Pittsburgh charter school teacher accused of failing to report child abuse

A 30- year- old teacher at Environmental Charter School in Pittsburgh will stand trial on charges she failed to report an allegation of child sexual abuse in 2016 after a fourth grade student allegedly confided in her.

Alexandra M. Duffy, of Wilkinsburg, was charged July 11 with a felony count of endangering the welfare of children and failure to report, according to court records, and the case was sent to Allegheny County Common Pleas Court on Wednesday.

Ms. Duffy was placed on administrative leave from the school in late May as soon as the administration learned of the allegations, Nikole Shaeffer, chief innovation and outreach officer, said Monday.

Ms. Duffy is accused of failing to report alleged abuse to authorities after a fourth grade girl confided in Ms. Duffy that a male peer had made a comment about the girl’s sexuality and then put his hand down her pants in the “library room,” according to the complaint.

The girl told investigators she reported the incident to Ms. Duffy immediately, according to the criminal complaint, but that Ms. Duffy dismissed it, saying the male “would never do that,” according to the complaint. The girl told investigators Ms. Duffy pulled her out of class the next day to ask why she was distracted, and the girl reiterated the report of abuse, according to the complaint.

Ms. Duffy’s attorney, Owen Seman, said Ms. Duffy was “stunned” by the allegation of wrongdoing.

“We are absolutely maintaining complete innocence here, and we look forward to having an opportunity to actually question the person who is making these allegations,” he said.

He added that the county’s Office of Children, Youth and Families investigated the allegations and concluded last week that they were “unfounded.” Ms. Shaeffer said the school was also notified Monday that the CYF case had been closed as unfounded.

Ms. Shaeffer said Monday that the school has taken steps to ensure students will be safe when they return this fall.

“As with anything that would happen in a case where a staff member would be accused of anything like that, we immediately move into action and ensure all of our students are safe and that we can follow any protocols we need to follow,” she said.

She declined to say what grade or topics Ms. Duffy taught. The teacher, while on leave, is being paid until the end of her annual academicyear contract, Ms. Shaeffer said. Any decision on whether to renew Ms. Duffy’s contract this fall will depend on the outcome of the case, Ms. Shaeffer added.