HUDSON – A longtime building trades teacher at Alvirne High School in Hudson with a history of community service work resigned in August, surrendering his teaching credential amid allegations of misconduct with a student.

School administrators confirmed John Conrad’s resignation last week.

"Mr. Conrad is no longer an employee of the Hudson School District. His resignation was accepted Aug. 17 by the school board," said Hudson Superintendent Bryan Lane.

School district officials refused to address the reason for Conrad’s sudden departure, citing confidentiality rules, but state Department of Education records show the allegations against Conrad involved "improper contact with student(s)."

Judith Fillion, who heads the DOE Division of Program Support, Bureau of Credentialing, said Conrad "surrendered his credential" and that her division has launched a "noncriminal investigation," which will also remain confidential.

"There is an administrative rule that allows for a voluntary surrender which automatically leads to revocation," Fillion said, referring to the New Hampshire Code of Administrative Rules on certification standards for educational personnel.

A Hudson resident, Conrad taught building trades in the Career and Technical Education program at Alvirne for 13 years. The two-year program teaches students about construction work.

Conrad has previously been in the news for helping the community with his construction and carpentry skills. After connecting with nonprofit organization There’s No Place Like Home in 2007, he helped construct a modular home along with Alvirne students for a family displaced by flooding, which was completed in summer 2009.

He also led a crew of Alvirne building trade students in constructing a ramp for a young girl who uses a wheelchair in spring 2014.

Conrad also mentored students at the Skills USA National Leadership and Skills Conference in Kansas City in June 2011. Skills USA is a national competition for students in Career and Technical Education programs.

He did not return phone calls for comment.

Although Hudson School Board members referred all questions to board Charirman Michael Truesdell, Truesdell did not return multiple phone calls.

District Human Resource Director Joyce Coll said district staff "can’t comment on internal personnel affairs."

In addition to New Hampshire schools, the revocation is applied nationwide since the state shares information with other states’ departments of education, the departments of education for territories in the U.S., and the National Association of State Directors of Teacher Education and Certification Educator Identification Clearing House.

The "improper contact" allegation can refer to a wide range of alleged conduct, Fillion said.

"Any contact: social media, phone, email, texting, tweeting, verbal contact, physical contact and sexual contact, all fall under the general term: ‘Improper Contact with Student(s),’?" she said, adding, "Not all instances of this type of contact or uses of technology necessarily meet the general definition of ‘educator misconduct.’?"

Misconduct is judged by whether the action potentially placed a student in physical or emotional jeopardy, if the educator’s professional standing was diminished, or if the educator is unable to carry out assigned duties, according to state administrative rules.

The results of the investigation will determine Conrad’s eligibility for holding a teaching credential in the future.

"The authority is limited to denial, suspension or revocation," Fillion said.

With a revocation already in place, the investigation findings would be relevant if Conrad applied for a reinstatement of his teaching credential. However, Fillion said, "to date none have been restored."

Conrad held an "experienced educator certificate," which he surrendered Aug. 17. An experienced educator credential is granted to teachers with at least three years of full-time experience who received positive evaluations in two consecutive years.

The DOE record on the revocation stated, "The revocation/surrender was based upon allegations of Improper Contact with student(s)."

According to the New Hampshire Retirement System, a teacher who resigned, or was terminated, after a certain amount of time is still eligible for pension benefits.

"Basically, if you work more than 10 years, you become vested," said Marty Karlon, spokesman for the New Hampshire Retirement System. Karlon said teachers can file for retirement at age 60, or for prorated benefits before retirement age.

"There is nothing in state law that would take away a pension for anything other than fraud," Karlon said.

Tina Forbes can be reached at 594-6402, tforbes@nashuatelegraph. com or @Telegraph_TinaF.