Lake County teacher fired after numerous harassment complaints

LAKE COUNTY, Fla. — A Lake County teacher accused of sexual harassment and threatening teachers has been fired from the school district.

John Anselmo, who's been with the district for 7 years, was most recently an instructor at the county's virtual school in Eustis.

Anselmo was terminated following complaints filed against him by several fellow teachers.

"Womanizing, arrogant, self-indulged," former teacher Joanne Ryan said of Anselmo.

Anselmo was first employed at Triangle Elementary School, where he allegedly taunted and sexually harassed other teachers.

Ryan told Eyewitness News Anselmo locked her in a closet when they worked together.

"He was spooky, it was spooky," Ryan said. "He was very different, everything he did was different."

After receiving harassment complaints, the district placed Anselmo on leave and then transferred him to Eustis Middle School. It wasn't long before a teacher there also complained about Anselmo, prompting him to be moved to the county's virtual school.

Records state that since that move, teachers and students have complained about being threatened by Anselmo. One incident was at an Office Depot, where he allegedly threatened a teacher who once complained about him.

Channel 9 has learned that Anselmo is appealing his termination and because of that the case is on hold.

WFTV