Index of the Freshwater Hearings
October, 2008
Oct, 2 (Day 1)
Opening statements by Mr. Hamilton (John Freshwater's attorney)
Witness called on behalf of the Mount Vernon School Board:
1. Steve Short (part 1) -Steve Short is the Mount Vernon City Schools superintendent
Oct, 3 (Day 2)
Witness called on behalf of the Mount Vernon School Board:
1. Steve Short (part 2) -Steve Short is the Mount Vernon City Schools superintendent
Oct, 28 (Day 3)
2. Zachary Dennis -is the student who allegedly was 'burned' and his parents filed a lawsuit against John Freshwater
3. Jennifer Dennis -is the mother of Zachery Dennis
4. John Freshwater -is the teacher that the Mount Vernon School Board is trying to fire
Oct, 29 (Day 4)
Witness called on behalf of the Mount Vernon School Board:5. William David White -is the Middle School Principal
6. James Hoeffgen -former student of John Freshwater
Oct, 30 (Day 5)
Witness called on behalf of the Mount Vernon School Board:Bill White - is the Middle School Principal
7. Kathy Kasler -is Mount Vernon High School Principal
8. David Levy -is chairman of the department of emergency medicine at St. Elizabeth Health Center in Youngstown
9. Bonnie Schutte -Mount Vernon High School Science Teacher
Oct, 31 (Day 6)
Witness called on behalf of the Mount Vernon School Board:10. Paul Souhrada -is the Father of Simon Souhrada and is a Columbus Dispatch Editor
11. Simon Souhrada -former student of John Freshwater
12. Richard Cunningham -is Chairman of the Mount Vernon High School science department
13. Katie Beach -Middle School Intervention Specialist
14. Katie Button -former student of John Freshwater
January, 2009
Jan, 6 (Day 7)
Witness called on behalf of the Mount Vernon School Board:15. Dennis Turner -one of the FCA speakers, and Steve Short's pastor (New Life Community Church in Fredericktown)
16. Thomas Herlevi (part 1) -owner of HR on Call, the company that did the investigation against Freshwater
Jan, 7 (Day 8)
Witness called on behalf of the Mount Vernon School Board:16. Thomas Herlevi (part 2) -owner of HR on Call, the company that did the investigation against Freshwater
19. Joseph Barone -former student of John Freshwater
Jan, 8 (Day 9)
Witness called on behalf of the Mount Vernon School Board:20. Joseph Faber -assistant professor of biology at Ohio University
21. William Oxenford -seventh-grade science teacher at Mount Vernon Middle School
22. Charles Adkins -eighth-grade science teacher at Mount Vernon Middle School
Jan, 9 (Day 10)
Witness called on behalf of the Mount Vernon School Board:23. Patricia Princehouse -lecturer in philosophy and evolutionary biology
Jan, 14 (Day 11)
Witness called on behalf of Teacher John Freshwater:1. Jordan Freshwater -John Freshwater's daughter and former student
2. Dino D'Ettorre -6th grade science teacher in the Mount Vernon Middle School
3. Barbara Spencer -Mount Vernon Middle School special education teacher
Jan, 15 (Day 12)
Witness called on behalf of Teacher John Freshwater:4. Deb Strouse -middle school achievement coordinator,assigned to monitor Freshwater’s classroom activities the last six weeks of the 2007-08 school year.
Jan, 16 (Day 13)
Witness called on behalf of Teacher John Freshwater:5. Tammy Henry -eighth-grade English teacher on Freshwater’s teaching team
6. Brian Cook -Brian Cook, eighth-grade history
7. James Marth -elementary math
8. Sara Malone -seventh-grade history
9. John Frye -high school physical science teacher and Dean of Students
10. Brian Gasdin -high school English
11. Ben Sanders -middle school guidance counselor
12. Steven Farmer -10th-grade science, formerly eighth-grade science
13. Ken Wiles -middle school technology leader
14. David Carter -high school guidance counselor
15. Donald Newcomer -previously sixth-grade science
16. Scott Dapprich -high school health and physical education
February, 2009
Feb, 27 (Day 14)
Witness called on behalf of Teacher John Freshwater:17. James Baroth
18. Karl Heck
19. Corbin Heck
20. Nathan Thomas
21. Riley Swanson
March, 2009
March, 25 (Day 15)
Witness called on behalf of Teacher John Freshwater.
23. Lori Miller - middle school 7th grade science teacher
March, 26 (Day 16)
Witness called on behalf of Teacher John Freshwater.23. Lori Miller - (part 2)
24. Linda Weston - administrator for 12 years retired Jan 31, 2009
25. Mark Neilson - father of Ben Neilson
26. Ben Neilson - former Freshwater student
March, 27 (Day 17)
Witness called on behalf of Teacher John Freshwater.27. Julie Herlevi - HR on-call investigator
28. Jeff Cline - a friend of Mr. Freshwater
April, 2009
April, 2 (Day 18)
Witness called on behalf of Teacher John Freshwater.29. Steven Zirkle - youth pastor who spoke at FCA and was prayed for during one of the meetings.
