3 second graders allegedly participated in ‘behavior of a sexual nature’ at Portsmouth school, official says

PORTSMOUTH — An instructional assistant at a Portsmouth elementary school is on administrative leave following a report that three second grade students participated in “inappropriate behavior of a sexual nature” inside a classroom, according to a school division spokesperson.

In a statement, the spokesperson wrote that on March 28, another staff member at Hodges Manor Elementary reported the alleged incident to administration. The instructional assistant, whom The Virginian-Pilot is not identifying to avoid inadvertently identifying the students involved, was in charge of the classroom at the time. The following day, she was placed on administrative leave with pay.

School administration reported the matter to law enforcement, child protective services and the division’s Department of Human Resources, the spokesperson confirmed.

The statement said that because the matter involves student discipline, personnel and a “possible legal matter,” the division is limited in details it can share. The families of students in the classroom were notified of the report and informed of available counseling services.

Kelsey Kendall, kelsey.kendall@virigniamedia.com