NEWS
by Jade DeGood and KWCH 12 Eyewitness News | May 16, 2013
Doors were locked at Newton High School Thursday. School officials say it was a precaution after one of their teachers was arrested Wednesday. According to Newton Police, 45-year-old Eden Bloom was asked to leave the school several times before a School Resource Officer arrested her. That's when they found methamphetamine in her possession. “At the time of the incident no students were in danger,” said Newton Police Deputy Chief Eric Murphy. Newton parents received an alert on Thursday afternoon around 1:30 that there was increased security at the school.
NEWS
By Robert Marin & Alejandra Rojas and KWCH 12 Eyewitness News | May 13, 2013
A man who taught math at Dodge City Middle School faces 13 counts of sexual exploitation of a child. Joshua Lesser made his first appearance in court last week. Lesser taught sixth to eighth grade math at the middle school. The judge ordered Lesser to stay away from places where children may be unsupervised, school grounds, arcades, pools, playgrounds, parks, malls or movie theaters. His bond also prohibits him from using a computer, unless he is e-mailing his attorney.
NEWS
by John Boyd and KWCH 12 Eyewitness News | May 6, 2013
A Winfield High School teacher is on administrative leave. The Cowley County Attorney is investigating accusations of improper sexual contact with students. Winfield's Superintendent J.K. Campbell confirms they placed a teacher on paid administrative leave while the matter is under investigation, but did not offer any more information about what happened. Stay with Eyewitness News for any new developments as they become available.
NEWS
by Brian Heap and Factfinder 12 Investigator | April 28, 2013
The nation's school districts continue to search for ways to respond and train for school shootings. From the Columbine shooting in 1999, to the Sandy Hook massacre in 2012, schools have learned from violent gun events and improved their safety plans. FactFinder 12 Investigators learned some schools outside Kansas are going well beyond the current standard approach of locking down in place and putting more control in the hands of teachers and students. In McCook, Nebraska, about five hours northwest of Wichita, the public schools have adopted a controversial security program called ALICE.
NEWS
by Pilar Pedraza and KWCH 12 Eyewitness News | April 16, 2013
News of the high-profile violence that terrorized Boston can be difficult to process, but it can be especially hard on young children. Children may be just as emotionally upset about the tragedy in Boston as adults. But it is important to be honest with young kids about how you are feeling. Dr. Molly Allen, a child psychologist, said it is important for parents to take care of their own emotions, but not become hysterical. "Kids are going to mirror that response," she said.
NEWS
by Jim Grawe and KWCH 12 Eyewitness News | April 16, 2013
Students in a small Kansas town are being disciplined after spreading a rumor about a teacher on Twitter. Several students at Halstead High School are facing detention and in-school suspensions for spreading a salacious rumor about a teacher's inappropriate relationship with a student. The tweet said the teacher was involved in a sex act with a student that occurred in a classroom during the school day. Rumors in the small town are nothing new, but social media allowed this one to spread much faster and further.
NEWS
By Roger Cornish and KWCH 12 Eyewitness News | February 7, 2013
The Wichita teachers union says the state legislature has declared open season on teachers, and other public employees. Union president Randy Mousley today spoke out against a bill passed in the house last week. It would eliminate automatic deduction of union dues from the paychecks of teachers and other public employees. Proponents of the bill say it will protect union members from pressure to make political contributions. But the union chief says the issue is really more about free speech.
NEWS
by Samantha Anderson and KWCH 12 Eyewitness News | February 6, 2013
A former Solomon teacher accused of having a sexual relationship with high school students is now in police custody. Amber Stroda, 28, turned herself in to authorities Wednesday morning, one day after a warrant was issued for her arrest. She is charged with three counts of feloniously engaging in consensual intercourse and three counts of feloniously engaging in sexual sodomy. The two alleged victims are Solomon high school students. Jim Runge, USD 393 superintendent, said Stroda was a third grade teacher and a high school dance sponsor.
NEWS
by Kim Hynes and KWCH 12 Eyewitness News | February 5, 2013
The Wichita School District placed an elementary teacher on leave. A district spokeswoman tells Eyewitness News that a report was made against a teacher at Gammon Elementary. The spokeswoman says the teacher will remain on leave while an investigation takes place. She did not release specifics about allegations against the teacher. Stay with kwch.com for updates on this story when they are available.
NEWS
by Kim Wilhelm and KWCH 12 Eyewitness News | February 1, 2013
A mom says a Wichita middle school teacher sexually harassed her son and the district did nothing about it. The woman claims a female teacher at Robinson Middle School inappropriately touched her son. She says it happened during and after school. The mother says she reported it to the school in December, yet no one contacted her until this week. She says school officials questioned her son four times without her permission. She also claims instead of removing the teacher her son was taken to another classroom.