MKA Fires Teacher Facing Porn Charges

Montclair Kimberley Academy's Headmaster Tom Nammack said Thursday that he's terminated the job of a seventh-grade science teacher and swim coach arrested earlier this week on child porn charges.

In addition, he said the teacher's lease for school housing has been terminated as well.

Brian Stern, 34, of Montclair, was charged with one count of possession of child pornography, law enforcement officials announced Tuesday.

"Recently retired Middle School science teacher, Dr. Nancy Pi-Sunyer, has agreed to teach the open sections of 7th and 8th grade science for the remainder of this year, and I am very grateful to have this long-time friend of the school and MKA teacher return to the classroom," Nammack said. "While the consequences from this incident will be with us for some time, I want to thank the many alumni, parents, colleagues (past and present), students and friends of MKA who have expressed their concern, offered their advice, and provided MKA with essential moral support."

Nammack said that while an investigation will continue, "currently there is absolutely no evidence of any inappropriate or illegal activities having taken place with MKA students, or on the MKA network."

Additionally, he said that school network filters not only make the downloading of illegal materials extremely difficult, but also any attempts to do so are a matter of record.

"We continue to be mindful of the distress and unease that this incident has caused among members of our community, and most especially among our students," he said.

According to the complaint filed in Newark federal court, Stern downloaded and shared child pornography and images of child pornography—involving children as young as 6 years old—via peer-to-peer file sharing software over the last seven to eight years.

During a search of Stern’s home Tuesday, investigators found videos and images of young children being restrained and sexually abused on Stern’s computer, including at least one image of a child who appeared to be in pain.

The charges carry a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.

Stern had taught at the private MKA from 2003 until 2009. He then traveled overseas for several months before returning to the school in September 2009.

Looking at the website www.ratemyteachers.com, it appears that Stern was fairly well liked by his students. As one student wrote, "good teacher ... seems to care about us even though we talk a lot. Has high expectations but is fair."

Montclair Kimberley Academy is one of the largest co-educational Pre-K - 12 independent day schools in New Jersey, located on three age-appropriate campuses.