Failure to Report Abuse Leads to Resignation of McKeesport Superintendent

Educators and school administrators have the major responsibility of caring for our children. People who work with children often have to adhere to very strict rules and professional regulations, including mandatory reporting. If a teacher or other school staff member is alerted to a student being abused, they are required by law to report the abuse. If they do not, serious penalties may be assessed.

A recent failure to report abuse at a school in the McKeesport Area School District near Pittsburgh, PA has led to the resignation of a school superintendent, and other educators are being examined, too. Because the teachers and the superintendent failed to file a report about a student being sexually abused by a school security officer, they are facing serious penalties, including the loss of their teaching credentials. When teachers do not report abuse as they should, they might face criminal penalties and face lawsuits from the victims.

Talk to our sexual abuse attorneys to get a free, private case evaluation by calling The Law Office of Andrew Shubin at (814) 826-3586.

A Superintendent’s Failure to Report Abuse Leads to Resignation

As summer comes to a close, students in the McKeesport Area School District are returning to classes. Unfortunately, they must return to school as the district deals with a serious crisis. Superintendent Tina Wanzo has resigned after allegations of a failure to report child sexual abuse. Not only that, but several teachers are facing disciplinary hearings and possible firings in relation to the failure to report.

Reports from an internal investigation have revealed that Wanzo delayed reporting an alleged sexual relationship between a school security officer and an underaged student. Security guard Alexis Brown reportedly had a sexual relationship with a 16-year-old student, and a criminal complaint states that the pair had sex 10 times starting in May of 2023. Also according to these reports, another student informed a teacher about the sexual relationship, who then reported it to the school’s principal, Dale McCall, who in turn reported it to Wanzo. At no point did the teacher, principal, or superintendent report the abuse to the proper authorities.

To make matters worse, Wanzo waited to contact the private security company that Brown worked for about removing them from the school. By the time Wanzo made the call, Brown was already out of the district on maternity because they became pregnant as a result of the sexual relationship with the unnamed student. It does not appear that Wanzo or any other school officials who knew of the abuse ever reported it.

Reporting Responsibilities of School Officials and Other Institutions

Teachers and school administrators are mandatory reporters. This means that if they are made aware that a student is being abused, they must report the suspected abuse to the proper authorities according to mandatory reporting requirements under the Educator Discipline Act. Talk to our sexual abuse attorney if your child’s school fail to report abuse.

In Pennsylvania, where this incident occurred, according to 24 P.S. § 2070.9a(3), the chief school administrator is required to file a report with the Department of Education of Pennsylvania regarding any educator who has been accused of committing sexual abuse or exploitation against a child or student or engaging in sexual misconduct with a child or student. Such a report must be filed within 15 days of when the allegations come to light.

Under subsection (d), an educator who knows about any actions or inactions that constitute sexual abuse or exploitation against a child or student must report this information to their immediate supervisor and the chief school administrator within 15 days of the discovery.

According to §§ 2070.11(a)-(b), the Department of Education may send a written notice to a school to investigate the allegations of misconduct. The notice may include information about how the Department wants the school to conduct the investigation. Once the school has received such notice, it has 90 days to investigate and report back to the Department on the outcome. The school may indicate to the Department whether it will pursue local action against the educator and whether it will make any recommendations regarding professional discipline.

These laws exist in many states, and most teachers in the United States are legally required to report abuse. If teachers or school administrators fail to report abuse against a student, there may be serious consequences.

Possible Penalties for Failing to Report Abuse

Penalties for failing to report abuse may come in a couple of different forms. First, teachers and administrators who know about abuse and do nothing to report it might be implicated in criminal charges. This is more likely if a teacher did something to cover up the abuse or even allow the abuse to continue even though they were not an active participant. Second, those who fail to report might face professional consequences.

Under 24 P.S. § 2070.9c(a)(10), the Professional Standards and Practices Commission for educators in Pennsylvania may take disciplinary action against an educator who fails to comply with mandatory reporting duties. Possible penalties may include the immediate suspension of teaching certificates and employment eligibility. In short, if you fail to report sexual abuse, you might lose your ability to teach in Pennsylvania.

The teachers from the news story mentioned above will likely never teach again in Pennsylvania. Not only that, but finding teaching jobs in other states will likely be difficult, if not impossible. Even if these teachers escape criminal charges, they will likely have to start their careers over in an entirely new field, which can be extremely difficult. They also open themselves up to civil liability. If abuse victims want to, they can sue the people responsible for the abuse, including teachers or administrators who allowed the abuse to continue.

Contact Our Sexual Abuse Lawyers for Help Immediately

Talk to our sexual abuse attorneys to get a free, private case evaluation by calling The Law Office of Andrew Shubin at (814) 826-3586.