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CALL 6: IPS teacher accused of watching porn in classroom returns to work

Posted at 11:26 AM, Dec 07, 2016
and last updated 2016-12-07 19:41:46-05

INDIANAPOLIS – An Indianapolis Public Schools middle school teacher is back at school after being accused of watching pornography in the classroom in front of students.

Call 6 Investigates is not identifying Henry W. Longfellow Middle School teacher because he has not been criminally charged.

“Indianapolis Public Schools cooperated with law enforcement throughout their investigation of the allegations at Longfellow,” said IPS spokesperson Kristin Cutler on Wednesday. “As a result of their investigation, the employee in question is returning to work.”

Last month, the district said it was disciplining five employees following allegations of a teacher looking at pornography in the classroom and a three-day delay in reporting those allegations to the proper authorities.

RELATED | IPS employees again accused of waiting to report allegations, this time of teacher watching porn | 'We're not getting this right': IPS school board president reacts to another abuse reporting delay

Cutler said Wednesday she had no updates on the status of other employees.

A student reported to the vice principal that her teacher was looking at porn on his computer.

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According to police, the students said they were making fun of the teacher because he was looking at pornographic images and websites on his computer. Another student was seen taking photos of the teacher and posting them on social media.

"After investigating, we believe that the allegation had some inconsistencies that led them to believe that the teacher had not done what was alleged, and that students may have been involved in an elaborate plot to frame the teacher," said Sgt. Kendale Adams, IMPD spokesperson.

Police confiscated the teacher’s computers. He was sent to the Indianapolis Public Schools Human Resources Division for a follow-up investigation.

This is not the first time Longfellow Alternative School has faced a controversy involving a teacher and alleged inappropriate acts with students.

Former Longfellow teacher Shana Taylor is accused of having sex with students while working as a counselor for the district.

She was fired and criminally charged, and multiple other IPS employees have been fired or resigned over the scandal for failing to report the child abuse allegations to police or the Indiana Department of Child Services in a timely manner.

CALL 6 | IPS making changes following failure to report | Attorney: IPS Supt. Ferebee covered up Shana Taylor case to get $60,000 raiseIPS administrators sue, claiming wrongful firing over Shana Taylor case

Taylor’s trial is scheduled for January 4, 2017.