John

Teacher denies illegal touching

Cleared of complaint by student in 2003

By CLAUDETTE RILEY
Staff Writer

A tenured Metro schoolteacher and highly decorated military veteran denies that he had inappropriate contact with six female elementary students.

Ronald H. Pearce, 66, was suspended from his job as a physical education teacher at Paragon Mills Elementary last month after a first-grade student reported that he had touched her inappropriately. Five additional students have come forward with similar complaints in recent weeks.

“Obviously, the very nature of the allegation is devastating. His position is that he hasn’t done anything wrong. He hasn’t done anything inappropriate,” said Bob Lynch, a Nashville attorney who represents Pearce. “It’s a very difficult situation. A man that’s had this history without any black mark on his record is entitled to some benefit of the doubt here.”

A review of Pearce’s thick personnel file shows one other allegation of misconduct in 24 years of glowing evaluations and strong annual recommendations that he be rehired. In 2003, Pearce was investigated, and immediately cleared, of wrongdoing after a female student reported that she felt uncomfortable when he “put his hands on her waist, under her shirt and pulled her toward him” on the playground.

“That is the one blip in his entire file,” said Woody McMillin, spokesman for the 72,000-student Metro school district. “You’ll find nothing but a really positive, glowing record.”

The current investigation was triggered Feb. 27 when a first-grade female student, accompanied by her mother, went to Paragon Mills to report inappropriate sexual contact by Pearce. School officials immediately placed Pearce on “administrative leave” with pay, which is standard procedure in such situations, and notified the Metro police department and the De partment of Children’s Services.

“The police department’s investigation is very much continuing,” said Don Aaron, spokesman for the Metro police department. “At this point in the investigation, six female students at Paragon Mills have reported inappropriate contact by the teacher. The police department takes accusations such as this very seriously. In any case such as this we’d ask that anybody in the community who has information about this to contact the police department.”

Aaron described the allegations as “inappropriate touching” but declined to provide more details about what may have happened, how often or where the incidents may have taken place. He said detectives have visited the school, but attempts to interview Pearce in person have been unsuccessful.

“Our detectives have made an effort to speak to the teacher in question,” Aaron said, noting that they had contacted him through his attorney. “He de clined our request.”

Earlier this month, Pearce, through attorney Lynch, notified Metro in writing that he “will not resign, will not retire” and plans to exercise all his rights as a tenured teacher if the district tries to fire him.

Pearce, who served in Korea and Vietnam, joined the Metro school district as a substitute teacher in 1981. Two years later, he was hired as a full-time science and math teacher at Glencliff High, where he taught and coached until 1997. A 1984 evaluation stated that Pearce “has displayed great potential, concern and enthusiasm in the classroom. He is a good teacher as well as a firm disciplinarian.”

A two-year stint at Shwab Elementary followed. Pearce was praised for teaching physical education and for be ing a strong “male role model.” His spring 1999 review stated: “Continue to be a positive force on our faculty and being a team player. Your demeanor with children, co workers and parents reflect and indicate your success as an educator.”

That fall he joined the faculty at Paragon Mills. According to evaluations, he met expectations and repeatedly was recommended for rehire. However, the allegation that sur faced three years ago led school officials to meet with him and come up with “strategies” he agreed to follow to avoid “suspicion of immoral or illegal actions.”

A summary memo placed in his personnel file stated that he’s not to be alone with students, put his hands on students or allow students to sit in his lap or hug him “body to body.” •