KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Shawnee Mission School District Board of Education fired a Shawnee Mission North math teacher and girls swim coach Wednesday after he was arrested earlier in the day and charged with five counts of sexual exploitation of a child.
Johnson County District Attorney Steve Howe charged Alexander Morris, 32, alleging that his crimes took place between January and mid-September.
An SMSD spokesperson confirmed Thursday that Morris had been with the district since November 2013.
The school district, which said it performs background checks "on all prospective employees," learned of his arrest from law enforcement, according to the SMSD spokesperson.
Morris was also the coach of the youth swim team, the Kansas City Blazers. A spokesperson with the Johnson County Parks and Recreation District told KSHB 41 on Wednesday afternoon that Morris had been placed on administrative leave.
Morris had been with the Blazers since 2011 and served as the Head Senior I Coach, according to an archived copy of the swim team's website. He was no longer listed on the website by Thursday afternoon.
He also previously served as a "deck coach" at Blue Valley North and SM North, according to the website's bio. He also previously coached the boys swimming and diving teams at Mill Valley and De Soto high schools.
The Blazers told KSHB 41 News they reported him to USA Swimming, part of the Olympic movement, which then reports to the U.S. Center for SafeSport.
The Blazers is a SafeSport recognized club.
SafeSport, as outlined in previous 41 I-Team reporting, is an abuse prevention program. It includes mandatory screenings and background checks, trainings, and guidance on what to do if an athlete, parent, or coach suspects abuse.
Every coach, official, and board member has to go through Safe Sport's mandatory training on safe boundaries and relationships with kids.
Morris is not yet on Safe Sports disciplinary database page.
Viewers can make a report on the SafeSport site if they have reasonable suspicion of abuse or misconduct inflicted on, or by, someone in the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Movement.
SM North Principal Dave Ewers said Morris was no longer the school's girls swimming and diving coach before the board terminated contract Wednesday night.
A Johnson County judge appointed an attorney for Morris, who was being held on a $150,000 bond.
During a hearing Thursday afternoon, a new court date was set for Oct. 6.
