Chicago Public Schools’ Office of Inspector General released its annual report Wednesday, with a large portion devoted to what the inspector general called “pervasive” and widespread allegations of sexual misconduct at Little Village Lawndale High School — which NBC 5 Investigates first reported on last May during our “Lessons in Betrayal” series.
NBC 5 Investigates found that since 2017, at least seven educators – including two administrators and five teachers – have resigned or been fired while under investigation for sexual misconduct at Little Village Lawndale High School.
As part of our investigation, we interviewed 12 former students who shared with us their various experiences from their time at the high school.
The former students raised concerns that the behavior of several teachers there went unabated for years.
In interviews with NBC 5 Investigates, they said they either witnessed, were approached or felt they were groomed into sexual relationships with their former teachers.
This summer — in a nearly 300-page report — the inspector general substantiated many of the allegations against the teachers we reported on.
The latest annual report released Wednesday largely summarizes the 300-page investigative report and mirrors many of the allegations first raised by NBC 5 Investigates.
“I would characterize it as very concerning to say the least. We found several instances of sexual misconduct that occurred on that campus,” Inspector General Phil Wagenknecht said during an interview Wednesday with NBC 5 Investigates.
While the inspector general’s investigation substantiated many of sexual misconduct allegations against the educators we reported on, it took the OIG nearly three years to complete its investigation, which the women we interviewed expressed concern over.
When asked about that criticism during an interview with NBC 5 Investigates Wednesday, Wagenknecht said the length of the investigation was due to:
“I think largely because the investigation expanded dramatically in scope after we began investigating. Our job is to follow the ball and follow the facts where they lead us and not to simply gather the first few pieces of evidence
Wagenknecht said his office needed to be thorough due to the complex nature of the investigation, which involved several educators and former students who graduated between 2009 and 2019.
Among the former students interviewed by NBC 5 Investigates was Ana Solano.
“I feel like as a student, going to school should be a safe place where you have adults that have your best interests at heart. That didn’t happen here,” Solano said during a lengthy interview with NBC 5 Investigates last spring.
Solano said she formed a years-long relationship with her former teacher, Dennis Kass, nearly a year after graduating.
While the annual report released Wednesday by the inspector general did not identify the educators by name, NBC 5 Investigates confirmed that “Employee #3” is Kass through a source and by cross-referencing the annual report with the details contained in the nearly 300-page investigative report issued by the OIG this summer, which NBC 5 Investigates obtained through a public records request.
The OIG’s report released Wednesday was critical of Kass’ behavior – noting “Although Employee 3’s sexual conduct toward former students did not violate any specific CPS policy, it was unbecoming of a Board employee. Employee 3 misused his position as a CPS teacher by exploiting relationships that he built with children in the classroom to advance his personal and sexual interests after they finished school. He was not looking out for his students. To the contrary, he was abusing his position of trust. To be clear, this was not a case where a teacher and a former student organically developed a romantic relationship years later through happenstance. Here, Employee 3 engaged in a pattern of intentionally targeting his students shortly after they graduated.”
The report also states Kass and another CPS employee failed to report to the district allegations against the now-former principal Charles Smith, who was accused of pursuing and having sex with an 18 year old former student weeks after she graduated.
NBC 5 Investigates reached out to both Kass and Smith through their attorneys Wednesday. We are still waiting to hear back.
In the past, the men – through their attorneys – have denied the allegations against them and been critical of both the inspector general’s investigation and NBC 5 Investigates’ reporting – noting that there were students or staff who were supportive of their clients.
Kass and Smith resigned from CPS in 2022 and 2023 – respectively – while still under investigation.
And while they’ve denied the allegations, the inspector general found their behavior was unbecoming of CPS employees
This summer, CPS banned them from being re-hired after the inspector general’s report was complete.
Wagenknecht also confirmed they’ve since launched a new investigation – looking into why background information was not shared between CPS and the Elgin school district that hired Smith in 2023.
On his application, the OIG said Smith provided false information when he was asked whether he’d resigned while under investigation for sexual misconduct – he marked “no.” – a detail not known to the inspector general’s office.
“I think there were aspects of your reporting that were informative for aspects of our investigation – with respect the developments with these staff members in another school district,” Wagenknecht said.
In a statement, a CPS spokeswoman did not directly answer NBC 5 Investigates’ questions but said that “Chicago Public Schools (CPS) is dedicated to ensuring the safety and well-being of its students, families, and staff. The District recognizes its responsibility to serve the CPS community with integrity. It is committed to preventing, identifying, and responding to any form of abuse, misconduct, or exploitation within the community. CPS takes the findings and recommendations of the Office of the Inspector General (OIG) seriously and is committed to continuous improvement and transparency…”
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