A former principal of a Montgomery elementary school faces charges in South Carolina alleging sexual conduct with a minor.
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Kevin Lipke, the former principal of Long Beach Elementary School in Community Unit School District 308, was charged in November with a single count of criminal sexual conduct with a minor during multiple incidents at his home in 2017 in Conway, South Carolina.
After Lipke worked in District 308, his Illinois teaching license was suspended amid allegations of improper contact with children. Criminal charges were not filed against him in Illinois.
District 308 spokeswoman Theresa Komitas said the district has no records showing discipline or investigations related to Lipke and no record of complaints filed against him.
“We weren’t aware of any inappropriate conduct or any reason to be concerned,” she said.
Lipke was principal of Long Beach Elementary from July 1, 2007 until June, 30, 2012, when he resigned to accept the school superintendent position in downstate Pontiac, Komitas said.
Lipke resigned as superintendent of Pontiac School District 429 in 2014 after two years in the post. He had been placed on leave of absence three months earlier for unspecified reasons.
His teaching certificate was suspended for five years in April 2015 by the Illinois State Board of Education’s licensure board. Lipke agreed to the suspension, which required him to obtain mental health counseling and professional development training on proper workplace boundaries and impulse control before his teaching license could be reinstated.
In summer 2015, after Lipke moved to South Carolina, that state’s Board of Education notified Lipke that he was barred from teaching in South Carolina for the remainder of his Illinois suspension.
According to the South Carolina suspension order, Lipke was accused in Illinois of having “used his position as principal and superintendent to form inappropriate relationships with young male students which violated professional boundaries and those of healthy adult/child relationships.”
According to an online resume posted for Lipke, he has worked as a mental health counselor for young children, including those with emotional, social and behavioral disorders. His most recent job was owner of a convenience store and gas station, according to the employment history.
He is free on $5,000 bond.