30. Wesley Elifritz - coach/ teacher at the middle school
31. Andrew Thompson - 8th grade social studies teacher, previously special education teacher, one of John Freshwater's students in 1998
May, 2009
May, 7 (Day 19)
Witness called on behalf of Teacher John Freshwater.32. Zach Dennis - student (previously on the stand on Oct. 28)
33. Stephen Dennis - Father of Zach Dennis (part 1)
May,8 (Day 20)
Witness called on behalf of Teacher John Freshwater.33. Stephen Dennis - Father of Zach Dennis (part 2)
34. Jennifer Dennis - Mother of Zach Dennis (also testified on Oct. 28)
October, 2009
Oct, 28 (Day 21)
Witness called on behalf of Teacher John Freshwater.
35. Dave Daubenmire -FCA speaker
36. John Fair - knows Dave Daubenmire / arrived at the square after the Press Conference.
37. Tim Keib - Former Mount Vernon Intern-Principle/ Assistant Principle (for 6 years 2001-07)
Oct, 29 (Day 22)
Witness called on behalf of Teacher John Freshwater.
37. Tim Keib - Former Mount Vernon Intern-Principle/ Assistant Principle (for 6 years 2001-07)
38. Darcy Miller - Son was in John Freshwater's class
39. Robert Bender - FCA (Fellowship of Christian Athletes)
40. Carie Mahan - former special-ed teacher, currently a 8th grade math teacher.
41. Jeff Kuntz - Past Mount Vernon Middle School Principal for 15 years (retired in 2005)
Oct, 30 (Day 23)
Witness called on behalf of Teacher John Freshwater.
42. Taylor Strack - student in Mr. Freshwater's class 07-08 same class as Zach Dennis.
43. Finn Laursen - President of Christian Education Association International.
44. Patricia Dice - Union Rep. since 1994
23. Lori Miller - recalled to testify about being told to remove her Bible from her desk after her last testimony, in which she testified that she had it on her desk.
December, 2009
Dec, 3 (day 24)
Witness called on behalf of Teacher John Freshwater.
45. Elle Button - Mount Vernon middle school science teacher for the last 10years
Dec, 4 (day 25)
Witness called on behalf of Teacher John Freshwater.
46. Bill White (5th witness called by the board, recalled to the stand because of new info)
Dec, 8 (day 26)
Witness called on behalf of the Mount Vernon School Board
22. Jim Stockdale
Witness called on behalf of Teacher John Freshwater
48. John Freshwater (also Board Witness #4)
Dec, 10 (Day 27)
Witness called on behalf of Teacher John Freshwater
48. John Freshwater (also Board Witness #4)
Dec, 11 (Day 28)
Witness called on behalf of Teacher John Freshwater
48. John Freshwater (also Board Witness #4)
Dec, 29 (Day 29)
Witness called on behalf of Teacher John Freshwater
49. Ricky Warren - Kenyon Soccer Coach
48. John Freshwater (also Board Witness #4)
Dec, 30 (Day 30)
Witness called on behalf of Teacher John Freshwater
48. John Freshwater (also Board Witness #4)
January 2010
Jan, 15
cancelled "due to unfair advantage by one of the sides"
April, 2010
Hearing moved to school Board, Board room (300 Newark Rd.)
Apr, 29 (Day 31)
Witnesses called on behalf of Teacher John Freshwater
48. John Freshwater (also Board Witness #4)
50. Sherri Perry - parent of a former student of John Freshwater - wrote letter in support of John Freshwater's 2003 proposal to the school board
51. Lori Ann Hubble
48. John Freshwater (also Board Witness #4)
52. Miranda Baer - was in the same class period science class as Zach Dennis
53. Kayla Wells - was in the same class period science class as Zach Dennis
54. Tokala Redman - was in the same class period science class as Zach Dennis
55. Ruth Frady -
Apr, 30
Witnesses called on behalf of Teacher John Freshwater
56. Angelita Conkel - was in the same period science class as Zach Dennis
57. Alison Ruhl - was in the same period science class as Zach Dennis
58. Maggie Wayne - was in the same period science class as Zach Dennis
59. Josh Grubaugh - was in the same period science class as Zach Dennis
60. Cody Smith - was in the same period science class as Zach Dennis
61. Aaron Morris - was in the same period science class as Zach Dennis
62. Jake Statts - was in the same period science class as Zach Dennis
June, 2010
Jun, 2
Witnesses called on behalf of Teacher John Freshwater
63. Michal Molnar - Expert witness - Middle School Principal for 8 years
64. Patrick Johnston - Expert witness - Medical Physician
65. Ian Watson - Former School Board President
Jun, 3
Witnesses called on behalf of Teacher John Freshwater
65. Ian Watson - Former School Board President (2nd day)
48. John Freshwater (also Board Witness #4)
Jun, 4
Witness called on behalf of Teacher John Freshwater
48. John Freshwater (also Board Witness #4)
Jun, 7
Witnesses called on behalf of Teacher John Freshwater
48. John Freshwater (also Board Witness #4)
66. Steven Hughes (former school board member)
Witness called on behalf of the Mount Vernon School Board
24. Brad Ritchey
25. Harold Rodin
26. John Liptak
Jun, 8
Witness called on behalf of the Mount Vernon School Board
27. Marsha Osborn
23. Patricia Princehouse - Evolutionary lecturer - called a second time first time was Jan 9, 2009
28. Mark J Hammond - Catholic Priest - Pastor at Saint Vincent
29. Steven Rissing - Evolutionary Biologist
Jun, 22
Witness called on behalf of the Mount Vernon School Board
1. Steve Short (called on direct examination also) -is the Mount Vernon City Schools superintendent
