Education Department reviewing Heritage Academy's response to sexual misconduct complaint

Tamela Baker and Julie E. Greene, The Herald-Mail
·8 min read
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The Maryland State Department of Education has instructed the administration of Heritage Academy, a private Christian school near Hagerstown, to provide information on its policies regarding the reporting of abuse and neglect, background checks and other information.

And the department wants documentation on what the school did to investigate allegations against former teacher and Heritage board member Robert W. Becker, who was sentenced to prison last month for molesting a Heritage student in the 1970s.

Heritage Academy has been told to comply by Oct. 19.

Heritage Academy
Heritage Academy

While Heritage is a private school, it operates under a "Certificate of Approval" from MSDE. In a statement Wednesday to Herald-Mail Media, the department said:

"Maryland State Department of Education has become aware of reports of sexual misconduct by a Heritage Academy, Inc. teacher against a student back in the 1970’s, and the teacher’s recent conviction.

"… To verify that Heritage Academy Inc., is operating today consistent with Maryland law and regulation, MSDE is currently conducting a review of the school’s policies and procedures consistent with (current law), to ensure that the school is presently meeting all necessary regulatory requirements."

MSDE is requiring Heritage Academy to submit documentation on background checks for all current employees, a copy of the school's written policies on mandatory reporting of child abuse and neglect, and documentation of any investigations the school completed in response to the Becker case.

The Herald-Mail had inquired about the state's oversight of Heritage Academy on Sept. 9.

Heritage Academy officials have had little to say publicly since The Herald-Mail published a series of articles in the fall of 2021 about complaints regarding two former teachers at the school or following the recent pleading by Becker, the former teacher and board member.

Previously:Former Heritage Academy teacher charged with child abuse

More on incident:Heritage Academy reopened abuse and misconduct investigations, but accusers await answers a year later

In depth:'I was groomed for sexual abuse within the walls of Heritage Academy,' accuser says

But on Thursday, the school's board of directors sent a three-paragraph letter to parents assuring them that their children's "safety, health and spiritual growth is our primary concern."

The letter, obtained by The Herald-Mail, says that "Our current board and administration has recently become aware of the conviction of a former Heritage Academy teacher for an abuse incident that happened 44 years ago.

"To ensure the safety of our current students, we have a comprehensive policy that is taught to teachers and staff at the beginning of each year. We are constantly reviewing these policies to ensure they continue to reflect today’s standards of child protection. Each of our current teachers and staff members have completed FBI background checks and have completed specific training to prevent and recognize child abuse."

It does not mention the state's review or that Becker was a board member until the complaints resurfaced.

The individual who was the victim of sexual abuse in the Becker case said in a phone interview Thursday evening that the letter falls short of addressing the issues surrounding the conviction. The former student, whom The Herald-Mail referred to as "Anita" in stories about the case because she is a victim of sexual abuse, said the letter makes it seem like Becker's actions happened a long time ago at the school when, in fact, he was with the institution until 2014.

And she said others at the school came forward with similar concerns.

Anita said it's hard to believe the school's statement that it's concerned about the safety of students. She said no one from the school ever contacted her to apologize for what happened to her.

"I have never been prescribed any of that dignity," Anita said.

What are the details from Becker's court case?

Becker, 77, of Hagerstown, pleaded guilty on Aug. 25 in Washington County Circuit Court to felony third-degree sex offense with an underage victim for incidents that occurred in the 1970s in his office at the Christian school west of Hagerstown. As part of the plea deal, a charge of child abuse by a custodian was dismissed.

Establishing the line:When a teacher wants to 'stay close,' how close is too close?

Closer look:How faith-based institutions can respond to accusations of abuse

Judge Mark K. Boyer sentenced Becker to 10 years in state prison with five years suspended.

Becker's attorney, Assistant Public Defender Loren Villa, filed a motion on Aug. 29 for sentence modification.

Villa wrote that she believes the period required for filing the motion will expire before Becker can demonstrate "any substantial rehabilitation or treatment," so he is requesting the court hold the motion under the court's consideration until he requests a hearing or ruling on the motion.

