East TN teacher fired for sex misconduct was relicensed, rehired

PIGEON FORGE, Tenn. (AP) — Records in East Tennessee show a teacher and coach fired for fondling elementary school students and sexually harassing teachers was relicensed by the state and hired at another school where he now faces similar allegations.

The Knoxville News Sentinel reported Friday that 40-year-old Daniel Allen Turner is charged with attempted soliciting sexual exploitation of a 13-year-old at the second school. Turner’s license had been renewed months after his June 2017 firing, despite him being on unpaid leave for a year as the first school system sought to fire him.

The state school board says it was never told by the first school system that Turner was fired for being sexually inappropriate with students. A football coach who recommended Turner for the new job says he also didn’t know.