Art Teacher Fired for Sexual Misconduct at Phillips Exeter Academy

EXETER, NH - Phillips Exeter Academy has fired a faculty member that reportedly confessed to a sexual encounter with a student more than two decades ago, according to a report in the New Hampshire Union Leader.

Principal Lisa MacFarlane sent a letter to the school community on April 13, 2016, informing them that Steve Lewis, a photography teacher, and chairman of the art department at the academy, had been fired, barred from the school, and all school events, after admitting to a sexual encounter with a student. The school found out about the allegation, Exeter Police investigated the allegation, Lewis reportedly admitted to the encounter and was fired, according to the report.

The school and police have been investigating sexual misconduct allegations since the Boston Globe revealed in late March that a celebrated teacher at the school, Rick Schubart, was allowed to step down in 2011. A second allegation against Schubart arose in 2015 which led to him being banned from the campus.

According to his online profile, Lewis has had a number of photography showings in the region and had been published in news, art, and magazine publications.

Read the full report at UnionLeader.com.