The motion was denied Tuesday, according to online court records.

From 2021:Did Heritage Academy fully investigate sexual abuse, misconduct accusations? It's unclear

Broader look:How prevalent is abuse? 1 in 4 women, 1 in 6 men will be abused in their lifetimes

Heritage Principal Dave Hobbs did not respond to phone messages or a recent email with questions regarding what changes, if any, Heritage has made regarding how it would handle a future complaint — perhaps even about a past incident — of sexual harassment or abuse.

In an interview before the MSDE actions were known, Anita said Hobbs and board members appeared "disbelieving and self-protecting" when she met with school leadership in 2020 to again complain about Becker, who was a member of the school's board at the time.

Because of the lack of response from the administration, Anita went to the Washington County Sheriff's Office the next day to file a complaint about Becker.

What to do:Here are tips for spotting signs, reporting child abuse in Maryland

More:Here's what went into our reporting on Heritage Academy abuse allegations

Contributing: Dave McMillion

MSDE statement on Heritage Academy policy review

The Maryland State Department of Education provided The Herald-Mail with the following statement regarding Heritage Academy's response to complaints of sexual misconduct:

The safety and well-being of children is a priority of the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE). Heritage Academy, Inc., located in Hagerstown, Maryland has held a Certificate of Approval under COMAR 13A.09.09 to operate since 1974, and it is approved to operate a nonpublic school for grades kindergarten through grade twelve. Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) has become aware of reports of sexual misconduct by a Heritage Academy, Inc. teacher against a student back in the 1970’s, and the teacher’s recent conviction. Over the years the Maryland General Assembly has passed legislation to enhance the safety of students in schools and close loopholes about who are our children’s teachers.  Legislation includes mandatory criminal background checks, mandatory reporting of child abuse and neglect, and mandatory reporting by former employers of an employee’s history of child sexual abuse or misconduct. These legislative measures together with MSDE’s general oversight of schools and teacher certification background review process are making schools safer for students. To verify that Heritage Academy Inc., is operating today consistent with Maryland law and regulation, MSDE is currently conducting a review of the school’s policies and procedures consistent with COMAR 13A.09.09, to ensure that the school is presently meeting all necessary regulatory requirements.

MSDE is requiring Heritage Academy, Inc. to submit the following documentation to MSDE by October 19, 2022:

  • A completed Criminal History Records Check Documentation in Nonpublic Schools monitoring form, signed and dated by the Chief Officer of the Legal Authority (COLA), which includes all current employees of the school;

  • A completed child sexual abuse or sexual misconduct employment history monitoring form signed and dated by the COLA, which includes all current employees of the school;

  • A copy of the school’s written policies and procedures regarding the mandatory reporting of child abuse and neglect; and

  • Documentation describing any internal or third-party investigations conducted by the school in response to the allegations made against educator RWB related to conduct from the 1970’s, as applicable, along with any relevant supporting documentation.

Letter to families from Heritage Academy Board of Directors

The Herald-Mail has obtained a copy of a letter that Heritage Academy's Board of Directors sent to families this week:

Dear Heritage family member,

We strive to ensure the total safety of each student at Heritage Academy. Your trust and support is important to us. Our current board and administration has recently become aware of the conviction of a former Heritage Academy teacher for an abuse incident that happened 44 years ago.

To ensure the safety of our current students, we have a comprehensive policy that is taught to teachers and staff at the beginning of each year. We are constantly reviewing these policies to ensure they continue to reflect today’s standards of child protection. Each of our current teachers and staff members have completed FBI background checks and have completed specific training to prevent and recognize child abuse.

Please know that the safety, health, and spiritual growth of each student is our primary concern. If you have any further questions concerning this matter, or if you receive communication about this incident, please contact Mr. Hobbs or the school board.

Sincerely,

The Heritage Academy Board of Directors

This article originally appeared on The Herald-Mail: Maryland education department asks Heritage for info after Becker plea