Lauren Roth
The Virginian-Pilot
©
A social studies teacher resigned her position Wednesday as new information surfaced that shows she was involved with operating an escort service while on staff at Kellam High School.
One day earlier, Michelle Droelle told The Virginian-Pilot she got out of the business before she began teaching two years ago. But The Pilot has discovered escort service ad contracts signed by Droelle during the current school year – including one dated March 12, 2008.
Droelle, 33, voluntarily resigned, school officials said.
The contracts for phone book ads list Droelle as the owner of Penthouse V.I.P. and her home address in Ocean Lakes as the company’s location.
Penthouse V.I.P. is the umbrella for an operation that runs ads under at least 20 different names, such as Exotic Playmates, Sinful Seductions and Party Girls.
Droelle did not return calls Wednesday to her home or business. Her lawyer, Mike Joynes, said that “pursuant to an agreement with the School Board, Michelle can’t have any comment.”
However, the school division denies requiring her silence.
“She chose to resign,” spokeswoman Eileen Cox said. “We don’t have any conditions on her resignation.”
As of Tuesday, Droelle still managed the businesses on a day-to-day basis, according to several women who said they have worked recently for the escort service.
One dancer, who appears on the Web site of Penthouse V.I.P. but requested that her name not be used in this article, said she has worked for Droelle for more than a year. She said that once Droelle took the teaching job at Kellam, she tried to keep a lower profile in the company – avoiding the weekly meetings where the dancers settle up their accounts with the service and collect their paychecks, signed by Droelle.
“Michelle didn’t want the newer girls to see her so she stopped coming to the meetings for a while,” the woman said. “But then she started coming again. I saw her at one in the past month.”
The contracts, from 2006 through 2008, are for ads in The Talking Phone Book, Verizon Yellow Pages and Yellow Book USA. Penthouse V.I.P. spent more than $50,000 on ads in 2007 alone, according to the contracts.
The phone book ads, often featuring scantily clad women, appeared in South Hampton Roads and Peninsula editions. Phone numbers for at least eight of the escort service names also are registered in Droelle’s name.
Calls to Penthouse V.I.P. and its affiliates are answered by an operator who sets up appointments and explains that for $100, the “girls” will strip fully nude, perform lap dances and provide companionship for one hour. Such acts are legal in Virginia as long as they take place in private and everyone involved is at least 18.
The company’s Web site features provocative photos of a dozen young women and a list of services, including “1-on-1 encounters … fetishes … light domination.”
Last school year, Droelle was on staff at the Virginia Beach City Public School ’s Open Campus High School. She began working at Kellam High School in September, teaching world history and sociology courses.
Droelle had not informed the school division that she had another line of work, Cox said.
Before they are hired, all employees are run though FBI and State Police databases, according to the school division’s human resources department. Those background checks do not include business licenses.
School Board Chairman Dan Edwards said there is no need for further investigation because Droelle resigned.
“I think the subject is closed,” he said.
News researcher Jakon Hays contributed to this report.
Lauren Roth, (757) 222-5133, lauren.roth@pilotonline.com
Joanne Kimberlin, (757) 446-2338, joanne.kimberlin@pilotonline.com
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Majority of Earlier Post Deleted to Suit Pilot...
An earlier post submitted was grossly altered to allude that I was making this teacher out to be a law breaker. Whe speaking of checking out the Commonwealth laws I was speaking of the antiquated laws that would make even married couples heads spin! Shame on the Pilot for distorting any posts. From all accounts I've received from students at Kellam High School she was an excellent teacher. Trust me, the salary teachers make is pathetic and many time a second job is necessary to keep with the economy. For crying out loud we need a second job just to pay for the gas to drive to school to teach for a good 9-10+ hour days that are necessary to put in to meet the demands of our education system. Leave the lady alone!
Ms. Droelle
My name is Jon, Michelle Droelle was my student teacher in 11th grade at kellam highschool. The class was VA/US History. If it wasn't for her I would never have graduated. She Would stay after school and help me study for the SOL's and helped me understand the subject so much better. She was a great teacher. The VP scared her. Her business is her business. It was never brought up in class EVER. Good job VP, if it wasn't for her, I wouldn't have gotten a passing grade on the SOL's. They never mention stuff like that. I hope the person who wrote this story is happy with messing up peoples lives when the person writing this story probably has a greater secret vice of their own.
