LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — A Kentucky high school science teacher previously suspended for bullying and harassing students has been reassigned to a non-instructional role pending a new investigation.
Jeffrey Wright was assigned to another role at Louisville Male High this month pending the investigation, news outlets reported. Details surrounding the probe are unclear.
Wright was briefly suspended without pay in September after a school investigation found he made harassing and bullying comments to students during the 2018-19 school year, according to a letter in his personnel file.
Jefferson County Public Schools spokeswoman Renee Murphy declined to say why Wright is under investigation.
The initial investigation appears to have stemmed from a parent's complaint that said their child was being slandered by Wright, according to a performance evaluation. Other students confirmed Wright would make negative comments about the student, both in and out of class, it says. Wright said then that he only questioned why the student was out of the classroom for a long time, it says.
The personnel file letter said Wright also made sexual comments, used sexual innuendo and acted unprofessionally. He has admitted to unzipping his pants in front of class and pulling his shirt tail through the opening to make a point about the school's dress code. When asked about using sexual references to help students remember course content, Wright said that he gave the class “creative ways” to remember the material, some of which the students interpreted as sexual.
Wright has worked with the district since 1999. His personnel records show his suspension was the first time he's been disciplined for misconduct.
Wright didn't immediately respond to requests for comment.
