(09/30/08 – Initial BadBadTeacher.com Report)
Leah Pourdavood, 40, a pre-kindergarten teacher at Jones Elementary, in Jones, Oklahoma and her husband, Reza Ross Pourdavood, 53, a professor at Langston University have been arrested in connection with the alleged sexual abuse of an Edmond teenage girl.
Reza Pourdavood was arrested on seven complaints of child sexual abuse and Leah Pourdavood was arrested on one complaint of enabling child abuse.
The Pourdavoods came to the attention of authorities when the alleged victim went to her high school counselor and asked questions about how to deal with people “getting in her face and yelling.” As the counselor talked with the girl the allegations of abuse came out.
Reportedly both Leah and Reza Pourdavood were released from jail on $70,000 bond each.
Jones Public Schools Superintendent Mike Steele says the school system is conducting its own investigation and that Leah Pourdavood is suspended from teaching duties.
Reference:
Langston professor, school teacher arrested in sex abuse case (09/30/08)
Professor, school teacher arrested in sex abuse case (09/29/08)
Entries (RSS)
December 3rd, 2008 at 9:56 pm
hello i just heard about this craziness and cannot believe it. Ross was my algebra teacher and sure he was very nice, But i believe what we as a community should first focus on is the wellfare and wellbeing of children. Whether it is true or not this child needs to have some support either through her tragedy or through her dysfunction. Could you please for one secound take your focus off of what has been done to the adults and try to first aid in the life of an obviously strggling young person. You ask what has happened to “innocent until proven guilty” but you have already branded this child as a liar. And I hope for her sake and theirs that youre right, but God help you all if you are wrong. Then not only is she harmed by those she knows but now also from her community. Think if it was your child and a “well loved” teacher? What would you do? What would you hope to get from your community? Innocent until proven guilty, yes. Lets all apply that to the wellfare of this young , and Im sure very affraid, girl. and lastly I would like to give a big shout out to God for giving our schools some of the best coucelors that care enough to make some noise.
October 6th, 2008 at 9:40 am
I have known Ross & Leah for over a decade and I flat-out DO NOT BELIEVE THIS allegation. They are kind, gentle, loving, giving people. Ross (Reza) helped me through an incredibly hard time in my life at great expense of his personal time and effort. Leah is simply a sweetheart.
It breaks my heart to see this tragedy in progress. Of course the allegations against the family have to be investigated. However, when they are shown to be completely unfounded, their innocence should be shouted from the rooftops and shown at least as prominently (online, in the papers, on radio and television) as their accusation and arrest have been.
Reza was first my college professor but became one of the truest friends I have ever known. I have been in this family’s home many times and had them in mine as well. They (and their accuser) need your prayers.
October 4th, 2008 at 7:47 pm
I know Leah and can not believe what this site has done to her Picture. It’s like she is already proven guilty. I have nephews that were her students. She has always been a very sweet and loving person. Please do us all a favor and take that off the picture until she is tried and proven guilty.
The “that” on the picture is simply a watermark that gets applied to graphics on the site. The watermark says “BadBadTeacher.com”, that’s the name of this site. The watermark was added a few weeks ago to combat thievery by lazy webmasters that would steal graphics here and use them on their web sites. Once the case has been concluded, a graphic banner denoting, “Guilty”, “Not Guilty” or “Charges Dismissed” will appear at the top of the entry to denote the outcome of the case. – webmaster
October 4th, 2008 at 7:41 pm
I can not believe that she has already been proven guilty. That is so sad. With the way some of these kids are these days it could be anyone of us tomorrow. As for me I would want the people that know me and love me to stand by me no matter what. BTW I am Josh’s Aunt and proud to say I was on that camping trip as well, and would love to go again anytime. We go every year the offer is always open. We all through hard times just remeber you are loved. OK. What about her children; if she is innocent look at what that one child has done to that family. How will she be punished, probably not at all is my guess. She will just look as if she is troubled. Why not make her pay the same way Leah had to pay, by going to JAIL? No matter what these are the same kids that will one day take over this world, because they have no conquenceses for what they do. How many more families will be broken up because of these kids.
