Grosse Pointe South Teacher Receives 90 Day Jail Sentence in Ohio

A teacher has been sentenced to a 90-day jail sentence in the Lorain County Correctional Facility in Ohio for illegally taking money from her elderly mother.

Ann Kazhaya, 41, pleaded guilty to all five charges, which detail that she knowingly "exert control over either the property or services by deception" of  an elderly or disabled adult. The crimes span in time from Dec. 1, 1999 to Dec. 31, 2006, according to Lorain County Court of Common Pleas. 

According to a story in the Amherst News-Times, Kezhaya stole money from her 78-year-old mother, who noticed the missing money in December 2006 when she tried to join a high-end retirement community. 

Kezhaya is still listed on Grosse Pointe South's staff directory but when you call her extension, the voicemail message is for another staff member.

District spokeswoman Rebecca Fannon provided this statement: "As a tenured teacher, Ann Kezhaya maintains her teacher certification. The district will comply with its statutory obligations regarding this matter."

Patch has calls in to the Michigan Department of Education regarding the status of Kezhaya's teacher's certification. Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources Tom Harwood said his office is waiting to receive court documentation and will then report the situation to the state. 

Kezhaya has been following all of the proper procedures in reporting the conviction to the district—a requirement with her certification, Harwood said. She remained in the classroom until the date of her conviction. According to court records, she pleaded guilty in the case in March and then received her sentence May 20. 

She's been with the district for about four years, Harwood said, explaining she's not had any disciplinary issues in that time. She was hired in as a special education teacher at the high school level, was one of a few cut in lay-offs at one point but then brought back, Harwood said.

According to the Michigan Department of Education, Kezhaya may have a hearing before the state board regarding her teaching certificate. Any felony conviction jeopardizes a teaching certificate in Michigan. 

Harwood said Kezhaya informed the district of her court case as it was happening when the indictment was first filed against her in 2009. Kezhaya is required to pay a minimum of $2,000 per month in restitution until the total amount, $848,380.67, is repaid. She also will serve five years on community control, according to the court records. 

This story was updated Thursday June 16, 2011 about 10:15 p.m.