Teacher Charged With Sexual Abuse Of Student At Walt Whitman High

BETHESDA, MD — A Walt Whitman High School social studies teacher has been charged with the sexual abuse of a secondary student. Kirkland Shipley has worked in the district since 2001 and coaches a non-school-sponsored crew team in the community, according to a letter sent by the high school's principal that addressed Shipley's arrest.

The high school's student newspaper, The Black and White, posted the letter.

Principal Robert Dodd told community members that the charges are related to "alleged sexual contact" between Shipley and a former Walt Whitman High School student in 2018. The student was also a member of Shipley's crew team, The Washington Post reported.

"These charges are deeply troubling and are a violation of the core values of our school and school system," Dodd wrote in the letter. "We hold our employees to a high standard of character and this behavior is completely unacceptable."

Shipley was arrested and charged in Washington, D.C., where he lives. He is on administrative leave from school, Dodd wrote in the letter.

The Washington Post reported that Shipley is barred from seeing anyone that he has taught or coached, and there is a hearing date set for Sept. 15.

Dodd wrote that anyone who needs resources for talking with their kids about abuse can look at a page created by Montgomery County Public Schools.