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Pilsen, Little Village, Back of the Yards

Teacher Removed From Pilsen Elementary School Following Allegation Of ‘Inappropriate Behavior’

An investigation has been initiated by the CPS Office of the Inspector General, Orozco Elementary Principal Efrain Martinez told parents.

Mauricio Peña/Block Club Chicago
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PILSEN — An Orozco Community Academy teacher in Pilsen has been removed following an allegation of “inappropriate behavior,” according to a letter issued to parents.

Last week, parents were notified about an allegation of inappropriate behavior made against a staff member at the Chicago Public Schools elementary school, 1940 W. 18th St.

“The employee has been removed from the school and an investigation has been initiated by the Office of the Inspector General,” Orozco Principal Efrain Martinez wrote in the letter dated March 27.

Parents of affected students were notified and connected to support from the Office of Student Protections and Title IX, the letter stated. School officials were taking the matter seriously and were committed to providing students with a “safe positive, learning environment.”

Martinez declined to answer further questions about the allegations and deferred to the letter sent to parents last week.

“The safety of our children is always our top priority,” Martinez said.

CPS officials also declined to comment.

Last year, the Tribune detailed hundreds of cases of sexual abuse and rape at CPS schools over the last 10 years. The report highlighted failures by the district to protect its own students from sexual abuse and misconduct.

Following the bombshell report, CPS CEO Janice Jackson told Chicago Tonight that the district took “seriously.”

“There’s a lot that has been done, but my test is that if there’s one case, that’s one case too many, and so there’s opportunities for us to do a better job,” Jackson said.

Read the full letter below.

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