Inappropriate Conduct Between Teacher and Students Results in Termination

Case Overview

This case involves the firing of a 7th-grade teacher previously employed by a public school. The teacher allegedly maintained inappropriate relationships with several of his female students, all of whom were between 11 and 12 years of age. The plaintiff frequently sent unsolicited text messages and Facebook communications, along with questionable photographs of himself semi-nude to students. When the school district discovered this, they fired the plaintiff, citing inappropriate relations with students and misconduct.

Questions to the Nursing Home expert and their responses

What is the appropriate response for a school district, once they're made aware of these actions by one of their teachers?

In cases where the relationship with individual students is in question, the frequency, type, content, and privacy of the communications all factor into what response the school district should have. On the face of it, this certainly seems to be a justified termination of the teacher - tenure or no tenure - it is almost always inappropriate for a teacher to send text messages and Facebook messages, including photographs of his/herself in the nude to students - especially when dealing with minors of the opposite sex.

About the expert

This expert has frequently advised school district clients concerning appropriate responses to allegations of teacher misconduct, as well as advising them after an investigation is complete concerning what actions they might wish to take depending on the findings in the investigation. She often interacts with attorneys on cases, and has extensive human resources experience, including having served as a school district director of human resources. Additionally, her investigation reports have been used as employer responses to rights agency investigations.