Oak Ridge teacher under investigation for student relationship

Oak Ridge teacher under investigation for student relationship

September 19, 2006

By ERICA ESTEP
6 News Reporter

OAK RIDGE (WATE) -- An Oak Ridge middle school teacher is under investigation by the police department for alleged inappropriate contact with a student. 

Investigators say Montgomery "Monty" Koons, a 6th grade teacher at Jefferson Middle School, is alleged to have had the student contact during June, July, August and September. 

Oak Ridge Schools Superintendent Thomas Bailey put Koons on administrative leave without pay. "I feel for everybody, certainly the young lady that's involved, the parents, teachers that teach at the school, this community."

Administrators say there is no proof that anything inappropriate ever happened on school property. The girl accusing Koons is now in high school. 6 News has confirmed the girl attended Jefferson Middle two years ago and was in Koons' drama club.

Parents are shocked at the news, but not rushing to judgement. Heidi O'Donnell has a 13-year-old daughter at Jefferson Middle who had Koons as a teacher. "I was very surprised that it hit so close to home."

Another Jefferson Middle School parent, Gay Marie Logsdon says, "We hope the allegations prove not to be true."

Monty Koons has been in the school system for more than 20 years. "Really we have to be patient instead of trying to make this larger than life and hurting more people than need to be hurt," O'Donnell says.

School administrators are being tight lipped about details surrounding the investigation, only saying the parents of the young girl went to police. Superintendent Bailey says, "Let's just say inappropriate conduct."

The Knoxville News Sentinel has quoted Bailey as saying Koons is accused of having sex with the girl, but Bailey would not go that far in the 6 News interview. When asked if it was inappropriate sexual conduct, he says, "I'm not going to comment."

Officials say Koons is denying all claims against him. 6 News went to the teacher's home. He spoke through a window screen. "I can't even say that. He (his attorney) told me not to say a word," he explains.

Parents describe Koons as a great teacher. 6 News looked through his personnel file. Twice he's been put on administrative leave accused of hitting students. But he returned to school after an investigation.

The superintendent says, "I want parents to know that we will do anything and everything to protect their children, that we're not going to hide behind anything, that whatever is out there, we are not going to put under the rug, that whatever the truth is it will be revealed and we will take appropriate action." 

Meanwhile, Heidi O'Donnell says, "We're praying for him, rooting for him, on his side and if this is something that is not true, I hope this rumor gets squelched and he gets back his position and back to teaching, back to normal. If they turn out to be true, I pray that there is help for him and that he'll seek that."