Gleason Teacher Accused of Giving Alcohol to Students
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WEAKLEY COUNTY, Tenn.- Weakley County District Leaders have suspended a Gleason High School Teacher pending an investigation of accusations that he gave alcohol to his underage students outside of the classroom. Officials said the investigation started after pictures on social media sites alarmed parents who then made complaints to the superintendent’s office. Director of Weakley County Schools, Randy Frazier, told WBBJ 7 Eyewitness News he suspended Ryan Burke Friday without pay pending an investigation. “We take these allegations seriously and when the investigation is competed and all the information is out there and we know what the evidence is, we will deal with it appropriately at that time,” said Frazier. School officials said Burke taught agriculture to Gleason High School students for many years, and officials said there are no prior complaints on his record. As required by law school officials said they contacted the Weakley County Sheriff’s Department and Department of Children Services to investigate the claims. “One of the families I’ve been in contact with their child is 17 so they are a minor and the other family member that student was 18. We are looking at two different groups of authorities that we are required to contact in these situations,” said Frazier. “It’s disappointing for any allegations like this to be brought against any teacher in any school system whether it be ours or any other school system. Once again we have to let investigators process, play out and then we will make decisions at that point.” School officials said they know of at least 2 maybe 4 student’s total that could be involved. They said they’re investigating each claim. School officials are also encouraging any student or parent with any information that could help to contact them. According to Frazier out of more than 300 employees in the Weakley County School System, this is the very first accusation of this nature the District has seen.
