Educator Of The Year Nominee Accused Of Pulling Girl Down Stairs By Hair

BARRINGTON, IL — A Barrington District 220 teacher is facing domestic battery charges after authorities say he pulled a 15-year-old family member down a staircase by her hair and sweatshirt at a Wonder Lake home.

Court records show Daniel E. Gonka, 47, of Wonder Lake, was arrested following the Sept. 12 incident and charged with two Class A misdemeanor counts of domestic battery, according to the Lake & McHenry County Scanner. A criminal complaint alleges Gonka grabbed the girl by the back of her hooded sweatshirt and hair, pulling out hair in the process.

Gonka, an art teacher at Barbara B. Rose Elementary School in South Barrington, was among nine District 220 educators nominated this year for the Lake County Educator of the Year awards.

Gonka was released with pretrial conditions barring him from abusive or harassing contact with the girl and is due back in court Oct. 13 for a plea hearing.

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