CLINTON (WATE) -- A Clinton High School teacher is under investigation for allegations that she had inappropriate relationships with male students, according to an Anderson County Board of Education member.
Board member Ricky Rose said the director of schools told him the teacher is Megan Baumann.
She teaches social studies and has worked at Clinton High School since August 2007.
Tennessee Bureau of Investigation officials said the district attorney's office asked them to work with the Clinton Police Department Thursday on the investigation.
A spokesperson with the state Department of Children's Services said its special investigation unit has been assigned to the Baumann case.
"She's my first block teacher," says Zach Slagle, a Clinton High School junior.
He says Megan Baumann wasn't there to teach his U.S. History class Friday, but there was no official word on why, only rumors.
"I just heard she'd done some stuff with other students at the high school," Slagle says.
Slagle says he never witnessed anything inappropriate.
"She's a good person. She's nice and kind and easy to get along with," Slagle says.
"It's a shame, really. It's a shame," says parent Jamie Smith, who has a sophomore daughter at Clinton High School.
"Shocked. Disbelief. Hoping that it's not true. It's really an unfortunate situation for everybody involved," Smith says of his reaction to the news.
He's seen similar headlines from other parts of the country, but never expected it to happen here.
"If it's true, if they find her guilty, then they ought to convict according to the law. We've got to stand up and protect our kids," Smith says.
We spoke with two of Baumann's fellow teachers Friday night.
One tells us she did care very much for her students, but in an professional way.
The other says she did stay after school with students often, but the allegations of impropriety came as a complete shock.
