Plymouth Schools issue warning about inappropriate social media activity involving teachers

The Plymouth Community School Corporation issued a warning to parents and guardians about concerning social media activity involving Riverside Intermediate School students manipulating photographs of their teachers.

Ward Byers, Director of Safety and Security for the Plymouth Community School Corporation, sent a letter to families this week alerting them to an ongoing issue where students have been taking teachers' photographs from the internet and digitally incorporating them with images of other students and high-profile individuals who have committed serious crimes.

According to Byers, these manipulated photographs are then being posted on students' social media accounts, creating potentially serious professional consequences for the teachers involved.

"These photographs could cause serious issues for our teachers professionally," Byers stated in his letter to families.

Beyond the immediate concern for teachers' professional reputations, Byers highlighted an important legal issue: students under 13 are not legally permitted to have social media accounts under federal law (Children's Online Privacy Protection Act).

The director emphasized the broader dangers that social media poses to young people, particularly when used inappropriately or without proper supervision.

Byers is urging all parents and guardians to have serious conversations with their children about the gravity of these actions.

"I am asking each of you to please discuss the seriousness of these actions with your children and the dangers social media poses to our youth," Byers wrote.

The appeal to parents reflects a growing recognition that addressing inappropriate online behavior requires partnership between schools and families.

While the letter did not specify disciplinary actions being taken, the direct communication from the Director of Safety and Security signals that the school corporation is taking the matter seriously and monitoring the situation.

The Plymouth Community School Corporation is asking for parental cooperation in addressing the issue before it escalates further or causes additional harm to staff members.

The school corporation's safety and security office can be contacted for additional information or to report concerning online behavior.