Newark teacher indicted after reported photo exchange

NEWARK – A Newark City Schools teacher who was placed on paid leave earlier this month has been indicted after reportedly having a photographic exchange with a student.

Jacob Burns, 26, of Newark, was charged by a grand jury Thursday with one count each of disseminating matter harmful to a juvenile and illegal use of a minor in nudity oriented material, both fifth-degree felonies.

The indictment alleges Burns sent and received at least one photograph between Dec. 1 and Feb. 11.

According to his personnel file, Burns was hired as a substitute teacher by Newark schools in 2012 and began teaching full-time at the high school for the 2013-14 school year. He was placed on paid administrative leave March 3. He also worked as an assistant football coach with the district.

A Newark Division of Police report indicated Burns admitted to sending and receiving photographs with the student and discussed engaging in sexual conduct with her. Police began the investigation in February after "rumors of an inappropriate relationship" surfaced and were reported to police.

Burns has been issued a summons with the indictment for a court date April 7.

Community Outreach Coordinator Seth Roy said Burns has been reported to the Ohio Department of Education.

Newark City Schools Superintendent Doug Ute said the district will review the charges and begin the disciplinary process in the coming days.

Ute said the district's practice is for students and staff to have no one-on-one communication through social media or other online means.

"We've done a considerable amount in the last 12 months to make that clear," he said. "We've had a lot of discussion about what else do we need to know. A student should not be contacting a staff member and a staff member should not be contacting a student."

Ute said the rise of social media creates challenges for educators, and the district has tried to embrace technology.

"We don't want to take that away," he said. "When we look at the big picture, we've utilized the technology to an advantage in our district."