KUSD Tremper High School Website
KCE told you on May 1, 2024, that a Kenosha Tremper High School Teacher named Markise Jackson was under criminal investigation and on April 26, 2024 we told you he was allowed to resign in lieu of termination.
KCE received Jackson’s personnel file and the police report relating to his conduct. The behavior allegedly displayed by Jackson seems eerily similar to that of the fired and criminally charged Christian Enwright.
Since KUSD didn’t fire Jackson, he did what everyone expected him to do – he applied to be an elementary teacher at Cherokee School in Lake Forest, IL. Lake Forest District 67 hired Markise and announced his addition in an email:
A parent in Lake Forest named Philippe Melin, found KCE’s article about Markise and alerted the Lake Forest School District to the sketchy hiring decision. Instead of acknowledging Mr. Melin’s concerns and being transparent, they sent out an ambiguous email with few details.
In an August 20, 2024 letter to parents, Superintendent Matthew L. Montgomery said, in part:
“…a District 67 staff member came forward with a disturbing report about one of our newly-hired teaching assistants. I want to share a real-time update:
- This individual, who has had no interaction with students in our district and was still pending board approval, was invited to participate in on-boarding with the District 67 staff yesterday.
- The staff report prompted an urgent investigation, which revealed that the individual had allegedly engaged in inappropriate behavior with a student in an out-of-state district. The individual misled District 67 staff on his resume and in his application process, and due to official charges not being filed with the authorities, the allegation did not appear on his background check or in his professional references.
- District 67 rescinded the offer of employment without hesitation. We are deeply grateful to the staff member who reported this finding immediately upon learning concerning information.
- While we continue our ongoing practices of reference, sex offender registry, and violent offender registry checks, and have added social media reviews in the last year, I am still not satisfied.
- Despite strengthening our processes, I am deeply concerned about the number of times this issue has surfaced in our districts. To that end, I am calling for a full independent audit of our Human Resources hiring and vetting processes. I am currently curating third-party proposals for review by the Board. This audit will guide next steps in the matter and may include disciplinary measures, if warranted.”
Montgomery seemingly lied to the parents by saying “District 67 rescinded the offer of employment without hesitation.” KCE is told that Jackson was indeed hired and was going through “onboarding.”
KCE reached out to the board of education and Superintendent Montgomery. Nobody responded to our requests for comment.
Here is a copy of Markise’s “resignation in lieu of termination” letter provided by KUSD to KCE. When Jackson applied to Lake Forest in June of this year, he was asked a pointed question – “Have you ever failed to be hired, been asked to resign a position, resigned to avoid termination, or terminated from employment?” Jackson answered “NO.” He lied. In fact, he omitted his teaching job at Tremper High School on his job application in its entirety.
The inappropriate behavior was reported to KUSD on October 9, 2023 and KUSD did nothing. More inappropriate behavior was reported on April 22, 2024 and Markise was asked to resign, instead of being fired. The embattled KUSD HR Director, Kevin Neir, was involved in both sets of allegations. He decided against any disciplinary action for the first report.
(File Photo by Kevin Mathewson, Kenosha County Eye)
Here is a summary of the allegations from both complaints within Mr. Jackson’s personnel file:
On Friday April 19th it was a 15-year-old students’ boyfriend’s birthday and she brought a gift to school that she was going to give him. Mr Jackson seemed upset at that fact, because she was previously upset while in his class because her and her boyfriend were recently having an argument. Mr Jackson asked why she was dressed so nice and then said she looked “good” in those jeans. She told him that after school she was going to dinner with her boyfriend’s family. Mr Jackson asked the child “is he going to bang you afterwards?” which made her very uncomfortable. Jackson told the girl that “he doesn’t deserve you” and “fuck him.” The girl retrieved the gift that Jackson confiscated that was for her boyfriend, but found the gift opened, the tissue paper ripped, and the balloons detached from the gift.
Mr Jackson was accused of giving a high-school girl unwanted shoulder rubs and she reported to the district that he consistently flirted with her. He would ask her if her boyfriend minded when he gave her shoulder rubs.
It was reported by at least two girls that Jackson would (in their opinion) intentionally sit down with his legs open so that people could view his crotch area.
