Four months after the Carl Junction R-1 School District placed music teacher Craig Smith on administrative leave for inappropriate behavior with a student and two months after he was allowed to quietly "retire", Smith has been arrested on charges of child pornography and stalking.
From the Carl Junction Police Department news release:
These charges are the result of an extensive investigation into inappropriate behavior toward a student.
During the investigation, search warrants were executed at Smith's home and workplace which led to the seizure and forensic analysis of his personal and work-issued electronic devices. The forensic analysis led to the discovery of numerous images of child pornography on Smith's school-issued electronic devices.
It is important to emphasize that no images of the stalking victim were included in this material. The stalking charge is based on a pattern of concerning behavior directed toward a minor student over the last several years.
Smith is currently in custody and charges are under review by the Jasper County Prosecutor's Office. The Carl Junction Police Department would like to thank the Jasper County Sheriff's Office for their assistance with this case, including conducting the forensic analysis of the electronic devices.
The Carl Junction Police Department remains committed to protecting the community and ensuring the safety of its residents. Anyone with additional information related to this investigation is encouraged to contact the Department at 417-649-7070.
The stalking allegations against Smith have already been in a Jasper County courtroom. The alleged victim and her family sought and received a full protection order from Jasper County Associate Circuit Judge Luke Boyer November 20. The online records, which have since been removed, noted that Smith denied the allegations.
The request for a protection order was filed September 13, according to the court documents, which have since been removed from case.net.
Shortly after his resignation, Smith started a GoFundMe, asking people to help fund his retirement, claiming health issues had forced him to leave teaching.
"Hello, friends. My name is Craig Smith. All I am asking is that 200,000 people give just $1. If you can spare a dollar, that would save me and my family and I can enter retirement. I have spent 30 years in the classroom and have loved each and every moment of it, but with some health issues, it is just time."
Smith's GoFundMe drive has since been taken down.
34 comments:
It’s a little past my bedtime but am I reading this correctly that the attorney for the city of Joplin is also retained by the pervert school teacher?? Peter Edward’s?
This is another example of why a National Teacher Registry needs to be implemented. Many schools allow teachers to “leave quietly “. Then off to the next district, down the road and get hired. Why, because we have a teacher shortage , because they don’t get paid enough to justify the education they received. We have a shortage a GREAT teachers. We need to do better .
Or in CJs case allow you to return 18-19 yrs later like they just did with a wrestling coach and hope the community has forgotten that you molested kids the first time you coached there.
School board should resign immediately they are fully responsible for allowing this offender to retire in order to keep his teaching certificate
As a parent with children in the district including a daughter I’m struggle to put into words how upset and disappointed I am with the superintendent and school board for allowing this person to remain in the classroom for such a lengthy period of time and access to kids. The simple fact that they allowed him to transfer buildings and stalk students is an utter failure by leadership and the superintendent and school board should be held accountable for this. Then to allow him to retire to keep his teaching certificate, they protected a pedophile, but not my kids or the kids in the district. Disgraceful.
Just like the Catholic Church did
Just to clarify he was a Choir teacher not band teacher!
Imagine that CJ schools protect pedophiles and enable them to have access to children. Such an outstanding district
8:27pm - oh you noticed that too, huh? So disappointed all the way around on this. Failures on many levels.
Again, School Districts - Have been doing a CYA - for Years, whether with Teachers or Administrators and even paying off their Contracts amounting to Hundreds of Thousands of Dollars - for their wrong doings.
Anyone, or any Agency, or any Business, or any Religious Group - that covers up any type of Sexual Actions should be held just as liable as the Perpetrator.
Thank goodness, Craig Smith's request on a GoFundMe Page has been pulled - the money was probably going to be used for his Criminal Defense. Plus, the sad thing is how his actions are going to impact his family.
A few years back a Teacher at Parkwood was caught in a Police search of the Highschool and Drugs was either found in her purse or desk. The School District tried to Terminate Her, but her Teacher's Union came in and sued the Joplin School District for her job, they eventually settled the case and she was not given her job back. This was all kept extremely quiet in the Press - but this is another situation of where a Teacher with Tenure - is almost immune to being removed from their position -
this man used to work at an elementary school like 10 years ago
I believe he’s a basketball official in SW Missouri.
