Benton High School baseball coach Gregory Bryant will remain on staff for the 2010-2011 school year as a social studies teacher despite an arrest for soliciting a prostitute.
According to Louisiana state law, any tenured teacher arrested for a crime can keep their job, unless arrested for a felony.
“When we were made aware of the alleged charges against him we met with him and based on those charges we have removed him of all coaching duties and responsibilities,” said D.C. Machen Jr., superintendant of Bossier Parish Schools.
“These are misdemeanor charges, they are not felony charges, so they do not have an impact on his tenure as a teacher in the state of Louisiana.”
Bryant has been with the Bossier Parish School district since 2001 acting as an athletics coach and teacher. As coach he has led the BHS baseball team to numerous high school playoffs and even acted at head coach of the 2007 Louisiana 3-A all-star game. Bryant also acted as an assistant football coach during his tenure with the high school.
Benton High School Principal Vicki Thrash continues to have confidence in Bryant as a teacher, but feels disappointed with his decision-making.
“Of course I was disappointed. Coach Bryant does a good job in the classroom and he has done a good job on the baseball field,” said Thrash. “He seems to be a very nice guy. He took care of his business in the classroom. His lesson plans were always up-to-date. Whenever I observed him while he was teaching, his classes were always interesting.”
We have a great faculty at Benton high school our teachers are concerned about our students. They care about the welfare of our students, they care that our students succeed and that they become lifelong learners and productive citizens. [Bryant] has always fit in with that. That was his concern.”
Thrash said she would not comment on whether she would bring Bryant back as a coach if cleared of all charges. Machen said that regardless of Bryant’s success he and the school board hold all employees to the same high standards.
“We hold all employees to a high level of expectations, but if you are in a position where you are serving in a capacity where you are a role model for students, then you are going to be held to a higher esteem than an employee who does not deal with students on a day-to-day basis.” Views: 1756
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