Another student said that Jackson had ” incredibly inappropriate behavior.” She feels as though Mr. Jackson only calls out girls. She thinks it’s weird how he acts with other students, “no other teacher acts like that.”
When one girl told Mr Jackson not to touch her, he told her he would give her an “f on her test.” Mr. Jackson also placed ice cubes down the back of a female student’s shirt. This was captured on camera.
The assistant principal at Tremper personally witnessed Mr. Jackson inappropriately grabbing a girl on her shoulder at the lunch room.
Many of the witnesses were hesitant to cooperate with KUSD’s investigation for fear of Jackson finding out. Ultimately, Kenosha Police were called to investigate. A detective was assigned and began to sift through the DCFS reports. Unfortunately, prosecution could not be sought because the mother of the victim told police that she didn’t want any police action or prosecution. Cases are extremely difficult to prosecute when the victim, or in this case, the victim’s family do not cooperate. Many times, families decide against the traumatizing ordeal of being a victim in the criminal justice system.
(File Photos by Kevin Mathewson, Kenosha County Eye) (Knecht, KUSD)
Unsurprisingly, neither Tremper Principal Steve Knecht, Communications Director Tanya Ruder, nor Superintendent Jeff Weiss would tell KCE why Jackson was allowed to resign. They didn’t say why the school didn’t alert the students’ parents of the teacher’s conduct.
According to the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, this teacher has been licensed since October 20, 2023 as a “short term substitute.”
One mother told KCE that she was upset because she was lead to believe that the teacher was fired and Principal Steve Knecht didn’t tell parents about the alleged conduct. She’s extremely upset about what she calls a “complete lack of transparency.” She also wanted to know why the teacher was allowed to resign instead of being fired for the alleged conduct.
A student at Tremper told KCE that he believed this teacher has a job already in a new school district. “He was social media friends with most students, gave most students his cell phone number for texting, and used to send us DM videos of him vaping.”
KCE will occasionally pat itself on the back and will in this instance. If not for our reporting, this man could have been doing something worse in Illinois – grooming elementary-aged students.
55 Responses
Hey teachers!Leave those kids alone!
I heard that song the other day and totally think Pink Floyd knew things we didn’t know growing up! The brainwashing is unbelievable in the public school system! Sickening how teachers are getting away with all this! Thank you Kevin for keeping up with these sex offenders and nipping at their heals every time they try to go somewhere to get a job with kids!
Who TF downvotes this?!?!?!?!?!?!?!
What happened to school administration protecting kids? Now its all about MORE MONEY and keeping TERRIBLE teachers. Kenosha parents WAKE UP!!!!
Homeschool!
The liberal KUSD admin are too pompous to admit fault and instead double & triple down on putting kids in harms way.
This was predicted !
Just Google this guys name !
Both KCE stories come up. Even his photo !
This was Lake Forest Illinois. Not the most affluent north shore community but definitely more affluent than Kenosha. Think of what they pay those HR people down there ! And they MISSED THIS !!!!!!!
This is background 101 shit !!
This just goes to show how incompetent people are these days. Hats off to this superintendent that says some heads will roll down there. Let’s hope they do.
Let this be a lesson everywhere
They didn’t miss it!! It was because the shitty KUSD School Board allows him to resign instead of firing him and no charges being filed, that allowed him to be hired since nothing came up when they did the background checks and everything else!!! Know the facts before you speak!!
Googling a person’s name “isn’t” part of a background check ???
Why not ??
It’s right there. !!!
Times have changed.
(have you ever googled yourself? I have. And the few times my name has made the news, both print and electronically, I come up)
I agree this is “also” on KUSD, no doubt but, Kevin’s story made up for that.
Besides, the guy should be fired (or not even hired) for not disclosing his time here.
That’s on the incomplete background check or the person who read it and didn’t ask about the missing time of no job.
And that folks is on the Lake Forest HR people !!
The School Board does not get a say for temp, substitutes, and non contract/yearly employees. This and the many others who the DISTRICT allowed to resign were not brought in front of the School Board for termination. These employees were allowed to resign by Mr. Neir and Dr. Weiss.