Is this the same Craig Smith that was a baseball coach for a CJ 13 and under baseball team?
And now Cook is retiring. Doing what others have been allowed to do when they get in trouble. Shameful CJR1.
Mark Your Calendars!
There will be no school for students on Monday, January 20, as our dedicated staff will spend the day learning new tools and techniques to enhance the classroom experience. It’s their turn to be the students so they can continue providing the best education for your Bulldogs!
https://www.facebook.com/CarlJunctionSchools/photos/-mark-your-calendars-there-will-be-no-school-for-students-on-monday-january-20-a/1188736653252199/
Yes. Cook allowed him to be the announcer for football, basketball and baseball games. He proudly announced himself as the Voice of the Bulldogs and the school district enabled him. Superintendent and school board need to be held accountable.
https://rturner229.blogspot.com/search?q=JOHN+LEWIS
you got that right 915
A tenured teacher is not immune from being removed. A tenured teacher is protected from the whims of someone who dislikes the teacher for some petty reason. All it takes to remove a bad one is an administrator who will document actual acts of wrong doing, and a school board with a spine to back the administrator.
Cook jumping ship to avoid responsibility for protecting a pervert CJ should be proud
This happened in Joplin as well. They knew awful things about a teacher (Jessica Low) who went on to abuse two children. Admin wrote her a letter of rec and she had accepted a job in Neosho when she was arrested (because a parent came forward). CJ administrators are liable for this whole mess. SW Missouri is a corrupt mess, especially administration, who are by and large a product of failing upward and good ole boy promotions. Our children are the ones who pay.
"This is they way we have always done it..."
Where is the media coverage asking tough questions of the superintendent and school board?
Why is no one asking the school board why they allowed him to retire instead of voting to fire?
Why did the assistant superintendent issue a statement and now the $180,000 a year superintendent?
Why are people not demanding more answers and accountability? A teacher stalked a student in the same district for over five years and possessed pornography on a school issued computer and not one person has owned responsibility for what has happened. This is absolutely disgusting and shameful a publicly funded institution allowed to happen.
So CJ parents: TAKE THIS TO THE MEDIA! It’s up to you. Go to the local papers, but also the larger city papers as well. Talk to people outside of SW Missouri who are not looking to protect their own. This kind of rot should be brought to light and those who are responsible should be held accountable.
Same city attorney who represents the criminal Bobby Landis and the crooked Mike Greninger and helped them gain control of all the baseball fields in Joplin. Edward’s is on the same level as those he works for.
Yes, same guy. These referee associations protect their own. No accountability and no background checks. The douchebag that tackled the young football player is STILL officiating. Let’s protect the kids!
Is this on reddit yet?
Who is the city attorney?
Parents should start to question the associations led by Greninger and Landis. Also do a background check on their executive directors and assignors. They also pass on promoting the best qualified officials to lead their officiating crews. It’s horrible.
Will never see this story in the Globe
It's the lead story in today's Globe. You're right, though. Most people will probably never see it.
You have to wonder why the Glub doen't have a big story like this online. It's only available for those who take the dead tree edition.
Hacker did the story and he has the tenacity of a dead mouse. He’s one of Cook’s media buddies. There is no way he asked him the tough questions that the parents and community need to hear answers about.
Why did the school board allow him to retire?
Why did it take 5-6 six years for the district to target a student before any action was taken?
How does a district employee hide inappropriate material on a district issued technology tool for six years and not be found?
Why is the school board not saying anything?
Why is the school board not being held accountable?
Why did the school board allow the superintendent retire when he should have been terminated immediately?
Too much cover up and not enough people owning responsibility for lack of oversight and accountability.
Very disappointing.
I’m not sure how Landis is a criminal. He made a mistake, he did his time. How does that make him a criminal? God says to give grace & forgiveness.
Post a Comment