Christine Holley, music teacher, busted for allegedly slapping, pushing kids

By Michael Roberts Thu., Feb. 14 2013 at 11:55 AM

Big photos below.

Christine Holley, age 61, tutors students interested in music, as she explains on a page found on the website Making Music Fun! But her message, and the smiling photo seen here that accompanies it, contrasts sharply with the mug shot she posed for after being arrested for allegedly slapping one student and pushing another at Hunters Glen Elementary in Thornton, where she works as a teacher.

Here's Holley's Making Music Fun! listing's "About Me" section....

I earned my Doctor of Musical Arts in Vocal Performance from the University of Texas at Austin. I have taught voice lessons to students of all ages from elementary students to professionals for 30 years. I taught voice lessons at the University of Texas, Southwestern University, the University of Southern Mississippi, William Carey College, and Pearl River Community College. I performed opera professionally for a number of years. I have a very healthy approach to singing lessons and have taught pop, opera, Broadway and more. I was Assistant Director and coached young professional opera singers at Opera in the Ozarks.

Hunters Glen Elementary.

...and here's how she describes the services she offers:

I teach voice lessons in Thornton, Colorado which is a suburb of Denver Metro. Neaby communities are Brighton, Westminster, Broomfield, and Northglenn, Colorado. I will be very happy to discuss your individual needs, schedule and your goals in taking singing lessons. Please feel free to call me. I also offer a free meet and greet lesson. Please call me to discuss fees and scheduling and I will be happy to answer questions you have.

This portrait of Holley contrasts sharply with the one sketched by Officer Matt Barnes, spokesman for the Thornton Police Department, in describing her arrest.

"It's alleged that she slapped the hand of a fifth-grade male student," Barnes says. "It's also alleged that she pushed a fifth-grade female student, who subsequently fell to the ground."

Barnes believes both of these incidents took place in a Hunters Glen class on the same day -- presumably a bad one.

After Thornton officers received a report about the incidents, Barnes says Holley "was taken into custody and issued a state misdemeanor summons on two counts of misdemeanor child abuse" in which injuries didn't play a role.

Afterward, Holley was booked and processed, resulting in the following photo.

Christine Holley.

According to Barnes, the charges against Holley are categorized as class-three misdemeanors with potential penalties ranging from a $50 fine to six months in jail and/or a $750 fine.

The maximum punishment is highly unlikely in Holley's case. Barnes says she has no arrest record in Thornton, and, to his knowledge, none anywhere else, either. He adds that such reports "are very rare. I can't recall the last time we've been notified of a situation such as this involving a schoolteacher."

Not in Thornton, anyhow. But remember the story of the Lakewood daycare teacher accused of pulling a knife on a six year old?

We Recommend

Juan_Leg topcommenter

Why do you think teachers make such fantastic alcoholics ? In fact, my fav teacher in high school survived off of 'Wheat Thins' & 'Peppermint Schnapps' .

alannahtye

1 Like

I am a parent of a child in the situation. Not all of the children where listed in this situation. And it hurts my heart that you guys would say that and you don't even know the situation. I also have children in the near by middle school, the entire school was jumping in joy because of the way she mistreated her students from former years. I just want to tell you guys that if you don't know what happened then shut your big fat turkey eating be-hides? Got it? If you got something to say respond to me.

regiment1

@alannahtye Just to play devil's advocate: Suppose you have a beef with this teacher, for good or bad reasons (who konws which). Maybe that would prompt you to say that "the entire middle school was jumping in joy." I'll check with my next door neighbor, who teaches there, and report back in a few days. Meanwhile, let's let what will undoubtedly be drawn-out, painful and career-ending county and school district investigation play themselves out.

ndlikrcookies

@regiment1 nope it's true, 99% of the students there, are swing things like "it''s a much better place now that she is gone." I would know because I am a student there.

ndlikrcookies

@regiment1 Nope it's true, I am a student there and 99% of the students that know her are swing things like " the school is now a much better place now that she is gone.

Cindy Schoeninger Routon

I agree..... the way kids act these days they probably deserved it. I'm glad my kids are grown

foodcrazy topcommenter

1 Like

I have a hunch that those two snot noses had it coming, and that there are a lot more snot noses there who are asking for it. Kudos to the teacher.

Juan_Leg topcommenter

@foodcrazy I'm 44 & w/o children but nearly EVERY woman I dated for a good 20 yr period, had kids . Of those, far better than 1/2 were in DIRE NEED of attitude adjustments .

Biggest turn off, clueless mother w/ children ....

michael.roberts moderator editortopcommenter

@foodcrazy That's one way of looking at it, foodcrazy. Thanks for commenting.

Matt Jurcin

I was in fifth grade once. I was a shitty little teenage once or twice... The kids probably deserved it! Also, I would like to say...there is a HUGE DIFFERENCE between slapping or pushing someone and/or pointing a gun at them. I think all you conservative, 2nd amendment smotherers should stop letting your imagination run away with you and use some basic common sense. If something like the columbine went down again, personally I'd take a teacher that's been trained to use a gun, rather than a slap-happy old hag. Its pretty obvious that if this woman had a gun, she wouldn't have "hurt" anyone with it. The whole thing seems wildly exaggerated.

alannahtye

@Matt Jurcin This is for Matt. You are making judgements about a situation that you know nothing about. This was only one day of events in a long history of issue with this woman. In addition, you have not heard the entirety of this days events and the children involved. Not only has she been physically abusive, she has been verbally abusive to children for years. Not all children behave badly and should not be put in the same class as you as a fifth grader. How sad that you would support a person that would think it was ever acceptable to treat children like this.

Eleu Vazquez

In Texas I got hit by teachers and principals like 5 times in public school lol

David Kotzebue

The nuns beat us w/rulers.

BeckyandTim AndNini Lacombe

Thats why you don't give teachers guns!

Conrad Luethy

and they wanna give teachers guns

val_godel

1 Like

I am horrified by your article. It seems you have forgotten that this is the United States and in our Criminal Justice System, a citizen is innocent until proven guilty. Currently, these charges are alleged and there is absolutely no evidence or legitimate information warranting your use of such disrespectful and slanderous words. Dr. Holley has been my son's music teacher for the last three years and my daughter's for two. I have volunteered during her practices and productions. She treats the student groups with patience and respect.

Shame on you, Michael.... and shame on you Westword for allowing such ignorance to be published in your name. I will NEVER pick up another one of your papers.

Val Klinzman

michael.roberts moderator editortopcommenter

@val_godel Thanks for sharing your thoughts, Val. As you'll note, the word "allegedly" is prominent in our headline and the post itself.

val_godel

@michael.roberts @val_godel

I did note that. However, it doesn't do any good to use the word "allegedly", then spew implications that are not supported by evidence. I am referring to your quote of Dr. Holley's Making Music Fun! listing, that speaks of her qualifications, experience and services offered. You state that this positive message about her is contrasting to her mug shot and what happened the other day at Hunter's Glen. Why not stick with who, what, when, and where? Anytime you make a contrast between one thing and another you are inserting your point of view, or high drama or something other than journalistic reporting.

Val Klinzman