he was thinking of resigning and wanted to know how to go about it. We hope to have him back after winter break. He's on sick leave now."

Jacks acknowledged having a copy of a certificate from Norton stating he is under medical care by North Country Community Health Center through January. A form signed by a physician states, "Please allow for this and save his employment position."

Kingman is the seat of Mohave County, in far Northwestern Arizona.

Norton joined a security guard at the school in stopping a fight involving one female and two male students before the start of classes on Oct. 29.

During the melee, Norton said, he was kicked once in the stomach and once in the right side, had hot chocolate thrown on him, was spat on and was punched in the head.

He was admitted to Kingman Regional Medical Center and later transferred to Flagstaff Medical Center. A CT scan and additional tests were done in Flagstaff, copies of which went to a surgeon Norton is seeing in San Diego.

"The surgeon said my colon is swollen and there's edema elsewhere, and he doesn't know if it's blood or water," Norton said. "He doesn't want to do a surgery now and have to do another one later, so he said, 'Let's see where we are in six weeks.' "

Norton said he remains plagued by headaches and vomiting episodes. School district employees have donated enough sick days to enable him to be paid until Christmas.

Assistant Superintendent Betsy Parker said, "Nobody has pressured (Norton). He's in no danger of being dismissed. There's no grounds for it."

Norton said he has notes from his students who want him back in the classroom, saying they're not learning with a substitute. He is to see a counselor next Monday to address post-traumatic stress that he says stems from the incident.

"I was not driving drunk on Andy Devine Avenue," Norton said. "I stepped in to help a younger boy being choked, and in one minute my whole life has changed while doing my job.

"What kind of teacher would I be if I had walked away? It was my hope (that the school personnel office) would say: 'Here's your pay until June. Go to San Diego and get healthy. A job is waiting for you.' "

Principal Pat Mickelson said she asked Norton if he had any idea when he would be able to return to work because his students miss him, and Norton reportedly said he did not know.

"This situation puts us in a tough spot," Mickelson said. "You can't replace somebody that isn't gone, but we count on students having good instruction. I think the district has the right to get information as to a possible date he could return."

She said she has not pressured Norton.