T.C. Williams Teacher Resigns Following Allegations of Inappropriate Relationships

8:45 p.m. update — Alexandria police were contacted by Alexandria City Public Schools on Friday, June 7, in regards to an allegation that "a school employee engaged in inappropriate conact with a student," according to a release from the Alexandria Police Department. 

ACPS Superintendent Morton Sherman released a statement Monday saying the school system "cannot make specific comments" on personnel issues regarding staff or active investigations.   

"...we want our families to know that the administration will not tolerate any misconduct or inappropriate behavior between staff and students and will do all possible to keep it out of our classrooms," Sherman said. "Whenever there is any accusation of misconduct on the part of a teacher or any staff members, we fully cooperate with law enforcement authorities and encourage full investigation of the accusations."

Sherman said the school system is also taking measures to protect and support students, including counseling services as needed. 

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A male teacher at T.C. Williams High School has resigned following an investigation into the teacher's relationship with several female students, according to a letter from Principal Suzanne Maxey.

The letter to parents, dated Monday, said in part: 

Last Friday, two students reported rumors that one of our male teachers was having inappropriate relations with several of our female students. As we do with any rumor, we thoroughly investigated the situation. Within a short time, we discovered enough information to contact ACPS Human Resources and remove the teacher from the school. The police have been contacted and all appropriate actions are being taken. Furthermore the teacher has resigned. Given that this is an on-going school district and police investigation, I am not able to share any additional information. I can assure you that the students involved and their parents have been contacted and we are providing them with appropriate support. Our student’s welfare and safety continues to be our primary concern.

The full letter is attached to this article as a pdf (see the media box at right). 

Alexandria Police Department public information officials did not immediately respond to an email from Patch.

In a separate-and-unrelated incident addressed in the same letter from Principal Maxey, students reportedly posted a YouTube video that "depicted our students in a vulgar and distasteful manner and contains homophobic statements."

Maxey called the video "distressing" and the administration is conducting an investigation. In the letter, she said the video has been removed from YouTube "but still remains an insult to the good and respectful students of our school. In no way does this video portray the real students of T.C. Williams High School. Our student body and staff remain a remarkable family of people dedicated to each other and respectful of human differences."