Neenah discusses teacher's resignation

NEENAH - We have new details on the continuing investigation into a former second grade teacher in Neenah.

She used to teach at Tullar Elementary School, but resigned after sending pictures of her second grade students to a prisoner.

Friday we heard reaction from the district and a parent.
    
District officials tell us Christina Peerenboom was a teacher who was well liked by students, staff, and parents. But they say her poor decision forced them to take swift action.

The allegations against second grade teacher Christina Peerenboom came as a shock to Neenah Joint School District Superintendent Mary Pfeiffer.

"It is incomprehensible to be sharing information about our students with anyone who is incarcerated,” said Pfeiffer.

In a letter sent to parents Thursday school officials outline how Peerenboom sent pictures of students to a friend at a prison in southern Wisconsin.

According to Neenah’s police chief, that inmate is 33-year-old Eddie Sanders who was convicted of second-degree murder in 1998.

"That package had contents that were questionable to the people who opened the package,” said Pfeiffer.

Correctional staff notified Pfeiffer last Friday they discovered class pictures with the names of students on them. Those pictures were never given to Sanders, but a further search of his cell found three other pictures of students.

One was a picture of the entire second grade class at Tullar from a field trip. Two others were smaller group pictures with first names of students.

"I want to see that she be punished,” said Brooke Lee of Neenah.

Lee says she worries her son might be in the field trip picture. Lee says Peerenboom was not her son's teacher but she's angry at how Peerenboom put children at risk.

Lee says she is pleased by the district's action to immediately remove her from the classroom.

"I thought by the letter that the school did very well, it seems as though they moved very swiftly,” said Lee.

Peerenboom resigned Thursday, less than a week after she was put on paid leave.

An e-mail to parents Thursday night said the 22 students in Peerenboom's class were notified Friday morning that their teacher would not be back to school for personal reasons. Reasons Pfeiffer says many people are still trying to figure out.

"It's very disappointing, but again I think we have to be so careful about who we are giving information to,” said Pfeiffer.

FOX 11 made several unsuccessful attempts to reach Peerenboom for comment since Thursday evening.
    
Neenah police say following an investigation they will not recommend charges be filed against Peerenboom or Sanders.