COLUMBIA – The South Carolina State Board of Education has suspended the teaching license of a Blythewood High School teacher after he was accused of being in a closed closet alone with a female student on several occasions.
Kevin Smalls had been employed by Richland County School District Two since 2014 as an engineering and robotics teacher. On Jan. 25, 2017, a female student reported the allegations to school officials, and the District placed Smalls on administrative leave.
After investigations by Richland School District Two administrators and Blythewood High School administrators, law enforcement was notified. Smalls voluntarily resigned his position in the District, effective March 13, 2017, according to a statement released by the District.
Smalls requested a hearing that was held in October 2017 before the State Board of Education.
“The hearing officer found that Smalls’ conduct warranted action against his certificate, as he was alone with a student behind closed doors on multiple occasions,” according to a Feb. 12 order signed by the State Board of Education Chair Del-Gratia Jones.
“The state board finds that the evidence presented demonstrates Smalls acted in an unprofessional manner,” the order stated.
“There were no other complaints reported to administration regarding Mr. Smalls,” Richland Two Chief Communications Officer Libby Roof wrote in an email released to the media.
Small’s license was ordered suspended for 60 days, from Feb. 12 to April 13, 2019, the order states.