Yeah. Seems to be a pattern with Kenosha men. Jimmy P from Wilmot left under a cloud of smoke after he was caught. Now that asshole teaches in Virginia.
They are “deeply saddened” in Lake Forest. Because that will change things
https://www.lakemchenryscanner.com/2024/08/28/deeply-concerned-superintendent-orders-audit-after-lake-forest-schools-hires-man-with-past-misconduct-allegations/
Deeply concerned
Time to follow him… provide details – the KCE knows no boundaries! They can RUN but they CANT HIDE!!!!!
Yeah. Seems to be a pattern with Kenosha men. Jimmy P from Wilmot left under a cloud of smoke after he was caught. Now he teaches in Virginia.
Yes. Truly , all men from the greater Kenosha area are bad people.
I beg to differ, all men are not bad. Some men make bad decisions and have to deal with the consequences, but you can judge us all based on this guys actions
It would take a minimal amount of time & money to create a shared database of these people so any school could get access.
Instead, they opt to create a database of people buying cold medicine from pharmacy.
One is called Google. It doesn’t take much to search someone up before hiring them.
Thank you Kevin for all that you do.
And here’s another one, Paul Brock that Lake Forest hired because some other School Board didn’t due their job and gave this guy a pass and he goes out of state and gets hired at a different school!!! These School Boards need to do better and protect these kids and fire these perverts!!!
https://www.lakemchenryscanner.com/2023/11/17/school-board-fires-teacher-at-middle-school-in-lake-forest-after-sexual-grooming-of-child-investigation/
McDonald’s is hiring.
His mom must be so proud of him.
Another great hire by Steve Knecht
He loves hiring groomers maybe Kusd should really look into his background !!!
Needs to be replaced and not within KUSD
You people on here are pressed miserable and BORED.! IF NO ALLEGATIONS OR CHARGES WERE PRESSED AGAINST HIM THEN ITS CLEAR THAT HES INNOCENT. Y’all need to more concerned about yall kids coming to shoot up schools. Dont you think if he did what he’s being accused of the student parent would’ve pursued the case and pressed charges against him.? Don’t you think he would have to register as a sex offender ? You people on here are just miserable and ignorant and straight up stupid. Go find y’all some business and leave this man alone matter fact since yall think yall know everything how about yall become a police officer or investigator. Lame ass people y’all the real issue here.
The fact is, you have no idea who on here is in LE, or an investigator.
Fuck off diddler
Let’s do an investigation. Really !
We’ll go back and look at the original claim. Interview all his colleagues and all of his students and figure this out. (Our new upcoming DA can initiate this)
Then put it out there and here on KCE.
Wouldn’t you think if this guy was squeaky clean he would have fought the firing/resignation ? Or gone to the state employment board ?
Why doesn’t he call Kevin and ask to be interviewed ? Set the story straight ! True or false there is a story. Two stories actually. The second one is where the accusations came from originally.
But KUSD won’t talk.
For the most part yes.
Was he ever charged with a crime ?
Was he fired for cause ?
Did he challenge the forced resignation ?
Did he omit information on his Illinois application ?
If any of these questions are in his favor then he has a big lawsuit payday coming from KUSD and KCE.
I am in total agreement that what we have here is a failure to communicate the whole truth. But I think that’s on Markise Jackson. I understand presumed innocence. But here it is on him to prove it by suing. As wrong as that is, it’s a Total upside for him
You win ! The dumbest comment ever !
Thanks for playing, homey.
Your part of the problem
If y’all spoke English, maybe more people would take you seriously y’all.
I am 99.9 percent certain this is a black relative of this shithead since they are using “y’all”.
Yeah we get it….this guy dindonuffin.
In the original article, the dude looked like a pimp in the picture used, probably more appropriate. That photo was taken down, I wonder why?
Don’t you think if the was innocent he wouldn’t lie on a job application?
Is he even a licensed teacher? I do not see him listed as one on the Wisconsin DPI website.
It’s extremely unfortunate that there were no charges filed against this pedophile teacher and I think charges could’ve been filed on behalf of the school without the cooperation of the victim’s mother. He certainly abused and groomed many children. At the very least he should have been fired and these incidents should’ve been on his record. This is what happens when you give too much leeway -you protect the criminals and the innocent children are the ones who are harmed. KUSS needs to wake up and prosecute these pedophiles before more harm can be done. All they did was pass this guy onto another district by their laziness.
