Pupils at Glenwood Middle School were astonished to learn yesterday that a well-liked mentor -- who taught them sex education and not to drink and drive -- has been accused of paying a 15-year-old Baltimore boy to perform sex acts and of driving under the influence.

The teacher, Klaude Krannebitter, 35, of the 700 block of Charing Cross Road near Woodlawn, did not report to work this week and submitted his resignation yesterdaybefore being arrested about 10: 30 a.m. as he was leaving the Howard County Department of Education offices in Ellicott City.

Krannebitter was a health education teacher at Glenwood for 12 years and coached baseball and basketball at Glenelg High School until spring 1996.

Pupils were stunned when they heard the news yesterday.

"Everyone had this look of astonishment," said Jamie Beck, 14, an eighth-grader who has been a pupil of Krannebitter's for three years. She said she and many other girls at the school cried.

"He was the best teacher," Jamie said. "If you were feeling really bad or down in the dumps, you'd walk into class and he'd make a funny face and you'd be smiling the rest of the day."

She said Krannebitter taught her and her classmates sex education, how to protect themselves against rape and the dangers of drugs and of drinking and driving.

Krannebitter, charged with six crimes yesterday, including fourth-degree sex offense and second-degree assault, was released on $10,000 bail. He could not be reached for comment last night.

Sgt. Steven E. Keller, a Howard County police spokesman, said Krannebitter was arrested Sunday in the Glenwood area and charged with driving under the influence of alcohol. A 15-year-old boy was in the car, Keller said, and the officer became suspicious when Krannebitter said he did not know the boy's last name. Charges were placed after the teen-ager was interviewed by police.

Pub Date: 3/25/99