Prince William County school officials are devising ways to discourage sexual misconduct between teachers and students as the new school year approaches. A systemwide committee is looking to better enforce Prince William County Public Schools’ policies against these illicit interactions that made headlines in the 2010-2011 school year. And school counselors meeting in focus groups are discussing tactics to get the message through to teachers.
“The issue of sexual misconduct of employees has been highlighted in the professional development that’s going on, leading up to school,” said Ken Blackstone, spokesman for the district.
In Virginia, 128 teachers have lost their licenses after being convicted of sexual misconduct with students, according to Charles Pyle, a Virginia Department of Education spokesman. More than 100 of those were revoked after 2007; a 2008 law strengthened reporting requirements, making it difficult to tell how much of the surge is because of more actual instances of misconduct.
But since last fall, eight licenses were revoked or canceled, and “there’s certainly more in the pipeline,” Pyle said.
At least a dozen local educators were arrested last school year, including four Prince William teachers charged with sex offenses in April and May. Another’s teaching license was canceled after a guilty plea.
Blackstone said it was not clear whether the committee of school administrators would issue a report or suggest policy changes, which would go before the school board.
Michael Otaigbe, a Prince William School Board member, said the arrests were “a black spot on our reputation.”
“Our community has to be able to have the trust that their children are safe in the hands of our teachers,” Otaigbe told The Washington Examiner.
In November, state officials released draft recommendations on sexual misconduct guidelines that urged local districts to ban teachers from interacting with students through texting, Facebook or online gaming sites.
The final recommendations did not specifically suggest these technology bans because of the variety in Virginia’s school districts: For example, some districts are so small that teachers could be good friends with half their students’ families, state school officials said.
Staff Writer Emily Babay contributed to this report.
