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Samantha Hayes ReportingA first grade teacher is behind bars, facing criminal charges involving students -- little girls in his own classroom at Rosamond Elementary. The teacher was removed from the classroom Monday as soon as the accusations surfaced.
He was arrested Thursday, and investigators are interviewing other students they believe may also be victims.
The arrest of Frank Hall is very upsetting for parents who say he went above and beyond for his students and was even awarded for it. Now they are left to wonder if this is true.
Frank Laine Hall spent the last 10 years building a stellar reputation in the Jordan School District. Other teachers admired him, parents appreciated him, and his efforts were recognized with the prestigious Huntsman Award for Excellence in Education last year.
Now people who know him are reluctant to even be identified.
Q: "Do you think this is true? What do you think?"
Parent: "You know, I don't know. I don't want to say no, and I don't want to say yes."
This woman knows Hall from their Riverton neighborhood, and her child is also a student in his classroom.
Parent: "He tutors my son twice a week to help him improve in school, and my son has jumped up from below-grade reading level to on-grade reading level."
Hall is facing aggravated sexual abuse charges. The investigation started when a little girl in his class talked to her mother.
Shane Hudson, chief deputy, Salt Lake County Sheriff's Office: "He was inappropriately touching students in his classroom during school."
State social workers are also involved.
Carol Sisco, Child and Family Services: "Child and Family Services interviewed three little girls who have told us they have been abused, and we are expecting more referrals."
The Jordan School District tells us Hall was suspended from his teaching duties Monday morning when he came to work. Student safety is their top priority. Counselors are available at the school for students.
After what has happened, many parents have already had to ask their children difficult questions.
"All I know is that on Wednesday he came home and said there were some kids talking about Mr. Hall not being in class, and I asked him what did they say. And he said he did something bad and won't come back and he said, ‘I don't believe it, Mom.'"
Hall was in the Salt Lake County jail Thursday night on $500,000 bail. DCFS wants to provide a number for concerned parents whose students may have interacted with Hall. That number is 801-281-5151.
