Superintendent Bo Wright is addressing community concerns after several recent personnel-related incidents involving the Geneva City School District.
In a message released to families and staff, Wright said three separate situations involving district personnel in recent months have raised understandable concern in the community. He acknowledged that headlines involving schools can affect public trust.
“Families expect their children to come to a safe and supportive environment, and we take that responsibility very seriously,” Wright said.
Wright said that because the situations involve ongoing investigations and confidential personnel matters, the district cannot publicly share many details. However, he said the district acted quickly in each case after learning of the concerns and worked directly with law enforcement and other appropriate authorities.
He added that each matter will move through a formal process to determine whether the allegations are substantiated. Because of that process, the district will not comment on guilt or innocence.
Last Tuesday, Trista Corey was arrested for endangering the welfare of a child for allegedly giving someone under the age of 17 psilocybin mushrooms at her home last December. In a statement, the school said it terminated Corey as a special education teacher once it learned of the allegations. In February, Geneva Middle School Guidance Counselor Mark Pitifer was placed on administrative leave while police investigated allegations of inappropriate conduct involving a student. Last December, James Nunez, an assistant principal at Geneva High, resigned after being arrested for allegedly making inappropriate and unwanted physical contact with a student.
Wright said the district’s focus is on the systems designed to protect students and maintain professional standards, including hiring practices, supervision, training, and how concerns are addressed when they arise.
According to Wright, the district already conducts background and reference checks and reviews social media when screening teachers and administrators.
In response to the recent incidents, Wright said he has initiated an external review of the district’s hiring and supervisory practices. The review will examine how employees are screened, onboarded, and monitored, and identify any areas where safeguards could be strengthened.
Wright said the district is committed to continuous improvement and evaluating its processes when events challenge public confidence.
He also acknowledged the difficulty such situations can create for school staff, noting that many educators continue to support students while navigating concerns within the community.
Wright said the district’s focus moving forward remains on supporting students, strengthening internal systems, and maintaining the trust of families in the community.
