Suspended educator gives statement

MILAN TWP. — An attorney representing an educator under suspension for an alleged inappropriate relationship with a student spoke on this recent action taken by her employer. On Thursday, Rachel Reight, a lawyer with the Canton-based Baasten, McKinley and Co., provided a statement to the newspaper on behalf of Taylor Burns, a high school intervention specialist at EHOVE Career Center who was placed on paid leave this week. Here is that statement: As an educator, my primary focus has always been on the well-being and academic success of my students. I am deeply disheartened that recent events have become a distraction from the vital work happening in our classrooms and the learning environment my students deserve. I take my role as a teacher with the utmost seriousness. While I cannot comment on specific details at this time, I want to be clear: I am fully committed to the legal and administrative process ahead. I look forward to the opportunity to address these allegations and clear my name. I ask for privacy for myself and my family as we navigate this matter through the proper channels. Information released by the career center did not state what led to the suspension. But a one-page incident report released by the sheriff's office identified the allegation as a "possible inappropriate relationship between an EHOVE employee and an EHOVE student." The investigation remains ongoing. No criminal charges have been filed as of Wednesday afternoon.