The parents said they watched surveillance video that showed their daughter’s abuse during physical education class at Clearcreek Elementary, which serves students in pre-kindergarten through first grade. They said her former gym teacher John Austin Hopkins molested her, and that she was not the only one.
Hopkins is not charged, and the Warren County Prosecutor’s Office told Clearcreek parents “it will take our office a considerable amount of time” to review the evidence.
Now, they said the school district is not stepping up and taking responsibility.
News Center 7's Molly Koweek spoke to a Springboro Schools official Friday afternoon.
They said as soon as they learned of the allegations, Hopkins was placed on administrative leave.
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“When we first learned that the initial investigation, Mr. Hopkins was removed from the building immediately,” Scott Marshall, Springboro Schools communications coordinator, said.
He resigned, but there will still be a Hopkins in the district.
“I don’t sleep at night because I don’t want my daughter over there. I want my daughter nowhere near her,” the girl’s mother said.
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Hopkins’ mother is a second-grade teacher at Dennis Elementary School. Had she stayed in that position, some of her son's accusers could have been in her class. While she is not leaving the building, next year she will teach fifth grade, Marshall said.
“Given the nature of the investigation, you know, all parties kind of got together and got involved and decided that would be the best situation for everybody,” Marshall said.
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The parents of one little girl said that’s not enough.
“Still fifth grade’s not far enough away,” the mother said.
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“He needs to be convicted. He needs to go away,” the father said. “The school needs to accept responsibility for allowing this.”
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