A Chopticon High School teacher has been allowed to return to his classroom after being placed on paid administrative leave while an investigation was being conducted regarding an alleged incident in which the teacher struck a student in class. The student is 16 years old and in the 11th grade.

Assistant Superintendent for Fiscal Services and Human Resources Gregory Nourse told the Bay Net that the boy has been transferred to another school at his mother’s request. The mother has been in contact with the Bay Net via several e-mails and phone calls about the incident and she has expressed dissatisfaction with how the incident has been handled by the St. Mary’s County Public Schools (SMCPS) and the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Department. She has expressed that dissatisfaction to both School Superintendent Dr. Michael Martirano and Sheriff Tim Cameron.

The boy’s mother told the Bay Net on Wednesday that it is her understanding that the incident is still under investigation by the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Department. She said she is awaiting the outcome of that investigation before deciding whether to file suit.

According to the mother the teacher struck her son in the face for talking to another student during class. The alleged incident occurred on February 4th in front of an entire class of witnesses. The mother said the teacher later apologized and contends his action wasn’t enough to cause injury.

The boy’s mother alleges the incident is related to the fact that her son is openly gay. She said she requested a transfer due to harassment of her son before and since the incident. She submitted the following e-mail to the Bay Net before she learned from the Bay Net that the teacher was reinstated:

“My son attends Chopticon High; he is 16 and in the 11th grade. On February the 4th during his second period class he was turned and was talking to a student when he was struck in the face by his teacher. The school police and board of education have tried to keep this under wraps and this disturbs me.

My son has never been in any trouble and is openly gay which should not be a problem but I really feel it has caused him great trouble since starting Chopticon… he has had teachers make him remove earrings because it is a distraction and even had a you