Board fires high school math teacher after state officials revoke certificate

A man who had been hired in August 2006 as a high school math teacher for the Peters Township School District was fired this week because of allegations he had an inappropriate relationship with a student in Virginia in 2001.

The vote to terminate the job of James C. Whalen was unanimous Monday, according to district spokeswoman Shelly Belcher.

His firing followed a decision by the state Department of Education to revoke Mr. Whalen’s teaching certificate on July 7. The department stated that “the educator pursued and maintained a romantic and sexually intimate relationship with a student over an approximately two year time period, starting when she was 14.” It also noted that Mr. Whalen accessed pornography on his schoolissued computer. His certificate had allowed him to teach math to students in grades seven through 12.

Ms. Belcher and district solicitor Ira Weiss said the misconduct occurred in Virginia in 2001. The allegations, from a woman who now lives overseas, came to light in 2012.

“There were no allegations against him when he was hired,” Ms. Belcher explained.

The district fired Mr. Whalen when it learned of the allegations in 2012. Mr. Whalen filed a grievance and in 2013 an arbitrator ruled that he be reinstated on the basis that the alleged conduct had happened too long ago, Mr. Weiss said in summarizing the decision. The district, however, decided not to reinstate him to his post but to keep him on paid leave.

“Given the nature of the allegations, the district did not want him in the classroom,” Mr. Weiss said.

Meanwhile, the state education department conducted its own investigation, culminating with the revocation of the teaching certificate. With no teaching certificate, the district felt on solid ground to fire him, Mr. Weiss said.

He said he believes no criminal charges ever were filed against Mr. Whalen.

Mr. Whalen was represented by the teachers union’s attorney Stephen Jordan as well as his own private counsel, Jonathan Steele. Mr. Jordan said he was not authorized to comment on the matter. Messages left with Mr. Steele were not returned.

Mr. Weiss said Mr. Whalen has filed another grievance.