Estimated read time: 3-4 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — A state board that licenses North Dakota teachers dropped the case Monday against a West Fargo teacher who was accused and then cleared of having a sexual relationship with a former student.
The state Education Practices and Standards Board voted 5-3 with little discussion to dismiss the inquiry into possible conduct violations by Aaron Knodel, who was found not guilty in state court on five charges of corruption or solicitation of a minor.
Knodel, whose birth date is listed only as 1979 in court records, did not attend the hearing at the state Capitol in Bismarck. Michael Geiermann, a Bismarck attorney representing Knodel on behalf of the state teachers union, immediately called Knodel after the panel's vote Monday.
"Aaron got his life back and is ready to go back in the classroom," Geiermann said. "He is relieved, very relieved."
He was cleared by a state district court last month and reinstated by the West Fargo School Board last week. The school board voted unanimously to offer Knodel a job during the upcoming school year, although the position has not been made clear. The board also said he should receive back pay for the time he was suspended. The decision came after pleas from Knodel's accuser and others not to reinstate him.
Knodel, an English teacher and speech and debate coach at West Fargo High School, was accused of having a sexual relationship with a 17-year-old student over a period of several weeks in early 2009. The former student told investigators that Knodel began texting her during the 2008 Christmas break, and that the texts eventually became more personal and sexually suggestive. The accuser said the two engaged in sexual acts in a classroom, at Knodel's home and in the student's car.
Knodel, who was placed on unpaid suspension when he was charged, denied wrongdoing. After he was charged, defense attorney Robert Hoy said Knodel had passed a lie detector test.
Knodel was named North Dakota teacher of the year in 2014, before the allegations surfaced. He was suspended without pay when the charges were filed. The trial included testimony from Knodel and his former student, who is now in her early 20s.
Knodel's trial ended abruptly in April when a juror had a medical emergency during deliberations, after which a judge ruled he should be acquitted on three charges. The other two charges were later dropped.
Investigators said phone records showed more than 90 calls between Knodel and the student from Oct. 10, 2008, to March 9, 2009, that ranged in length from a minute to four hours.
David Flowers, superintendent of West Fargo public schools, said in a report to the school board, that Knodel's phone calls with the student "were well-intended" on his part. "In fact, he was fulfilling a challenge by the school presented through professional development activities — to reach out to one or more struggling students, to establish a mentoring relationship, to support and to help such students," the report said.
Mike McNeff, the Rugby school superintendent and member of the state board, said he struggled with that explanation. McNeff voted against dismissing the case against Knodel.
"Thirty-six hours of talking to a student and 90 phone calls — I just feel it's overboard," McNeff said.
__
Associated Press writer Dave Kolpack in Fargo contributed to this report.
Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
