Robertson County Schools recently accepted the voluntary resignation of a Springfield Middle School teacher, resulting from inappropriate behavior.
A Springfield Middle School teacher has resigned after the investigation that began some weeks ago concerning inappropriate behavior on the part of the teacher, according to notes from a police investigation released Friday.
According to Police Chief David Thompson the situation was investigated and it was found that no laws were broken by the teacher. As a result of the investigation the teacher has apparently decided to resign. When we asked for a police report we were told that there wasn’t one because no law had been broken. ” We investigate crimes” Thompson said, since no crime was committed there is no report.” Thompson went on to say that the case was presented to the District Attorneys office and they came to the same conclusion, there was no crime committed.
As the letter from the school board indicates below, the teacher brought the situation to the board herself.
Springfield police have released 4 pages of investigative notes (not a police report). In the notes, there were several incidents that occurred between the teacher and one student. The teacher/student relationship evolved to include text messaging about subjects not pertaining to school activities which is against school policy. The student indicated there was one “accidental kiss” on the lips (because someone turned their head very fast at the last minute).
The teacher indicated that the student “grabbed her by her face and kissed her on her lips and that on the following Friday grabbed her arm and kissed up it.” according to the police investigative notes. There ‘may’ have been some suggestive statements revolving around a sucker (that Smokey will not repeat) allegedly made by the teacher, and at least one person indicated during the investigation that the relationship was evolving. Another part of the report indicated that hugging was normal and “happened daily” along with a kiss on the cheek.
The conclusion (according to the notes) was that “while inappropriate, no law has been broken”. Smokey feels that releasing more of the notes is not in the best interest of the child involved. The teacher was not fired but she did resign before the investigation by the school board was complete. According to Jim Bellis the Communications Coordinator ” It is likely that the report would have placed her job in jeopardy”
Below is the official press release by the Robertson County School Board on the situation.
Robertson County Schools
2121 Woodland Street ♦ Springfield, TN 37172 ♦ Dan Whitlow, Director
Contact: Jim Bellis, Communications Coordinator Ph. 615-382-2183, cell: 615-336-4919
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Robertson County Schools recently accepted the voluntary resignation of a Springfield Middle School teacher, resulting from inappropriate behavior.
Jamie Webster, a third-year English and Language Arts teacher at SMS, initiated contact with Robertson County Schools on Monday, March 11, and provided information concerning interaction between herself and a Springfield Middle School student involving electronic communication and personal behavior that was in violation of stated board policy.
Webster’s statement was reported to proper officials and she was placed on paid leave while both internal and law enforcement investigations began. On Tuesday, April 2, Webster voluntarily chose to terminate her employment with an unsolicited resignation and has relocated to her home state of Kansas.
Robertson County Schools will investigate any time policy violations are acknowledged or alleged. RCS understands that Webster was dealing with outside family and social dynamics that may have affected her actions, but cannot condone a breach of board policy, particularly that which governs staff/student behavior.
The school division cooperated fully with the Springfield Police Department in their investigation, which has concluded with no charges being filed.
Webster’s teaching position has been filled with no interruption to classroom activities.