Principal Who Clashed With Student Is Fired After Inquiry

Shawn A. Hearn, then-principal of Eastern Senior High School in Northeast Washington, leaves court last month after prosecutors dropped their assault case against him. (By Sarah L. Voisin -- The Washington Post)

Shawn A. Hearn, the principal of Eastern Senior High School, was fired yesterday after a school system probe into his role in four altercations -- including one that resulted in his arrest -- with students and a parent.

In a statement released by his office, D.C. Superintendent Clifford B. Janey said the firing was "the right decision to make based on the findings of an investigation." School officials, however, would not elaborate on the incidents, citing the confidentiality of personnel matters.

Janey hired Hearn in August to help transform the high school from a low-performing institution into a Latin academy for high performers. The probe, during which school officials interviewed parents, students and teachers, revealed two incidents that had not been publicly reported.

The incident that led to the investigation of Hearn occurred Oct. 25, when he and a student were arrested after a fight in a hallway of the school, in Northeast Washington. Hearn and the student, Kenneth Holsey, 18, were charged with misdemeanor simple assault.

Last month, prosecutors dismissed charges against Hearn and Holsey but said they needed more time to investigate. Witnesses have been subpoenaed to testify before a grand jury.

Sources and a police report indicate Hearn was involved in three other incidents during the first week of school.

On Aug. 28, the first day of classes for the newly hired principal, Hearn grabbed a female student, whom he was trying to discipline, by her waist from behind and inadvertently scratched her lower back, according to Mark Roy, who is familiar with the incident because he is a member of the Eastern restructuring team that worked with Hearn.

The next day, Hearn was involved in an incident with a parent, according to a school official who would not provide any details of that altercation.

On Aug. 31, Hearn grabbed another student who became irate in his office, according to a police report. That student fell to the floor and required two stitches for a head injury. No charges were filed in the incident, and police at the scene ruled it an accident.

D.C. public schools spokesman John C. White said school officials notified Hearn's attorney of the termination last night.

Contacted just hours before his termination was announced, Hearn said he was "optimistic" about his future with the school system but was concerned about the investigation.

"Anyone who has an ax to grind is coming out of the woodwork," Hearn said last night. He said he was unfamiliar with any additional incidents. "I don't know what is going on."