KIPP Co-founder, River Forest Native Accused Of Sexual Misconduct

OAK PARK, IL — A former Oak Park-River Forest High School student who co-founded the Houston-based KIPP non-profit charter school group has been accused of sexual misconduct. Mike Feinberg, who graduated from OPRF High School in 1987, was fired from his position at KIPP after a former student alleged he sexually abused them in the late 1990s.

The students accusation led KIPP to investigate Feinberg with the help of WilmerHale law firm, according to a post on the charter school group's website from KIPP Superintendent Sehba Ali and CEO Richard Barth.

Subsequent investigations led KIPP officials to conclude that the initial allegation was credible. The law firm also found evidence of a separate sexual harassment claim involving Feinberg and an adult who worked for KIPP in Houston in 2004.

That claim resulted in a financial settlement, according to the statement released by KIPP.

Kipp added that another sexual harassment claim came up around the same time, but "could not be corroborated."

Kipp wrote that Feinberg "categorically denies any wrongdoing." After the investigation, they acknowledged that it "at a minimum, Mr. Feinberg put himself into situations where his conduct could be seriously misconstrued."

"Mr. Feinberg’s actions were incompatible with the leadership qualities that are central to our mission," they added.

The administrators closed out the statement by encouraging anyone who "has experienced, or has knowledge of, any abuse or harassment to contact Bruce Berman or Danielle Conley, partners at WilmerHale."

According to its website, KIPP has served more than 90,000 students nationwide through its charter school initiatives. KIPP currently has five schools in the Chicagoland area.

>>>Image credit: AP Images/Harry Cabluck/Associated Press