WAHPETON – Thousands have joined a Facebook group to support an elementary gym teacher here accused of shoving two students against a wall and making inappropriate comments to them.
Kelly McNary was put on administrative leave with pay, the district’s superintendent said Wednesday.
On Tuesday, the district’s attorney said he did not know whether teacher Kelly McNary’s leave was paid or unpaid. Superintendent Rick Jacobson clarified the matter Wednesday.
McNary is an elementary physical education teacher in the Wahpeton Public School District, according to the district’s website.
Last week at Central Elementary, he allegedly pushed two fifth-grade boys against the wall in gym class and used inappropriate language, according to their mothers, Jessica Torres and Heather Chanku.
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Torres and Chanku brought their complaint to the school, as well as to police and Social Services.
Richland County Social Services and the district are now investigating, said District Attorney Fred Strege.
Meanwhile, almost 2,500 people took to Facebook to voice their support for McNary, also a wrestling coach, by Wednesday evening.
In the group “Stand Behind Mr. McNary,” students and parents shared their experiences working with him, in school and in wrestling. Posts ranged from praising his mentorship on the wrestling mat to doubting the story of the fifth-grade boys’ mothers.
McNary’s son Kameron posted on the page about 5:30 Wednesday evening, thanking everyone for “all the nice things you have said about my father” and saying, “I couldn’t have asked for a better dad.”
