Schaumburg teacher on leave during probe of abuse allegation

A teacher at Robert Frost Junior High School in Schaumburg has been placed on paid administrative leave while DCFS officials investigate an allegation of abuse brought against him by a staff member.

Schaumburg Township Elementary District 54 officials described the allegation as the use of "inappropriate teaching methods," district spokeswoman Terri McHugh said today.

The teacher's name is not being released by the district for confidentiality reasons. The teacher is a full-time teacher assigned only to Frost.

The allegations surfaced on Tuesday when a staff member brought it to the attention of the principal.

The state Department of Children and Family Services and Schaumburg police were called and both agencies are investigating the claims, McHugh said.

Kendall Marlowe, a DCFS spokesman, said his department received an allegation of "abuse" by a Frost staff member on Tuesday.

While he would not release specifics, Marlowe did say that they have not had any previous contact with the victim or the teacher.

DCFS, Marlowe said, has 60 days to complete its investigation.

Schaumburg police Sgt. John Nebl confirmed today they are looking into the incident.

"We do have an investigation in progress," said Nebl, who refused to release any details.

Nebl said as of this afternoon, no one had been charged in the incident.

While he would not comment on specifics, Nebl did say that none of the students at Frost appeared to be in any life-threatening danger.

The school's principal, Paul Goldberg, on Wednesday called and spoke with the parents of each student taught by the teacher in question. A letter is going home today to the families of the rest of the school's students.

The teacher was removed immediately from the classroom after the allegations surfaced, according to the letter.

Frost Junior High educates seventh- and eighth-graders from Schaumburg, Hanover Park and Roselle.