Phoenix teacher fired amid allegations of sexual advances

PHOENIX - A Phoenix high school teacher has been fired amid allegations of sexual advances from two former students.

President of Brophy College Preparatory, Edward Reese said he recently received information from the students, now adults, of inappropriate sexual advances when they were minors, by faculty member Dan Whitehead.

Reese said he reported the allegations to Phoenix police that same day.

Phoenix Police Sgt. Tommy Thompson confirmed police were contacted by school authorities on November 18 regarding "allegations that a member of their staff had engaged in inappropriate sexual contact with two students in the 1980’s."

As of Tuesday afternoon, no charges against Whitehead have been filed.

According to Reese, Whitehead has been terminated from Brophy. Reese did not specify the exact day when Whitehead was fired.

According to an article in the school's student newspaper , Whitehead has been a math teacher at the Jesuit high school since 1967.

In a release issued Tuesday, Reese said Whitehead has not been charged by police and must be considered innocent until proven guilty.

Citing concerns for the safety and well-being of Brophy's students, Reese stated in the release he felt "obligated to bring the accusations to [the community's] attention."

Reese also encouraged any former or current students to come forward if they have suffered abuse.

"Brophys desire is to express sorrow to victims of abuse, to help them in their healing and to make sure that Brophy is a safe environment for our students," the release stated.

Thompson issued the following statement Tuesday in response to the letter sent out by Reese:

On or about November 18th, 2011, investigators with the Phoenix Police Department were contacted by authorities from Brophy College Preparatory concerning allegations that a member of their staff had engaged in inappropriate sexual contact with two students in the 1980’s.  At the request of the now former students, their identities were withheld from police investigators and there is no known victim information at this time.  The information has been documented in a departmental report, but this investigation cannot proceed without additional information.