PICKERINGTON, Ohio (WCMH) — Teachers in Pickerington are voicing frustration about how district leaders have handled the situation surrounding a school custodian being charged with crimes that allegedly happened in an elementary school.
“In October, our school community was thrown into an unthinkable crisis,” a teacher said during public participation at the latest school board meeting Monday night. “That immediately threatened our safety and security. We were victimized by a trusted coworker and the personal toll of that day is something that’s hard to put into words.”
The Fairfield County Sheriff’s Office arrested Edward Dorst in October 2024 on several voyeurism charges. The 63-year-old was a custodian at Toll Gate Elementary, according to the sheriff’s office. Investigators allege Dorst hid a cell phone in the staff bathroom with the intent of recording other employees.
Brad Harris, president of the Pickerington Education Association, shared at Monday’s school board meeting that one-third of the Toll Gate staff were allegedly recorded while using the bathroom.
“The crime committed against me and my colleagues has left me disheartened and shaken,” a teacher said during public participation. “The betrayal by someone we trusted for nine years, a colleague we called our friend, turned our world upside down. The emotional impact on our staff has been overwhelming.”
Most of the teachers who talked at the meeting said they are directly affected by what Dorst is accused of doing.
“Us victims are hurting, from the crime made against us and from the lack of support from the leaders of this district,” a teacher said.
They said they are upset with how the district treated them when information of the alleged crimes first came out and with how time off for court hearings has been handled.
“The lack of empathy and communication during this process was deeply hurtful,” another teacher said. “Coming to work every day remains a struggle. Walking into the building where I was violated, where trust was shattered, is incredibly difficult, but what’s harder is knowing in a moment when we needed support, the district offices failed to provide it.”
NBC4 received the following statement from a spokesperson with the district:
“The District takes concerns regarding teacher support seriously. When we became aware of the allegations at Toll Gate Elementary School in October, the individual was immediately removed from the building. A thorough sweep of both the elementary and connected middle school building was conducted by the District’s Safety and Security team in tandem with local law enforcement – no other devices were found. District leadership was on-site that same day and in the days that followed to provide classroom assistance, partnering with outside agencies to offer wellness support.
The Board and District administration is aware of the concerns raised by teachers. To address this matter and strengthen future responses, we are taking the following steps:
We are overseeing the development of a comprehensive plan to guide future responses. This process will be led by a working group that includes representatives from staff, district leadership, and the broader community to ensure diverse perspectives inform the framework.
We are committed to learning from this situation, improving support, and rebuilding trust through meaningful action and accountability. Ensuring the well-being of staff and students remains a top priority, and we will continue to listen and take appropriate steps.”