2 Perry educators’ certificates suspended amid abuse scandal
A Perry teacher and principal accused of failing to report alleged child abuse had their teaching certificates suspended by the state Board of Education on Thursday.
Upper Elementary Principal Kenda Miller and fifth-grade math teacher Jeffrey Sullins are charged with misdemeanor counts of failure to promptly report child abuse or neglect after Arnold Cowen, a Perry teacher’s aide, was accused of inappropriately touching girls ranging in age from 10 to 13.
Miller, 51, and Sullins, 51, were both suspended with pay by the Perry Public Schools board after their arrests earlier this week.
State Superintendent Joy Hofmeister brought the certificates of Miller and Sullins before the board, which voted unanimously to suspend.
“Early Sunday morning, (Hofmeister) received separate messages from two Perry families,” said Brad Clark, general counsel for the state Board of Education. “Hofmeister immediately responded to each family and engaged her legal team, insisting on prompt action.”
The principal and teacher could request a continuance of anyproceedings until the criminal investigation is resolved, which would be an attempt on their part to avoid a complete revocation of their licenses while police continue to
investigate the matter.
However, school districts have used a suspension of a certificate by the state board after abuse accusations as an opportunity to revoke the employee's contract, a spokesman for the state Department of Education said.
Cowen, 85, the teachers aide, was charged in Noble County District Court with 18 felony counts of lewd or indecent acts with a child, two felony counts of lewd or indecent proposals and one felony count of possession of child pornography.
Miller is charged with one misdemeanor count of failure to promptly report child abuse or neglect. Sullins is charged with two misdemeanor counts of failing to report abuse.
Both said they didn't report the allegations to law enforcement, the Department of Human Services or parents because they believed the girls were lying, police reported.
Before the arrest of Miller and Sullins, the Perry School Board suspended Superintendent Scott Chenoweth while police continue to investigate.
Further investigation could lead to additional counts against Cowen, Perry police said.