Duxbury teacher faced past probes
District sets up tip line after rape claim
Duxbury Public Schools on Wednesday — a day after a family sued the district in connection to a gym teacher allegedly raping a student — said the district has investigated other complaints against the accused teacher for “questionable behavior.”
The district also says it has created a tip line for the alleged sexual abuse case.
The past complaints against Duxbury Middle School gym teacher John
Blake were not for sexual abuse, as is alleged in the lawsuit brought forward by the parents of Joseph “Parker” Foley on Tuesday. Blake could not reached for a comment.
“Since 2017, the District has investigated complaints against John Blake for questionable behavior,” DPS Superintendent John Antonucci said in a statement.
“Not one of those investigations was able to identify actionable evidence of wrongdoing that would result in criminal or personnel charges,” he added.
Parker’s parents are accusing Blake of repeatedly sexually abusing their son when he was 12 years old. That alleged abuse pushed Parker to a drug addiction, his parents said, and he died from an overdose last year. He was 27.
The parents are also bringing the lawsuit against DPS, saying the district was “grossly negligent.”
“We recognize that the allegations made in the lawsuit are disturbing and we are deeply saddened at the death of Parker Foley,” Antonucci said. “At the same time, we must reiterate that the District took all appropriate steps to get the facts and took proper, legal action in this case — as we do in every case where a complaint is brought to our attention.”
Blake — also the high school varsity boys hockey coach — remains on administrative leave pending termination. The district is asking anyone with information regarding this case to call or text its anonymous tip line at 781-285-7184, or to contact Duxbury Police at 781-9345656, ext. 1185.