Tulsa School Board Fires Teacher

By Ashli Sims, The News On 6 

TULSA, OK -- Tulsa Public Schools fires a teacher accused of sexually assaulting a teenage boy. 

John Gisler is facing a string of felony charges, including rape and possession of child pornography. 

During a meeting, Monday night, the Tulsa School Board voted five to zero to terminate him.

The termination hearing for Gisler only lasted about 15 minutes.  But, it revealed new details about the abuse the teacher is accused of committing over a three-year-period.

He taught for four years at TPS where he was charged with caring for and educating young children.  It was his time he spent as a mentor with Big Brothers and Sister's that has threatened his job.

07/08/2009 Related Story: Neighbors React To Gisler's Sex Charge Arrest

John Gisler was arrested last month, accused of sexually assaulting a teenage boy.  The charges prompted Tulsa Public Schools to take action to fire him. 

TPS's attorney presented the school board with several police affidavits that revealed new details about the accusations.  The records show the victim says the abuse started when he was 14.  The victim says in an affidavit that Gisler encouraged him to perform sexual acts on himself, even paying him $2-$5 every time the act was completed.

The report goes on to say that Gisler downloaded pornography with the teenager and the victim says he was sexually assaulted several times at Gisler's home.

The affidavit also says Gisler admitted guilt in a taped phone call to the victim, saying: "I hurt you sexually" and "please don't tell, I will kill myself if you do."

Even though the accusations haven't been proven, the school district's attorney says there's enough evidence to dismiss Gisler.

"It is not necessary, and in fact, I urge the board to not wait any further with regard to proceeding on his termination," said TPS attorney Doug Mann.

Gisler's chair at the hearing was empty because he's still being held in the Tulsa County Jail on $100,000 bond.  And, with no one to represent him, the board quickly looked over the documents and voted to fire John Gisler.

The teenager involved in this case was not John Gisler's student.  Court records say he mentored the victim through the Big Brothers and Sister's program.

Gisler had been a science teacher at Whitney Middle School since August 2005 and taught previously in Sand Springs and Sapulpa.

Gisler's preliminary court hearing is later this month.