October 4th, 2008 at 7:11 pm
I am a Junior now and 10 yrs ago she was my teacher. A close friend of my family. I no longer live in Oklahoma moved to Texas in 2001, but would welcome her whole family with open arms to visit my family even if what is said is true. Everyone makes mistakes if you say you have never made one you just did….liar….just kidding. In all honesty speaking of Leah, she is a great person in and out of school. Her family even went camping with mine. A lot of kids around only kindness shown. Nothing bad or suspicious happened. By the way Leah if you read this please know we are praying for you and your family. I have faith in Leah just not in the judicial system. Like many have said what happen to “innocent until proven guilty.” Love You Leah. Please remember my family is 100% behind you.
In keeping with site policies as outlined in the “Comments” page the last name of the person purported to have left this comment has been altered to an initial only by the site moderator.
October 2nd, 2008 at 9:46 am
You do know that it takes a great deal of courage for a child to come forward with such charges. Nice people can have stinkin’ thinkin’ in certain areas of their life. Do you really know what goes on in another persons home, marriage, dark places of the mind. Don’t be so naive. Bad things happen to good people and vice versa.
If Leah knew what had happened and didn’t address the issue she has a greater responsibiblity that just a joe off the street to report such things. She is a trained educator–people! Hello! On a teaching liscense application it talks about moral inturptitude. There are no grey lines here if she knew and didn’t report it –that’s a bad call that will effect her life for a long time. If she didn’t know–well again, the courts will decide that.
Ross–again, a teacher with tons of training. Doesn’t make him perfect. There are lots of people who get caught up in bad stuff but when your bad stuff effects others in a bad way–it’s a crime. Again, let the courts decide. In the mean time…protect our children…they (the children) are the victims that they pledged to protect.
We don’t need to villianize. Let the courts decided if and who is at fault but lay off the victim. Obviously the girl is young, in high school. So cut her some slack. Coming forward with something like this is not easy or popular but it is the right thing to do.
This is not Salem, 1692. No one is looking for witches and no one is playing games with other peoples lives. The truth can be stranger than fiction. Wait, pray, let the courts decide.
October 1st, 2008 at 11:11 am
I do know these people personally, and I want to start by saying that if you have ever met them you wouldn’t believe it. They are so very nice. Then again, nice doesn’t always mean that you wouldn’t do something bad. I personally plan to stand behind them unless/and until evidence proves me wrong. Does anyone even know how the Pourdavood’s know this girl? It isn’t their child. Is she a friend of their child, is is a babysitter, is it someone the Pourdavood’s tutor? Let’s hope people don’t judge until they have all the facts. I for one won’t. Unless proven otherwise, I will continue to treat them like I have over the past couple years. And frankly, unless someone is a party directly involved, it really isn’t our business to know everything. Also, I truly hope that if they are innocent that they will get an apology and not have to live with a stigma from the general public. :~)
October 1st, 2008 at 10:14 am
Children have learned that if they don’t get what they want, are unhappy about something or failing in school all they have to do is claim child abuse. It takes the focus off of them and places it on the parents and teachers. Our society enables this kind of behavior – kids know how to work the system to their advantage. Bring corporal punishment back into the picture at home and school and a lot of behavior problems will be solved.
October 1st, 2008 at 9:16 am
All I really want to know is what ever happened to innocent until PROVEN guilty?
This woman is a great person as well as a great teacher, she has taught several of my children. And I, like everyone else want justice to be served, and that is why we have a judicial system!
All i can speak for is myself and she as well as her children are definitely in the prayers of my family.
October 1st, 2008 at 12:08 am
Leah is not a bad teacher. I find these allegations very fishy. She was my child’s Pre-K teacher and she did nothing but LOVE those kids. I can’t speak for her husband, but I don’t believe for one second that she had anything to do with the allegations. Anyone that knows her would agree. She is NOT A BAD TEACHER.