I am writing to seek clarification on the definition of a pedophile and to discuss some observations from Kevin’s article that seem to lack substantial evidence to support the claims made against Mr. Jackson.
Firstly, a pedophile is defined as “a person who is sexually attracted to children.” It is important to understand the gravity of such accusations and the impact they can have on an individual’s reputation and livelihood.
Upon reviewing Kevin’s article, I noticed several observations that raised concerns and questions regarding the allegations made against the individual involved. For example, the act of touching a student on the shoulder or confiscating a birthday gift does not inherently signify any sexual intent. Similarly, being social media friends with students or sharing videos of smoking may not necessarily imply inappropriate behavior.
Furthermore, comments made such as encouraging a student or making a remark about her significant other, do not seem to indicate any sexual misconduct. It is crucial to consider the context and intent behind these actions before jumping to conclusions.
In light of these observations, it is essential to ensure that any claims made are based on concrete evidence rather than assumptions or misconstrued interpretations. As a senior in Law School, I believe that this teacher may have a valid case against KUSD and KCE for slander/defamation and wrongful termination.
I urge you to approach this matter with caution and fairness, taking into account the lack of substantial evidence supporting the allegations. It is important to uphold justice and integrity in all proceedings, ensuring that individuals are treated fairly and justly.
If you are really a “senior in law school” (I believe you are not) You should change law schools. You’re wrong.
I’m still learning so please inform me where I am wrong…. I’m enlightened to find out and will stand corrected
If you are a “senior” in law school and still learning……you are pretty far behind. Then again you probably go to a shitty Tier 4 law school.
Enlightened is the wrong word to use in this sentence, as well as the wrong tense.
You win ! The dumbest comment ever !
Thanks for playing, homey.
And no one else noticed the last name of Drinkwine at the lake forest school
Real MEN, proper and polite gentleman… do NOT touch a woman without their express consent.
Yes, I understand we may have intimates, and touch is accepted, even encouraged. But that group does not include your students. Ever…
C-
If you were actually in law school, you’d know there’s no such thing as a “law school senior” or “senior in law school.” Law school is three years and the students are 1L students the first yr, 2L the second, and 3L the third. Liars lose all credibility!
I saw that too !
Wow, AI helped you use big words to pretend! Cool story, bro.
“the act of touching a student on the shoulder or confiscating a birthday gift does not inherently signify any sexual intent. Similarly, being social media friends with students or sharing videos of smoking may not necessarily imply inappropriate behavior.” Yes it is ALL inappropriate. Stop trying to defend bad behavior.
The Lake Forest liberal women that fell over themselves making this DEI hire must be so disappointed. They can’t pat themselves on the back bow for their progressiveness.
About 25 years ago I was asked out by a female teacher I had. She actually ended up marrying one of her students who was younger than me. I don’t really think this sort of thing is more prevalent nowadays. It’s just being exposed more often.
This was while I was in high school she asked me out.
There is no “Senior” in law school. Law school (traditionally) is three years. There are no “Freshman, Sophomore, Junior and Senior” in law school. They go by 1L, 2L and 3L, at all law schools. This person is lying, claiming to be something they are not.
This guy didn’t fight his coming termination, he was allowed and agreed to resign. If he was innocent, he’d have fought the allegations. Instead he chose to resign.
Then he lies on his next application at Lake Forest HS. Why? Because he doesn’t want Lake Forest contacting Kenosha and finding out his past. Why not? Because it would render him un-hirable.
The Kenosha HS school board, President and other higher ups in the know did a horrible disservice to society in letting him resign,. in not firing him. Additionally, so did the parents of there one girl he groomed. Had they pressed charges, he’d not have been able to be hired anywhere in the US. Ridiculous.
This guy needs to find a different line of work, away from underage kids.
Even if Lake Forest missed the mark with the initial hiring it stepped up to the plate to not only divorce themselves from this time bomb but to order an audit. That’s one Hell of a lot more than we’ve seen KUSD do.