Paternity Test Proves School Counselor Impregnated 16 y.o. Student
Wednesday, March 5th, 2008According to KoloTV; A Reno, NV middle school counselor has been fired, for fathering the child of one of his students.
Daniel Bryant, an O’Brien Middle School counselor was fired Monday for getting one of his former students pregnant. The Washoe County School District delivered 38-year-old Daniel Bryant a formal letter of termination, demanding that he never work in our public school system again.
19-year-old Cassi Chambers now attends Hug High School while she takes care of her five-month-old baby, Paige.
When she met Dan Bryant, she was just 16. Cassi was at attending Vaughn Middle School at that time, and Bryant was supposed to be her guidance counselor.
Cassi gave birth to her daughter, Paige late last year. A paternity test has proven that her former middle school counselor, Dan Bryant is the father.
According to Cassi, the relationship with Bryant began three years ago. She says, after being sexually assaulted by a family member for over a year, she turned to Bryant for help, saying she had no one else. Several months later, they began a sexual relationship.
“He knew everything that happened to me. He knew the grisly details of what this man had done to me. It was brutal. He knew that and used it to take advantage of me. The first chance he got, he took it,” said Cassi.
Bryant took legal guardianship of Cassi after hearing about her difficult life at home. She says he gave her alcohol, consoled her, and told her he loved her.
“He’s kind of like the snake that got Eve to eat the apple. He is conniving and manipulative and he’ll say anything or do anything to make you think he cares about you,” said Cassi.
Bryant later transferred to O’Brien Middle School, where he had one-on-one contact with students weekly. The Washoe County School District got wind of the affair and the pregnant student in late November.
Superintendent Paul Dugan says he placed Bryant on administrative leave while an investigation took place. Once the paternity test was conclusive, Dugan says he made the decision to fire Bryant for good.
“We ask parents to put their children under our responsibility. 99 % of the time, we do a great job. This individual made a major mistake, one that is inexcusable and indefensible,” said Dugan
Dugan says the decision was easy, and Bryant has possibly tainted the role of a middle school school counselor.
“I feel angry this individual ever worked with Washoe County School District for even one day,” he added.
Cassi plans to graduate this year. She says her daughter, Paige won’t have contact with her father, but she is hoping for child support. She says the district’s decision to fire Bryant was the right one.
“I’m afraid that if he continues to have contact with students in the school district, he’s going to find another vulnerable girl like me and that he’s going to get one of them too,” she said.
Dugan says if he has anything to do with it, Bryant will never work in the Washoe County School District again. The district is also asking the state to pull Bryant’s Nevada teaching license, meaning he can’t get a job in any of our state schools.
Bryant can appeal either of these decisions with an outside arbitrator, but Dugan says the chances of overturning the termination is unlikely.
The school police forwarded the case onto the Washoe County District Attorney. Once reviewed, the DA will have to decide whether or not to press charges.
We placed three calls to Mr. Bryant, but he has not returned our messages, thus far.
