Harding principal suspended as substitute teacher accused of inappropriate behavior

Harding High School on Central Avenue in Bridgeport, Conn. Harding High School on Central Avenue in Bridgeport, Conn. Photo: Autumn Driscoll / Autumn Driscoll Buy photo Photo: Autumn Driscoll / Autumn Driscoll Image 1 of / 3 Caption Close Harding principal suspended as substitute teacher accused of inappropriate behavior 1 / 3 Back to Gallery

BRIDGEPORT — A substitute teacher has been fired and the principal at Warren Harding High School has been put on a paid administrative leave as an investigation unfolds into a report of inappropriate behavior between a male student and male staff member at the school.

Interim Schools Superintendent Fran Rabinowitz said she is cooperating with police, who are investigating the alleged incident which was reported to have occurred late last week. Rabinowitz said she heard about it over the weekend.

Principal Carmen McPherson, meanwhile, was put on a paid leave as of Tuesday. Assistant Principal Dane Brown has been in temporary control of the school. Rabinowitz said she could not discuss the nature of the leave or whether it was related to the fired substitute teacher.

The teacher’s name has not been released by police or school officials. Police Lt. Paul Grech said the investigation is ongoing. So far, no arrest has been made.

A phone call was reportedly made to parents on Tuesday about the leave, and a letter was sent to parents Wednesday. Parents were told the leave is without prejudice.

“No factual determinations have been made,” the letter continues.

“We have to take this very, very seriously, and I don’t think it is enough for him to be fired,” Rabinowitz said about the substitute. “If in fact the alleged behavior is proven, then it needs to be more than just fired from Bridgeport.”

Without further action, Rabinowitz said, “he could possibly be hired somewhere else.”

Rabinowitz said she could not discuss what the incident involved or where.

The substitute technically worked not for the district, but for a firm called Source4Teachers. Rabinowitz said she was not sure how long he substituted in the district.

Owen Murphy, a spokesman for Source4Teachers, said the substitute has been indefinitely suspended pending the investigation. The firm said it received a report about the alleged incident on March 31.

“We are fully cooperating with the district and law enforcement to provide any necessary information or assistance they need to resolve this matter,” Murphy said.

He said everyone who works for the firm undergoes a criminal background check.

McPherson has been principal at Harding for the past three years and before that was an assistant principal at the high school. She has taught in the district since 1994.

This incident comes after another one last week where two students got into an altercation on the football field. One students ended up puncturing the other on the shoulder with a pen. Both were arrested.