Oklahoma educators charged in child abuse case may resign

PERRY, Okla. (AP) — A principal and a teacher north of Oklahoma City may resign after being accused of failing to report alleged child abuse.

An agenda shows that the Perry Public School board will meet Monday to consider the resignations and resignation agreements of Upper Elementary School Principal Kenda Miller and math teacher Jeffrey Sullins.

The educators are charged with failure to promptly report child abuse or neglect, The Oklahoman (http://bit.ly/2n1ngOB ) reported.

The charges came after 86-year-old teaching assistant Arnold Cowen was accused of inappropriately touching girls, ages 10 to 13.

A police affidavit alleges he told authorities he molested female students in class and initiated unwelcome hugs.

Cowen was charged with 18 counts of lewd or indecent proposals or acts on a child under age 16. He was also charged with one count of child pornography.

Miller and Sullins told authorities they didn't report allegations to law enforcement, the Department of Human Services or parents because they thought the girls were lying.

Both were suspended by the school board after their arrests in February.

Miller has filed a lawsuit against the Oklahoma Board of Education for suspending her certificate, arguing that the board wrongly sanctioned her by issuing an emergency order.

"The Emergency Order threatens to terminate Miller's employment with the School District," the petition states. "On March 3, the Interim Superintendent of the School District notified Miller in writing that he would recommend to the Board of Education that she be dismissed from employment under her contract as a full-time certified administrator."

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Information from: The Oklahoman, http://www.newsok.com