Students say gym teacher attacked girls

Two Wauconda High School students say a teacher physically attacked girls during gym class last week, but police say they're still trying to determine what happened.

Olivia O'Brien, a junior at the school, said she was throttled and shaken by P.E. teacher Tracey Wolff, who O'Brien said then pretended the confrontation was a self-defense demonstration.

Wauconda police were called the day of the incident, but Deputy Chief Patrick Yost said no arrests have been made. Wolff has not returned to school because Department of Children and Family Services rules prohibit her return while police investigate, Yost said.

Wolff declined to comment Thursday when contacted by phone. Wauconda Unit District 118 officials, including Superintendent Daniel Coles, board members Tom Weber and Maggie Liddell, and Wauconda High School Principal Daniel Klett also declined to comment.

"Any matters regarding personnel or students are not publicly discussed," Coles said. "It's to protect both students and staff."

Klett said only that student safety was the school's "number one concern."

Yost said he does not expect charges to be filed.

"I can tell you at this time it is not looking like what (the) students told you is very credible," he said. "I would be surprised if there's a battery arrest."

Robyn Fulmer, a senior at Wauconda High, said she was one of many witnesses in the gym that day and backs up O'Brien's account.

"There were two whole gym classes (that) saw it," Fulmer said. "I did tell (school officials) that I didn't think she (Wolff) should be coming back."

Fulmer and O'Brien both admit they have had problems with Wolff in the past.

And Fulmer said she has gotten in trouble at school and worries officials dismissed what she saw. "I'm not really taken seriously," she said.

When police conclude their investigation, Yost said, they will turn over all information to the state's attorney's office, where a final decision will be made about filing charges.

"Ultimately, they would have to prosecute it," he said.