Schaumburg Christian School Teacher Accused of Masturbating During Class

The leader of Schaumburg Christian School said Wednesday that officials there contacted police as soon as their own investigation indicated that a longtime teacher might have engaged in sexually inappropriate behavior in a classroom.


School administrator Jim Toth also said he was “shocked and saddened” by the accusations against now-fired teacher Paul LaDuke. Toth said LaDuke, 75, had never before come under suspicion, despite assertions by authorities that the teacher admitted that he had masturbated in his classroom, with students present, multiple times in the last decade.


LaDuke’s attorney Irving Seidler questioned that admission Wednesday, saying LaDuke displays “some evidence of dementia” and seems “overwhelmed and somewhat confused” by his legal ordeal.


While his students were working on an assignment during a 10 a.m. algebra class Friday, LaDuke placed an apron around his waist, unbuckled his pants below his hips and began masturbating behind a podium, prosecutors allege.


One of the students who saw LaDuke’s alleged lewd behavior notified another teacher. That teacher contacted school administrators, which led to an investigation that resulted in LaDuke’s firing Friday afternoon, police said.


Of the 13 students in LaDuke’s morning class Friday, 9 were 16 years old and four were 17, Simonton said


LaDuke, during a bond hearing in Rolling Meadows Wednesday morning, was ordered held on $40,000 bond, charged with sexual exploitation of a child.


LaDuke, of Hanover Park, had been teaching at Schaumburg Christian School for the last 26 years, Simonton said.


While there is no evidence that any students were inappropriately touched or physically harmed, any current or former students who may have information are asked to call police at (847) 882-3534.