FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 12, 2021
CONTACT
Jerrod Ferrari media@narrative-project.com 203.963.9224
Booker T. Washington Academy Escalates Complaint of Employee Misconduct to Hamden Police Department, Terminates Teacher
Hamden, CT – In response to allegations of sexual misconduct, Booker T. Washington Academy’s (BTWA) Executive Director and Board of Directors have finalized the termination of a teacher whose employment began in June. The teacher was terminated within 36 hours. School administration will be available to speak with members of the media at 4:30 p.m. in front of the Booker T. Washington Academy at 306 Circular Ave, Hamden, CT. All media inquiries should be directed to The Narrative Project at media@narrative-project.com. Immediately following notification of the complaint, BTWA leadership escalated the matter to the Hamden Police Department who has opened an investigation. The administration and staff are supporting the investigation to the fullest extent. Parents and families were notified of these events on Wednesday, November 10, 2021. “Our number one priority is and remains to be the well-being of every scholar enrolled in our academy,” John A. Taylor, Executive Director of Booker T. Washington Academy said. “Our actions have reflected that commitment and we will continue to work diligently to reinforce safety within our schools, support students who may have been affected by this incident, and work with parents to identify and meet the needs of families during this time.” “We carry the weight of these events with great seriousness and acted swiftly to address the issue,” Kelcy Steele, Chair of BTWA’s Board of Directors said. “Our next steps, as the proper authorities pursue this investigation, will be to protect and fortify our community and offer support, counseling, and transparency every step of the way.” Student information will not be provided. BTWA administrators and staff ask that all individuals respect the privacy of the impacted students and families while Hamden Police continue their investigation. To ensure complete transparency and keep parents informed of developments, any additional information will be made available to families of Booker T. Washington Academy through Classroom Dojo – a mass communication tool used to contact parents. Any additional inquiries regarding the ongoing investigation should be directed to the Hamden Police Department.
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ABOUT BOOKER T. WASHINGTON ACADEMY Booker T. Washington Academy is a Public Charter School Organization with locations in New Haven and Hamden. The school serves 517 students and is committed to providing a safe, nurturing, and challenging learning environment with the aim of producing responsible and productive citizens prepared to successfully compete in the global marketplace.