No ‘blind eye.’ Ky. school leader seeks info on inappropriate staff-student relationships

After his school district received “very detailed“ allegations about inappropriate teacher-student relationships, Fleming County Superintendent Brian Creasman took an unusual step last Friday night.

He issued a news release encouraging people “with information regarding any inappropriate teacher-student relationships, sexual harassment, assault of students, or unwanted contact at Fleming County High School to report” it.

“All years are important, but we are specifically seeking information for the academic years of 2014 through 2020,” Creasman said in the release.

The news release asked that anyone with information contact the district office at 606-845-5851 or send it anonymously through a harassment, intimidation and bullying report form on the district’s website.

Across Kentucky and nationally, Creasman said in an interview Monday, “This is happening a lot more than we really want to admit...in public schools.”

In the first week of March, Creasman sent an initial email to families acknowledging rumors circulating about alleged wrongdoing by school staff.

Since the news release was issued March 18, people have already come forward with information, Creasman said.

He said the information involves inappropriate relationships, messages, communications and interactions that “go way past the recognized norm of” the school staff/educators-student relationship.

“We don’t turn a blind eye to it. We have to investigate it,” Creasman said.

Creasman said he wants to make sure that possible victims are protected, that they feel valued and they know that school district officials are taking the allegations seriously.

Kentucky’s General Assembly should address issues regarding inappropriate teacher-student relationships, sexual harassment, assault of students, or unwanted contact, he said.

“It’s increasingly becoming an issue that public education and the legislature has to address in some form,” Creasman said.

Kentucky Department of Education officials and the chairs of the state House and Senate Education committees did not immediately comment Monday.

This story was originally published March 21, 2022 at 2:24 PM.