Helias president responds to teacher resignation

Days after community outrage over an art teacher’s resignation, the president of Helias High School in Jefferson City asks for patience.

Father Stephen Jones said in a Facebook statement that he apologized for a lack of communication with parents over the issue.

“The resignation of Mr Friggle has caused a lot of pain, and for that I am sorry,” he writes. “I also regret that there has not been more formal communication by the administration with the Helias community on this subject.”

Art teacher Mark Friggle resigned Thursday, February 13. Sources told ABC 17 News it was over an inappropriate comment toward a student, though the two did not have any kind of inappropriate relationship.

Friggle is not facing any charges and the Dicoese would not comment on the issue, other than to say Friggle resigned citing “personal reasons.”

Many students were upset because all the artwork in Friggle’s classroom had been taken down and allegedly disposed of by last week.

Friggle had been a teacher at Helias since August 2000.

In his message this weekend, Father Jones asked that any parent or community member with concerns over the issue contact him directly.