His trial, though, has tempered him, sobered him, he says, and instead of ticking off all the things he'll do in the future if his teaching credentials are returned, he's ticking off all the things he will not do.

"I won't give anybody my cell phone number, I won't give away my personal e-mail, I will not sit and have lunch with my students any more; side hugs and pats on the back, of course I will have to stop doing that. It will be very hard because it's who I am, but I will have to stop doing these things."

He continues, "I will not become a club sponsor anymore. I won't go to the games unless she (he turns and looks at his wife) goes with me. I will pull another teacher into my classroom when I talk to a student. It has been an education, what I have been through, and this is what I have learned."

There are some things he will continue to do, says the 46-year-old educator. He will festively decorate his classroom and fly flags of the countries where his students come from. He will continue to provide food and a comfortable atmosphere. He will still encourage his students to be whatever they choose to be.

The acquitted man looks at his wife. They just passed their seventh wedding anniversary, and they are free to celebrate it. Things could be worse. They could be a lot worse.

"You know what the funny thing is," he concludes. "I will be a better teacher now."

Lee Benson's column runs Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday. Please send e-mail to benson@desnews.com