A male substitute teacher at Harding High School in Bridgeport has been suspended amid an investigation into inappropriate contact with a male student and the principal is on administrative leave.
Av Harris, a spokesperson for the city of Bridgeport, said it is a criminal investigation and the suspension is standard procedure when a teacher is subject of an investigation.
The school's principal, Carmen McPherson, was also placed on administrative leave and interim superintendent Fran Rabinowitz notified parents on Tuesday.
"I wish to inform you that Ms. Carmen McPherson, Principal of Harding High School, is on administrative leave. This leave is without prejudice pending review of certain matters, and no factual determinations have yet been made," Rabinowitz said in the letter.
The substitute teacher is employed by Source4Teachers and the company said the teacher has been suspended from all jobs during the course of the investigation.
“The school district has made Source4Teachers aware that a substitute was removed from a position in Bridgeport Public Schools on March 31, 2016. Given the nature of the allegations and our policy for dealing with such matters, Source4Teachers has indefinitely suspended the substitute from all jobs in all of our partner districts pending a thorough investigation,” the statement says. “The safety of students is always Source4Teachers’ top priority. We are actively working to gather all of the details and are working with the District and law enforcement to provide any necessary information or assistance they need to resolve this matter.”
