Teacher Who Won $1M Accused of Shoplifting

An English teacher from Maine who won the $1 million Global Teacher Prize last year has been accused of shoplifting a blouse worth $14.99.

Nancie Atwell is founder of The Centre for Teaching and Learning in Edgecomb. She was selected from 1,300 applicants from 127 countries at a ceremony in Dubai with former President Bill Clinton in attendance. She said the money will go toward school improvements.

The Portland Press Herald reports (http://bit.ly/1oGmPJ5 ) security personnel saw Atwell browsing through a Damariscotta store March 28. The security officers say she removed the blouse from a hanger, rolled it up and placed it in a bag she was carrying.

Atwell says it was a misunderstanding. She says she had returned another item and took the blouse in exchange.

She's scheduled in court next month on a misdemeanor theft charge.