Teacher Reinstated -- Suspended Over `X' Video In Redmond

REDMOND - A hearing examiner has concluded that the 80-day suspension of Rose Hill Junior High School teacher Rod Thornley, whose students saw part of an adult video in his classroom, was a bit too much.

A health and physical-education teacher at Rose Hill, Thornley was suspended Dec. 23, the day after a dozen eighth-graders saw parts of the video "Kink-O-Rama," which Thornley inadvertently left inside a VCR he brought from home.

Reached for comment this morning, Thornley said he began teaching again Monday, but only for three days because the school year ended this week at Rose Hill.

"I'm just glad to be back," he said, "and I hope everything will work out." He said he did not want to discuss the matter further.

Thornley, who has taught at the Lake Washington School District for 17 years, appealed his suspension and won. Earlier this month, hearing officer Howell Lankford ordered the district to reinstate him after determining the suspension without pay was too severe.

District spokesman Dan Youmans said the district has no plans to appeal Lankford's ruling.