A gym teacher at a northwest Indiana middle school has been charged with sexual misconduct and child molestation.
Paul Chandler, a gym and math teacher at Block Middle School in East Chicago, was charged Monday.
“I was alerted that one of our students here at the school had revealed to her cheerleading coach that she was uncomfortable around one of our teachers,” said Human Resources Director Sally Clark.
In September, school administrators contacted police after two students said Chandler touched them inappropriately.
“It raises concerns,” said parent Chuck Johnson. “You just don’t know what’s going to happen.”
A 13-year-old student said Chandler “brushed his fingers over her thighs” while she did her schoolwork in class, court records show. Another student, 14, said Chandler “began to rub her arm and pull her hair,” before inappropriately touching her with his knee.
“He’s suspended with pay pending an investigation and we will see where these charges go and we will take appropriate action after that time,” Clark said.
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Johnson, whose 13-year-old son attends Block, said he feels shaken by the charges.
“You see so much of it going on in the schools, churches, you’re at the point you can’t trust nobody no more,” he said.
