Concord High School teacher under investigation, placed on leave for 'inappropriate comments'

 

A Concord Community Schools teacher is under investigation for allegedly making “inappropriate comments of a sexual nature,” the school district said Thursday.

Andrew Cowells, a Concord High School teacher, has been placed on leave and the district said it has started the process to terminate his employment.

Concord Community Schools released the following statement on Thursday:

The safety of our students is of utmost priority at Concord Community Schools. Any conduct that jeopardizes that will not be tolerated.

On Wednesday, May 5, Concord Community Schools administrators learned of inappropriate comments of a sexual nature made by one of its high school teachers. Concord Community Schools immediately reported the allegations to Concord Community Schools Police Department officers and the Department of Child Services. Additionally, school administrators began their own investigation.

Concord Community Schools placed the teacher, Andrew Cowells, on leave and has commenced the employment termination process. Cowells is prohibited from returning to any school premises or contacting any students, parents, or staff members.

Rest assured that any conduct that places our students at risk in any manner will be dealt with directly and severely. We are entrusted everyday with the safety and wellbeing of our community’s youth; we will not shirk that responsibility.  

This matter remains under investigation by school and other officials. Various state and federal privacy laws prohibit disclosure of certain information. To avoid interfering with and possibly jeopardizing those investigations, Concord Community Schools will not be commenting further at this time.