Jeff Pierce fired after unanimous vote by school board

TOPEKA, Kan. (WIBW) - The Seaman School District has fired a high school teacher and coach charged with sexually exploiting minors.

Superintendent Dr. Steve Noble said, “We’re very crushed and devastated to learn of what’s happened.”

On September 4th, Jeffrey Pierce, a freshman social studies teacher and boys basketball coach at Seaman High School was charged with producing and possessing child pornography.

The FBI said Pierce would contact victims through social media pretending to be a teenage girl and ask for explicit photos or videos.

“The circumstances that led us here impact all of us,” said Noble, “Our kids, our staff, our community, perhaps beyond, but especially our kids. Our hearts and minds are with them right now as we try to support them.”

In a special meeting Friday the USD 345 Board of Education unanimously voted to fire Pierce.

They said items were recovered from his district issued computer that showed his attempts to access inappropriate websites that violate their policy.

The board also listed his behavior as being unacceptable of a teacher and said his actions jeopardized the health and safety of school aged children.

Noble said the district’s priority now is to support any potential victims.

“We’re asking our students to go to their trusted adult and talk to them to share with them whatever they’re comfortable with sharing at this time,” he added.

Noble said they will push forward and lean on each other.

“We have amazing faculty, staff, students, parents and a tremendously supportive board of education that has always set this district up as a leader in the state of Kansas and that will continue in a very positive way for our kids.”

Pierce has pleaded not guilty to two counts of producing child pornography and one count of possessing child pornography.

The FBI released screen names he reportedly used to contact his victims. You can find the full list of those here.

If anyone has reason to believe they or their child has been made a victim, please email TopekaVAP@fbi.gov.

A preliminary hearing and detention hearing for Pierce are set for 11 a.m. on Sept. 10, via videoconferencing. He remains in custody.

In the resolution terminating Pierce’s contract it states he’s entitled to an informal hearing before the Board of Education if he files a written request within ten days after the date of notice.

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