sum it up
First of all this is not slander because slander is spoken word. Libel is written word that defames character. But to be libel, it must be false. There is no question that the story reported is true, or her lawyer wouldn't've told her to resign. If this woman merely paid her way through college by stripping or escorting then quit the company she worked for and got a job as a teacher, then fine, great, bravo- she would have been doing what most strippers or escorts "claim" is what they're doing and the reason for their stripping. I would say bravo to her for not becoming one of those strung out stereotypical escorts the media has been putting in the spotlight lately. But that is not what happened. She did strip while in college but instead of getting out of it, she then opened her own business and continued to make this legal yet elicit profession a big part of her life. When confronted and let's face it it would've come out sooner or later - SHE LIED. Lying don't make you look innocent folks. If she didn't think anything was wrong with it then why not answer honestly or a simple no comment would've sufficed I mean she does have an attorney. But no, she lied and made hersel
Pathetic "Journalism"
I can understand why someone confronted by an unscrupulous reporter butting into her personal business would panic under attack. The VP is right up there with the Enquirer. This was nobody's business and the VP went to great lengths to attack this woman. Her students say she was a great and caring teacher. Way to go VP! The better question is how this "story" came to light. This reeks of a competitor seeking revenge and using consciousless reporters to help with the dirty work. Also, how the VP managed to get copies of confidential contracts raises some serious ethical questions about the actions of the reporters. I hope she sues the VP for this unwarranted invasion of privacy. This disgusting witch hunt has caused this woman great harm, and was not a public service. Her students lost a teacher they loved. The teacher didn't expose her students to anything improper...great thing we have the VP to expose them.
I agree -- up to a point...
I agree with the previous posters--up to a point. Did ANYone read what I just wrote? Look, no denying that schools have problems, and no denying that kids have 'issues' and difficulties with which to deal. But I will say it again: this teacher--by virtue of her own, indiscriminate actions--put her OWN career at risk. Yes, I'm sure the Pilot (aka 'Downtown Font of Knowledge)could have found better fodder to write about--so, maybe it WAS a slow news day. But, folks--this gal set her own self up for a fall. Nobody did it TO her; she did it to herself. She made poor decisions about a business interest, and now it is affecting her. Know what--?? It's called 'taking responsibility for your own actions.' It's called 'accountability'. Nobody denies this gal isn't smart; she surely is. But she made some poor choices and decisions, and they were not only merely poor decisions, they were ethically highly suspect, less than responsible, and definitely on the fringes of 'respectable'. Heck, at this point--leave the gal alone. She's going to have to start over.
closed-minded
...are the folks who won't give this woman a break. Perfect too (so they think)
slander
please keep in mind, information provided that is true in it's content IS NOT "slander"..only false statements meet the legal definition of slander.
Terrible Article
Virginia Pilot... I am deeply disturbed on why you would publish an article such as this. You have forced this woman to give up her job and tarnished her reputation. Why is puzzling to me is why you would write this kind of slander? I am sure that with the economic crisis rampant corruption and the mess America is in that your time would be better spent elsewhere. Rumors are spreading throughout the Beach area that this is an act of revenge by a prominent competitor. A poisoned pen is a dangerous weapon and when implemented by someone that does not think out the ramifications is a dangerous weapon. Take a second and pause and reflect on your actions. I am a staunch conservative and this woman's actions do not warrant this type of attack.
You are kidding me!!
The last time I read a VBPS system contract I did not recall seeing anything preventing teachers from owning a business. I understand that people may be upset about the business being an escort service; however, let us look at the facts about public school teachers. Teachers become teachers because they love children and the money is not worth it. Obviously this teacher was a good one and unfortunately the system does not have many of them. She never pressed her business on the students so the pilot needs to stay out of her personal life. Had the pilot not brought it to everyone's attention the lady might have been able to deal with it appropriately. Or maybe the VBPS system could have dealt with it correctly by backing a good teacher (like they would stick by there teachers-LOL!). What teachers do on their own time is not the schools concern unless it impedes upon the child's instructional time or learning. Furthermore, I am sure if the writers dug deep into a lot of teacher's backgrounds they may find more horrific things than owning an escort service. In fact, I know you would discover things teachers are doing in the classroom with children present that would be a shocker.
I
the Big Question now...
Well...too bad, she resigned. Caved in to pressure. Undercut her own position anyway, so it certainly shouldn't have come as a surprise. She must've known it would come out, sooner or later. Big question now--?? Is she going to go BACK into the 'escort business' full-time, AND...is she going to offer seniors and student discounts??? HMMMMmmmm...now THERE'S an important question for all those intrepid reporters at the Downtown Font of Knowledge to pursue! Frankly, if those same reporters-of-high-repute had simply ignored her, she would've have no doubt continued to teach, making a measly 38K a year. Now the poor woman will have to return to her formerly 'shady' occupation (perhaps) and make several TIMES that! HMMMMmmmmm...methinks they made much ado about nothing, don't YOU think???