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The research shows that an estimated 10% of K–12 students will experience sexual misconduct by a school employee by the time they graduate from high school. While Title IX regulations aim to reduce that number, they are only effective if schools follow the proper response procedures. One of the recommendations from the case study of Title IX schools showed that one of the key factors was training staff members (and retraining).
Recently, Terri Forsten, the former superintendent of the Concord School District, voluntarily surrendered her educator credentials more than a year after an independent investigation concluded she made several missteps that jeopardized student safety amid allegations of sexual assault by a former teacher. Foresten was already prevented from holding any job or doing volunteer work with a public school district, nonpublic school or charter school and the state had revoked her superintendent and principal endorsements. Forsten joins the list of 150 former educators whose credentials have been revoked or suspended in New Hampshire.
Because Forsten failed to thoroughly investigate sexual misconduct complaints against Leung and implement discipline of any kind to ensure student safety she’ll probably never serve as a superintendent or in a management role of any kind and her future as an educator is in question as well. There was at least a year where her former teacher may have continued to abuse students because of her failure to investigate. One of the report findings on the investigation into Foresten’s behavior stated that she did not ensure that the investigation was conducted by individuals with the training and expertise to handle reports of sexual assault. Don’t let this happen in your school or to your career. McGrath Training Solutions is a trusted leader in training school employees and leadership in the Intake and Investigation of sexual harassment, sexual misconduct, discrimination and bullying concerns and complaints. Be proactive before there is a problem at your school. Learn more at https://www.mcgrathtraining.com/titleix-compliance.