Former Hopkins Public Schools Superintendent Chris Stephens and former Hillside Principal Robin Lavender will be interim administrators for Allegan Area Educational Services in the wake of Jonathan Garcia’s resignation.
Stephens and Lavender will share administrative duties until Garcia’s position can be filled.
Garcia resigned this week after being charged with criminal sexual conduct with two staff members, first reported at Martin Martin’s Brandon Elementary School. Garcia had been administrator of the Hillside Learning and Behavior Center in Allegan, the Young Adult Campus in Otsego and the Sensory Program in Martin.
The AAESA Board of Education indicated it would terminate his contract earlier this week.
Garcia was arraigned on three counts of third-degree criminal sexual conduct, three counts of fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct and five counts of fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct involving two separate victims, according to the Allegan County Sheriff’s Department.
The investigation began after the superintendent’s office told police about allegations of inappropriate contact between Garcia, 34, and staff members.
Court records said two female employees accused Garcia of sexually assaulting them between September 2015 and last month. Sheriff’s authorities insisted both victims are adults and that there is no indication that there was any misconduct involving students.
Stephens was superintendent at Hopkins from 2007 through 2014.
PHOTO: Chris Stephens (Photo by Jeff Swainston)
