Fired Houston High School choir director Rayburn, GMSD part ways

Former Houston High choir director Billy Rayburn and Germantown Municipal School District have agreed to go their separate ways, according to Michael Gaines, Rayburn’s lawyer.

Per district policy, Rayburn had the right to request a hearing regarding his termination. The hearing began in August. Gaines said the case has been dropped.

GMSD did not comment by press time.

The decision came more than four months after Rayburn was fired by the school board after an internal investigation by the district’s human resources department.

In less than six minutes at a specialcalled May 14 meeting, the board voted unanimously to fire Rayburn after the investigation said Rayburn violated ethics and discriminated against, harassed, bullied, intimidated, abused and neglected students.

The decision to fire him came a month after the choral director had been suspended without pay after claims that he kissed students, inappropriately touched them and made inappropriate comments.

In October 2017, Rayburn was given a letter warning him of his unprofessional behavior and that discipline would follow if it did not cease.

In August, Rayburn was cleared by Germantown Police of criminal violations.

Although Rayburn is no longer at school, some parents want to make sure he does not teach again.

Kris Stewart’s daughter sang at Houston under Rayburn for two years.

“My main concern and the concern of many parents is that he should not be allowed back in a classroom setting,” she said, adding that applies to if he wants to teach again in Tennessee or another state.

“I don’t think he and students are a good mixture. (Students) are young and impressionable.”