WILMINGTON — Earlier today, authorities announced a substitute teacher had been arrested for urinating in front of a middle school classroom. Disturbingly, the school district has admitted that it had prior knowledge of the teacher’s misconduct.
Related: NHCS substitute teacher arrested, charged with urinating in front of students
The New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office announced earlier on Friday that Darvin Bernard Greene, 57, had been arrested for indecent exposure and other charges after allegedly urinating into a cup in front of students at Williston Middle School earlier this week. Greene has apparently worked for NHCS as a substitute teacher or a substitute teacher’s assistant for many years.
In a release sent around 7 p.m. on Friday evening, the New Hanover County School (NHCS) district acknowledged that Greene had previously been investigated for inappropriate behavior. While Greene was removed from the specific school where the complaint was lodged, NHCS continued to employ him. The release indicates a profound disconnect between what the NHCS administration is aware of, and what the Board of Education has been informed of.
It’s also the latest example in an ongoing pattern on NHCS employees who have been investigated internally and cleared before eventually facing criminal charges years — and sometimes decades — later.
Related: A long hard look at New Hanover County Schools’ arrests, allegations, and administration
NHCS has not yet responded to a request for Greene’s complete employment record, including a history of suspensions.
NHCS issued the following release from Board of Education Chairperson Lisa Estep.
The Board of Education has learned that Darvin Greene was investigated by New Hanover County Schools in December 2019 after receiving an allegation into his behavior. At that time, Darvin Greene was a substitute teacher’s assistant, and Title IX Director Jarelle Lewis conducted the investigation. Law enforcement and DSS were also notified, but the school system was not able to substantiate the claim using the preponderance of evidence standard. Out of an abundance of caution, Darvin Greene was removed from that child’s school but, due to lack of evidence or substantiation, no other disciplinary action occurred.
Estep went on to defend NHCS’s decision to continue to employ Greene after the December 2019 incident.
“After hearing the process that was followed and receiving the full details in this matter, I believe our school system followed the right protocol given the information available. It was important to the Board of Education and the school district that the public be made aware of this prior incident, because we want to be as forthcoming as possible and share what we know with the community,” according to Estep.
Greene is currently being held on a $5,000 bond in the New Hanover County Detention Facility.
Send comments and tips to Benjamin Schachtman at [email protected], @pcdben on Twitter, and (910) 538-2001
