Montrose teacher charged in sex case fired
Published: October 14, 2009
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Jeffrey D. Norris
A Montrose Area High School teacher accused of seducing a 14-year-old student and providing her with alcohol and drugs was officially fired by the Montrose Area School Board on Monday.
The board voted to terminate the employment of Jeffrey D. Norris as a teacher at the Junior-Senior High School, effective immediately. Norris, 28, of Montrose, was charged in June with three felony counts of statutory sexual assault and related charges. Police allege he had sex with the ninth-grader on three occasions in 2007. He also faces wiretapping charges for allegedly taping conversations with Montrose Area School District officials.
While out on bail after his initial arrest, Norris was arrested again and charged with stalking, intimidation of witnesses and retaliation against a victim after he allegedly harassed the girl, now 16, while she attended a church event on Aug. 12.
The Independent does not identify victims of alleged sexual assault.
Montrose Superintendent Michael Ognosky said the firing was not related to the charges against Norris.
"Please understand that the motion to terminate Mr. Norris is not related to the legal matters or charges," Ognosky said. Norris was terminated because he does not hold a valid teaching certificate, he said.
Ognosky said, “He (Norris) was employed by the district under an Instructional I certificate, and he needed to meet the requirements for permanent certification by the first day of the seventh year of his employment.”
He added that Norris now holds an expired Instructional I certificate, not a valid teaching certificate.
When asked what the district will do to replace Norris, MASB president Chris Caterson acknowledged during the board’s work session that there will probably be some difficulty involved in finding a combination English/Latin teacher. "We will post this vacancy for a lengthy period of time, like 60 days."
Norris worked at the high school for six years, teaching English and Latin and coaching basketball, football and baseball. He was on unpaid leave since February, when he was suspended after state police informed district officials of the investigation into the alleged sexual affair.
