Roy Exum
There was “the most disturbing story of the year” that appeared in the Nashville Tennessean on Easter Sunday that dealt with, as the headline read, “Teachers’ past misdeeds often slip past screening system.” As troubling as that is, former Ooltewah teacher and basketball coach Jason Hamrick was the poster boy and I am staggered that this guy is still walking the streets.
Hamrick spent 15 years at Ooltewah High School. He was clearly fired for “inappropriate fraternizing” with students outside of school. The fact is there were numerous complaints and inquiries regarding his conduct. It is inconceivable to me that criminal charges were not levied against Hamrick while he was on the Ooltewah faculty, particularly when a 2007 email was sent to the school and investigated by the sheriff’s office that “there is a child molester on your staff.”
But as he kept on making some kids call him “creepy,” why in the word did our Ooltewah administrators, our central office and – most of all – parents who sensed what was going on, blow the whistle? This is wrong, and the evidence is astounding in what smacks as a colossal cover-up.
According to a report issued by the Tennessee Board of Education, the state office claims:
* -- August 16, 1999: Hamrick was hired at Ooltewah High.
* -- February 23, 2001: Written reprimand from Assistant Superintendent Lonita Davidson alleging Hamrick forced student to buy basketball tickets in exchange for grades and had students work at his house in exchange for grades.
* -- November 4, 2001: Parents complained four in letters to Ooltewah High Principal Ed Foster regarding Hamrick’s coaching style.
* -- February 3, 2003: Parent/letter outlining meeting with Ed Foster requesting removal of Hamrick as coach, alleging he invited students to an inappropriate party (“I’ll bring the beer, you bring the women”), vulgar language “I don’t give a d***” and “I am sick of your f***ing attitude), and (even forced) a student athlete to get out of the car and run a mile on a busy street.”
* -- May 5, 2003: Removed by Ed Foster from all coaching responsibilities (records show he was later school’s cross country coach as late as 2011.)
* -- May 18, 2003: Written letter affirming removal as basketball coach.
* -- May 20, 2003: Written letter from assistant superintendent Dr. Lonita Davidson and Deputy Superintendent Dr. Robert Smith reprimanding Hamrick that, when acting as a chaperone on an overnight trip, he slept in the same room with three male students.
* -- October 8, 2007: An email was received by Ooltewah that alleged there was a “child molester” on the faculty. Email was not anonymous and a telephone number was given
* -- October 15, 2007: Police report filed at Hamilton County Sheriff’s Department and Officer Paul Maupin investigated. Individual claimed he slept overnight at Hamrick’s house when he was a youth minister. Individual claimed Hamrick talked to him about masturbating and allegedly touched his penis. Individual declined to press charges but officer recommended file remain open. (Whoa! You are telling me a teenagers tells a police officer an authority figure touched his penis but that the child doesn’t want to press charges … this is insane.)
* -- October 31, 2007: Hamrick was questioned by Principal Ed Foster and instructed to never supervise students alone. (This after he reportedly touched a student’s penis! Oh, that’ll work …)
* -- November 6, 2007: Ed Foster sent Hamrick an email regarding above conversation. (Nothing else was done! What if it had been your child!)
* -- April 16, 2008: Written reprimand by Ed Foster (written by Department of Education lawyer Scott Bennett) after students were pulled from class and questioned about “personal issues.” All students were males and not in Hamrick’s classes. (This just five months it was alleged Hamrick inappropriately touched a child! I told you Foster’s instructions would work … )
* -- February 26, 2013: Statements were made by two 11th-grade males. One said he had “spent the night” at Hamrick’s house “about 20 times” since his 9th grade year. The other said he was paid for “completing manual labor” at Hamrick’s home. The statements were collected by the Ooltewah High administrative team. (This five years after a written reprimand. What happened in those five years is subjective but we do know he had been actively coaching again.)
* -- February 27, 2013: Dr. Ava Warren, Human Relations officer, interviewed Hamrick regarding allegations. Hamrick resigned.
* -- February 28, 2013: Hamrick’s school site file is delivered, where above information was compiled.
* * *
I am not as upset over the fact Jason Hamrick was working as an instructor at a Nashville Alternative Learning Center until a tipster caused him to “be placed on administrative leave” (with full pay) this February, after falsifying his record mind you, as I am he was allowed to blatantly wallow in the mud at Ooltewah for almost 15 years. My lord, he should have been fired as soon as somebody first smelled the stench, but, as they say in the Hamilton County Department of Education, “ … that’s somebody else’s responsibility”
So this fall Jason Hamrick shows up in Nashville with solid references (who wrote those?) and when the Nashville alternative school called, it is believed Hamrick got glowing reports. (By whom!) Yes, the Nashville principal should have “Googled” Jason Hamrick and they did not. Common sense shows the Davidson County Department of Education erred in hiring Hamrick but the Hamilton County Department of Education deserves the greater blame. They overlooked 15 years of errant misbehavior and then let the creep “resign.” This is beyond my comprehension.
Any responsible person could have looked at Hamrick’s road map and seen dozens of red lights. I believe innocent until proven guilty – so help me I do -- but for no one to suggest that some type of investigation should have been initiated is a horrible example of all that is wrong with our entire country.
When Dr. Ava Warren confronted Hamrick in February of 2013 and he immediately resigned, I believe she should have notified law enforcement authorities and surrendered the complete findings of the Ooltewah administration’s investigation. It had to be damning for him to resign the same day. Even if Hamrick was proven innocent, that would have been the right and prudent thing to do, especially with children involved. Apparently, Dr. Eva Warren did nothing, save accept his resignation.
Even greater, if someone had the courage years before, some Ooltewah student wouldn’t have spent the night in Hamrick’s house “about 20 times” between the 9th and 11th grade. I’ll bet a dollar-to-your-doughnut there may be someone who still needs counseling.
But no, that’s not the story. Instead we are drawn to the fact the state does not adequately do background checks. I believe the bigger news is why the state’s Department of Children’s Services wasn’t called in 2007 when Ooltewah High got the email about a child molester. This stuff makes me want to weep, right after I throw up.
royexum@aol.com