Accused East Ridge Elementary School employee dies

East Ridge, TN (WDEF) – Was an apprentice teacher at East Ridge Elementary guilty of inappropriately touching some students or was it a series of accusations that led to a tragic outcome?

Those are two of the many questions facing the Hamilton County Department of Education.

An East Ridge Elementary student and alleged victim says, "I went up there and he started unzipping my jacket and he would start to give me massages after I went back to my seat ."

That student at East Ridge Elementary is one of a half dozen or so who have come forward to complain about an apprentice teacher.

According to Central Office that man was suspended on March 26th; 3 days after the first complaint where a student said he made her feel "uncomfortable".

The teacher was never charged, which is why we are not releasing his name.

Tragically, he reportedly took his own life last Saturday at a Chattanooga motel.

School board member David Testerman told WDEF how such complaints are normally handled.

He says, "Our job as educators is to report any suspected abuse. Once we make that report to the Department of Child Protective Services or Human Services will make their investigation."

The Central Office responded to our request for information with a time-table of events; including the fact that the Department of Children’s Services was notified and took over the investigation on March 26th.

The Principal at East Ridge Elementary notified parents by text the next day.

Parent Jessica Lickliter says, "It was the principal letting us know that a teaching assistant had been put on leave, suspended, due to a report from a child, from a student at the school."

East Ridge Police began their separate investigation on April 16th, but a spokesman says it has been suspended on the death of the teacher.

Parents are still waiting to hear officially what may have happened at the school.

The results of the school investigation have not been made public, and District Spokesperson Stacey Stewart tells us there will be no statement until it’s completed.