Tyler Whetstone and Ruth White

USA TODAY NETWORK-Tennessee

The principal and assistant principal of Knox County Schools L&N STEM Academy have been placed on leave, according to an email sent to families of students Monday by Superintendent Bob Thomas.

The email said that Laura Boring, a longtime Knox County administrator, has assumed administrative duties while principal Becky Ashe and vice principal Tim Childers are on leave. It did not state the reason for the action.

Carly Harrington, spokeswoman for Knox County Schools, declined to comment on the reason for the administrative leave, citing an ongoing investigation. She did not respond to a list of follow-up questions.

Knoxville Police Department Spokesman Darrell DeBusk said the department is aware of an investigation at Knox County Schools involving the two administrators at L&N. He would not say whether KPD is also investigating. He declined to release any further details.

Tennessee Department of Children's Services spokesman Rob Johnson said something similar.

“While DCS is aware of the circumstances surrounding the situation, the department is not conducting an investigation of the school at this time," Johnson said late Tuesday.

Ashe and Childers could not be reached for comment Tuesday.

In the note, Thomas assured parents that the school staff and administrators would remain professional and student-focused and thanked parents for their patience and support of the school.

School board member Tony Norman said he used to teach with Ashe and said she was "thoroughly pleasant and professional."

“It’s disturbing to hear this,” he said. “I’ve had issues for a long time about (this) … where someone is placed on leave and then (rumors) start.

“We don’t know anything,” he continued. “We know nothing, and automatically with administrative leave if there’s any accusation, your name ends up in the paper … I wish we could change that, but that’s just the way things are (right now).”

School board member Gloria Deathridge said she was "shocked" when she heard the news about Ashe.

“I love Becky Ashe, so I’m kind of concerned as well, and hopefully we can get this sorted out because the school has flourished under her leadership and I think they will continue to do so," she said.

The other school board members either had no comment or did not return a call requesting comment from the USA TODAY NETWORK-Tennessee.

Childers is listed as the vice president of the board of directors of Professional Educators of Tennessee, a teachers' association group based in Nashville.

Jacqueline Sims' son is a senior at L&N STEM. She said her family loves the school and said, "We thank the Lord every day that our son has had the opportunity to attend L&N STEM Academy."

"Mrs. Ashe and Mr. Childers have been supportive and caring administrators that have created a welcoming atmosphere for parents and a challenging academic experience for the students ... My husband and I are both educators and realize that principals who create this type of environment are rare. We are heartbroken for both Mrs. Ashe and Mr. Childers, who we hope will be back where they belong as leaders at the L&N Stem Academy," she said.

Sandy McDonald also has a son at L&N STEM. McDonald said she didn't agree with the way the school system handled the ordeal.

"I did not receive an email with the letter from the Superintendent but found out when another parent posted on FB (sic) last night," she said. "Becky Ashe is the kindest, most professional administrator I have ever encountered! I hope this situation is resolved soon and fault the Superintendent for not notifying ALL parents or providing more information."

Ashe has been principal of the school since its opening in 2011 in the former L&N train station downtown. She said at the time that her goal for the academy was to make it a model for the best practices in STEM education. STEM stands for stands for science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

The school opened with an enrollment of 180 students, who came from Knox County. Two years later it began accepting students from surrounding counties.

U.S. News and World Report ranked the school the sixth best high school in Tennessee in 2016, and last year it ranked in the top 10 percent in performance in the state.

Staff writer Rachel Ohm contributed to this report.