JoCo Catholic school puts teacher on leave during ‘behavior’ investigation
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Cure of Ars placed a teacher on administrative leave pending DCF investigation.
- School says action protects students; will cooperate with DCF and archdiocese.
- Issue follows parish priest’s recent resignation amid a separate criminal probe.
Cure of Ars Catholic School in Leawood has placed a teacher on administrative leave after concerns were raised about the person’s behavior.
“We received a report of behavior inconsistent with our code of conduct regarding one of our staff members,” the school said in a statement Wednesday. “Per our protocol, this individual has been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of any possible investigation by the Kansas Department for Children and Families.”
The teacher’s name has not been released.
The school said the action “is not an assertion of guilt or wrongdoing, but was taken for the safety and well-being of all involved while the facts are reviewed.”
“We understand this news is concerning,” the statement said. “The school is prepared to cooperate fully with any DCF and Archdiocesan investigations and remains committed to providing a safe, supportive, and Christ-centered environment for every Student.”
The school, at 9403 Mission Road, is part of the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas.
“We encourage anyone with knowledge about any misconduct by a church volunteer, employee, religious or clergy member — regardless of when the abuse may have occurred — to contact civil authorities first, and then call or text the Archdiocese’s confidential report line at 913-276-8703 or online at www.archkck.org/reportabuse,” the statement said.
The issue has surfaced as the Cure of Ars community is grappling with the recent resignation of its priest, the Rev. Richard Storey.
In September, parishioners were stunned when the archdiocese announced that Storey had resigned amid a criminal investigation by Prairie Village police.
The archdiocese said in a statement posted on its website at the time that the Prairie Village Police Department had informed church officials about “a criminal investigation involving Father Storey concerning another adult.”
“The Archdiocese is fully cooperating with authorities so they can investigate the serious allegations being made against Father Storey,” the archdiocese said. The case is ongoing.
Ordained in 2004, Storey was pastor at three parishes in Osage County, Kansas, from 2004 to 2009, according to the archdiocese. He then served at Holy Spirit Parish in Overland Park from 2009 to 2015 before going to Cure of Ars.