PICKENS COUNTY, Ala. — A husband and wife that taught at the same school have both been accused of having inappropriate relations with students.
James Franklin “Jamie” Parker III was charged with “school employee engaging in a sex act with a student under 19” just two days after his wife, Charli Parker, was arrested for the same charge. Mrs. Parker is accused of having sex with a male student 11 times from October 2014 to March 2016. The two met in a number of places, including a cemetery and the Parker’s own home.
Both Parkers were employed at Pickens Academy. Mr. Parker taught math and was the head boys’ basketball coach. Mrs. Parker taught elementary school, computer class, physical education, and was the head girls’ basketball coach.
Mr. and Mrs. Parker both had their jobs suspended and were booked in the Pickens County Jail.
“The safety and wellbeing of our students is and always will be our top priority,” said Pickens Academy headmaster Brach White. “We are obviously shocked and dismayed by this allegation and will be working to support all our students and families in coping with this news. The employee will be suspended immediately and further action may be taken upon investigation. Unfortunately, these events have been a distraction from the many great things that take place at Pickens Academy. I request continued prayers for our school family and for all those involved.”
The incidents at Pickens Academy come days after Alabama was declared “ground zero” for teachers having sex with students. As of just last week, the Alabama Department of Education was tracking 10 investigations of inappropriate teacher-student relations. Now they have two more to add to their list.
The number of cases like this has drastically increased over the past few years, causing some experts like Terry Abbott, the former Chief of Staff at the U.S. Department of Education, to declare it an epidemic. Between 2014-2015, the Alabama Department of Education investigated nearly 100 cases. In, 2013 the state investigated 35 cases. In 2012, that number was slightly lower at 27. In 2011, the number was 25.
The Parkers also continued a trend noticed by Abbot and other experts. Coaches are more likely to engage in inappropriate relations than other teachers. Of the 253 cases of illegal student and school employee relationships studied by Abbott’s firm, 76 were school coaches.
Last week, Decatur Police Department arrested 42-year-old Carrie Cabri Witt, a psychology and social studies teacher at Decatur High School, for having sexual relations with at least two students under the age of 19.
Three weeks ago, a 37-year-old algebra teacher at Central High Freshman Academy in Phenix City was also charged with having sex with one of her students.
And earlier this year a former Alabama high school teacher avoided charges that she had sex with one of her students because she decided to marry him.
State Senator Cam Ward (R-Alabaster) recently introduced a bill that he believes would address the situation. The Educator-Student Interaction Training Act would require teachers to receive one hour of training on a variety of topics, ranging from what type of physical contact is inappropriate to how they should interact with students on social media and outside of the classroom.
However, due to negative reception, Ward decided not to move forward with the bill. A version of the bill is expected to be introduced in the House next week.
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