Baldwin, ex-teacher settle one legal fight

Part of a messy legal dispute involving a former second-grade teacher at the Baldwin School in Bryn Mawr has been resolved.

Patricia Tollin, 67, reached a settlement with the private girls' school on Friday. As is common in such cases, both sides signed a confidentiality agreement and pledged not to reveal the amount or terms of the settlement.

"Mrs. Tollin and the Baldwin School believe that the resolution of their dispute serves the best interests of the Baldwin community, allowing the school to devote its full attention to its mission of providing excellence in the education of girls and young women," both sides said in a statement e-mailed to Baldwin parents yesterday.

Tollin sued in June, saying Baldwin did not renew her contract for the 2007-08 academic year because it did not want to alienate Sheryl and Michael Pouls, a Gladwyne couple who had pledged a multimillion-dollar gift for the school's new athletic facility.

The Poulses had complained to Baldwin officials that Tollin had yelled at and humiliated their 7-year-old daughter, who later transferred to another second-grade class.

In addition to suing the school, Tollin sued the Poulses, saying they caused her to lose her job. That suit continues in Montgomery County Court.

Last month, the Poulses filed a countersuit against Tollin alleging defamation, invasion of privacy, assault, and intentional infliction of emotional distress.

Stephen Hankin, one of the Poulses' attorneys, yesterday declined to comment on Tollin's settlement with Baldwin.

Michael Pouls, however, said his family was relieved that Baldwin had resolved its dispute with the teacher, "mostly because I don't think Baldwin needs to be embroiled in this kind of conflict."

"This enables them to concentrate on what their main goal is, which is teaching and empowering young women."

The Poulses have said they never told Baldwin officials not to renew Tollin's teaching contract. In their counterclaim, they allege that Tollin unfairly blamed them for the loss of her contract, when her personnel file at Baldwin shows she had received at least 72 complaints from parents and others.

The counterclaim also alleges that, during settlement talks, Tollin's attorney had said, "Unless Tollin's demand for a million dollars is accepted by 12:30 today, we file the lawsuit." Tollin's attorneys have said that allegation is "patently false."

In phone calls and in e-mail messages, the school and Tollin's attorneys yesterday reiterated that the confidentiality agreement prevents them from discussing the settlement.

"The only additional piece I can offer is that Mrs. Tollin is pleased with the resolution with the school," Lisanne L. Mikula, one of Tollin's lawyers, said in an e-mail.

The joint statement released by Tollin and Baldwin said: "Mrs. Tollin has the highest regard for the Baldwin School as an institution and its outstanding faculty who are dedicated to empowering its students to become young women of intelligence, integrity and compassion. The Baldwin School thanks and appreciates Mrs. Tollin for her many years of dedicated service to the school, which has impacted the lives of so many students. The Baldwin School wishes Mrs. Tollin well in her future endeavors as a tutor and knows that her background as a reading specialist will serve her well in that role."

Baldwin enrolls 605 girls from pre-kindergarten through 12th grade.

Go to http://go.philly.com/baldwinsuit to read documents filed in the case.

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