Schools
Education Department Revokes Accused Rapist's Teaching Credential
After aggressive pursuit by the New Hampshire Department of Education, Primo "Howie" Leung voluntarily surrenders his education credentials.
CONCORD, NH — A Concord High School special education teacher accused of rape in Massachusetts and inappropriate behavior in New Hampshire has had his educational credential with the state revoked. Primo "Howie" Leung's certification with the New Hampshire Department of Education has been permanently revoked, according to commissioner Frank Edelblut. Leung was arrested in April and charged with two counts of aggravated rape of a child, indecent assault on a child.
Leung is accused of sexually assaulting the girl at a summer camp he ran at the Fessenden School in Newton, Massachusetts, in 2015 and 2016. Accusations of inappropriate behavior by Leung in Concord date back to at least 2011.
The department, which prompted the investigation that led to the charges against Leung after SAU 8 School Superintendent Terri Forsten approached education investigators for a second opinion about the school district's investigation of Leung, has been "aggressively pursuing" the surrender of his certifications, while not wanting to interfere directly with the criminal investigation or prosecution of the charges against the teacher.
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Leung, Edelblut said, voluntarily entered into an agreement with the state to surrender his credential. According to education rules, he cannot apply or reapply for any credential offered and is also prohibited from working in any school, district, charter, or private, in New Hampshire or any other state.
"The safety of our students is paramount," Edelblut said in a statement. "No student should be victimized by the people we entrust with their education. My heart goes out to Mr. Leung’s victims. Today’s action ensures that Mr. Leung will never be allowed to work with students ever again."
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Leung has been placed onto the state's revoked certificate list as well as the National Association of State Directors of Teacher Education and Certification national database.
The arrest of Leung has created turmoil and chaos inside the Concord School District for many months that led to Forsten and Concord High School Principal Tom Sica being placed on leave, the discovery of at least three administrators in the district not being properly credentialed by the state, and other incidents and issues.
Leung had been teaching in the district for around 13 years, mainly mathematics and special education. He received his undergraduate degree from UNH in 2005 and Master's in elementary education in 2006. Leung is originally from Hong Kong and holds dual citizenship both there and the United States.
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