LEWIS CENTER, Ohio — Olentangy High School Principal Robert Griffiths has resigned from his position after he was placed on administrative leave in October due to a sexual harassment complaint, the district says.
According to a letter sent out Friday afternoon, the Board of Education plans to accept his resignation at their Dec. 12 meeting. The district plans to hire an interim principal for the remainder of the school year.
Griffiths was placed on leave on Oct. 9 after a school employee filed a sexual harassment complaint against him.
A letter obtained by 10TV stated that Griffiths was named in a sexual harassment and Title IX investigation.
Olentangy Local School District released the following statement:
"Olentangy High School Principal Robert Griffiths has resigned from Olentangy Schools, during the independent investigation into his behavior while serving as principal. Mr. Trond Smith, Director of Secondary Schools and former Orange High School principal, will continue as lead administrator in the coming weeks. Olentangy Schools intends to hire an interim principal for the remainder of this school year.
Olentangy Schools is committed to a school environment that allows our staff to flourish professionally, create and maintain positive relationships, and remain focused on facilitating maximum learning for every student. Professional behavior should model the behaviors we expect of our students. When complaints are made regarding alleged misconduct of staff, our priority is a fair and impartial investigation that minimizes its impact on Olentangy students, families, and staff so that we can continue to prioritize student learning. The best interests of our Braves community remain our top priority, and we will continue to be diligent in taking the necessary measures to ensure a smooth transition.”
Griffiths has been the principal at the high school for six years and has been with the district for 22 years. He was previously a science teacher and spent 10 years in sales for Fisher Scientific before changing careers, according to the school’s website.