A Pittsburgh city school teacher accused of helping fourth-graders on a math test two years ago said yesterday that she didn't break any rules and was just doing what district testing documents said she could.

"I still do not feel like I engaged in any testing improprieties," she told a federal court jury. "I feel that I was complying with what the book said."

Beth Lynn Boysza was testifying in the third day of a civil trial matching her against the school board and former Superintendent John Thompson, whom she claims led an investigation into her conduct and wanted her fired.

She wasn't fired, but the school board voted to suspend her for a semester after she signed a letter approved by the teachers union in which she agreed to the suspension.

Her lawsuit asks for compensatory damages for her lost wages and benefits, in addition to punitive damages against Thompson, who is expected to testify today.

In a 2003 New Standards diagnostic math exam, Boysza used instructions on Post-It notes stuck to test booklets to help her students at Horace Mann Elementary School. She also re-read some of the questions for students who couldn't read well.

Gregory Miller, a lawyer defending Pittsburgh Public Schools, said she was cheating.

But Boysza said she was following directions in two separate test-preparation materials -- a teacher's guide produced by the district and a handbook prepared by the company that makes the test -- that she argues allowed for "accommodations" for students.

While the manuals don't make specific mention of Post-It notes, she said they let her use the same "adaptions" on the test as she used during the school year in her classroom. The notes, she said, were designed to encourage the students and reflected things she normally would say aloud to them.

"I did not put anything on those stickies that I would not have said," she said.

Boysza also said that after several meetings were held by school officials to discuss the test and a story about the incident appeared in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, she visited Thompson, who lived across the street from her in Shadyside.

Afterward, Boysza said, "My impression was that he was going to take over the investigation himself."

The district has denied Thompson personally intervened in the investigation. He is scheduled to testify today, along with former school board President Darlene Harris. The trial is expected to last at least seven days but will likely take longer.