Parent files complaint with Indiana sheriff over teacher's Facebook post

MIDDLETOWN, Ind. - The Henry County Sheriff's Department near Indianapolis is investigating a questionable post by a high school teacher on her Facebook page.

Beth Goff, a teacher at Shenandoah High School, reportedly made a threatening post, prompting a parent to file a police report.

Trent Hitchens said that on Jan. 11, he saw a post on Goff's page that read, "Summary of my week: SENIORS! (There is a good chance a casualty will occur this semester)….. Enough Said!!"

"I don't know what triggered her comment specifically," Hitchens said. "When I approached the school about it, they tell me they won't discuss personnel matters."

Hitchens said Goff has removed the comment from her page, but not before he captured a screenshot with his cell phone.

Hitchens wants Goff to be held accountable, so he filed a complaint with the sheriff's department. 

Sheriff Butch Baker said he can't make any comments about the case because a detective is investigating the matter.

"Personally I think this teacher should have been suspended pending an investigation because a police report was filed," Hitchens said. "I said if a student had made this comment the school system would call the police department, the student probably would have been suspended or expelled."

School Superintendent Ron Green declined to do an on-camera interview, saying he cannot comment on personnel issues, but he released a statement.

"Shenandoah School Corporation takes all concerns that are shared with us seriously and we investigate all concerns that are shared," Green's statement said.

Green said the high school principal, Charles Willis, is handling the matter. 

Newsnet5.com's sister site WRTV's call to Beth Goff was never returned.

Hitchens is a truck driver and is on the road. He said he plans to follow up with the school and sheriff's office when he gets back to Indiana.