Arlington High orchestra director steps down

The storied Arlington High School Orchestra will have a new director for the second time in as many school years, after its leader resigned Jan. 30.

Nathan Keefer, who had been orchestra director since the fall of 2013, was placed on administrative leave with pay Jan. 29, according to district records. He is not accused of criminal wrongdoing.

Keefer had received a written reprimand from Principal Shahveer Dhalla on Nov. 21 after an investigation found that Keefer had ridden in cars with students outside school hours, invited a female student to his home and communicated with that student by text message even after Dhalla told him to cease.

A district human resources investigator also found that Keefer had discussed the investigation with the student, including “what needed to happen to avoid [Keefer] getting fired,” according to documents provided in response to a Star-Telegram open-records request. The student’s name was redacted in the documents.

Before Keefer took over the highly successful orchestra in 2013, the program was directed by his mother, Linda Keefer, for nearly 40 years. The district has named assistant director Katrina Grenz as interim director until another director can be hired, Arlington schools spokeswoman Leslie Johnston said.

Johnston declined to describe the reason for Keefer’s midyear resignation because it was a personnel matter. She did say that the district does not plan to make any referrals against Nathan Keefer to police or to the State Board for Educator Certification, the licensing agency for teachers.

“There is nothing to report to either entity,” she said.

According to district documents, the investigation started in October after Grenz expressed concerns about Keefer’s actions. A human resources investigator noted that she talked to Grenz, Keefer, the student in question and another student.

The resulting Nov. 21 reprimand listed several school board policies that Keefer may have broken, including failing to maintain appropriate boundaries with students.

“Your conduct with respect to [the student] has been unprofessional and violated district policy. Because your conduct violated district policy, you are reprimanded and warned that your contract may be subject to nonrenewal at the end of the year,” Dhalla wrote

In a written response, Keefer sought to clarify his actions.

“The infractions listed in your reprimand all have simple explanations in which I felt at the time that I was not only helping that student but fulfilling the expectations of my position as the orchestra director at Arlington High School,” he wrote. “As a music educator, I am put in a position to mentor students and, at times, be in their presence outside the classroom.”

The student told investigators that she viewed Keefer as a mentor and that their interactions were orchestra-related, according to district documents. After being contacted by the Star-Telegram, Grenz declined through Johnston to comment further.

Questions about the relationship between the student and Keefer resurfaced in late January. A school employee who requested anonymity wrote in a statement to the principal that Keefer was still spending time with the student after class and after school.

According to a resignation agreement signed by Keefer and Superintendent Marcelo Cavazos, Keefer agreed not to apply for future positions with Arlington schools and both sides agreed not to “criticize, disparage, or defame the goodwill or reputation” of the other. Johnston said the language in the agreement is typical of legal releases drafted by the district when teachers leave in the middle of their contract.

This week, an album called “Goodbye AHS” on Keefer’s Facebook page showed pictures of his mother and him outside the doors of the school’s orchestra hall, which was renamed Keefer Hall in her honor in 2013. Comments on both Linda Keefer’s and Nathan Keefer’s Facebook pages expressed surprise and support for the Keefers and disappointment with the district.

One commenter wrote: “It’s not Colt Country without a Keefer. I love your post and your spirit.”

Nathan Keefer began working for the district in 2008 and worked at West Elementary, Bowie High School and Martin High School before becoming orchestra director at Arlington High.

This story was originally published February 13, 2015 at 4:08 PM with the headline "Arlington High orchestra director steps down."