5 Knox County teachers on administrative leave

5 Knox County teachers on administrative leave

By SHELBY BAKER
6 News Reporter

KNOXVILLE (WATE) -- There are currently five Knox County teachers on administrative leave. Most of them are facing allegations of inappropriate conduct with a student.

Ken Davis, a Halls High School teacher, was placed on administrative leave with pay on April 1, 2009. He is accused of inappropriate conduct with students.

Paula Gumpman, a teacher at Eastport Elementary School, was placed on leave with pay in April 27, 2009 for allegations of physical contact with a student.

Danny Sanders, a Carter High School teacher, was put on leave with pay September 12, 2008 for neglect of duty.  He was moved to 20 days of leave without pay beginning last month.

Julia Detiveaux, an employee at Sam E. Hill Family and Community Center, was placed on leave in April for allegations of failing to properly supervise a student.

Knox County says the length of time a teacher is on administrative leave varies, depending on the circumstances.

Employees are placed on leave with pay while allegations are investigated. Based on the outcome, the superintendent determines if the pay status changes.

Also, Corey DeHart, a Halls High School math teacher who was accused of statutory rape of a female student last year, now has 30 days to request a hearing.

A judge dismissed the charges against DeHart in November 2008.

But Wednesday night, school board members decided if the charges are true, there would be reason to revoke his tenure.

"There are different standards between judicial matters and employment matters and different standards for convicting someone of a crime versus taking employment action, so we believe that the charges speak for themselves," said Superintendent of Knox County Schools Jim MvIntyre.

The school board says if Corey DeHart doesn't request a hearing in 30 days, his tenure will be automatically revoked.