KENOSHA, Wis. — The principal of the largest high school in Kenosha County has acknowledged that he knows of teachers who use grades as “weaponry,” but has refused to explain what he meant, identify whether any teachers have been disciplined, or say whether improperly assigned grades have been corrected.

Scott Kennow, principal of Indian Trail High School & Academy, made the statement during communications with Kenosha County Eye. The remark immediately raised concerns, prompting follow-up questions asking him to explain exactly what he meant by “weaponize” grades, how widespread the problem is, whether students have been harmed, and what corrective action has been taken.

Kennow declined to answer.

Kenosha County Eye also sought answers from Kenosha Unified School District Superintendent Jeffrey Weiss, asking whether he shared Kennow’s concerns, what oversight the district provides, whether teachers found to have weaponized grades are disciplined, and whether affected students have their records corrected. Weiss also declined to comment.

The unanswered questions come as Indian Trail High School has experienced an extraordinary string of employee misconduct investigations in recent years, leading many parents to question whether the problems stem from isolated employees or deeper failures in leadership and accountability.

Among the controversies:

• Danielle Nixon, a school receptionist, resigned amid allegations that she altered student attendance records, allegedly helping athletes remain eligible for competition.
• Odin Cabal, an art teacher, was investigated after administrators discovered a hidden bed inside a locked storage closet connected to his classroom. Investigators also found students left unsupervised while Cabal was elsewhere. He later resigned.
• Jamil Sanders, an educational support professional, was allowed to resign while facing allegations involving a student at Indian Trail. He later was charged in Racine County with multiple felony sex crimes involving students at another school.
• Michael Russell, an information technology employee, was fired after allegations he engaged in grooming behavior toward students. He later pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct under a plea agreement resolving criminal charges.
• Nathan Gardner, an orchestra teacher, was convicted after prosecutors alleged he used a dating app to pursue a sexual relationship with a 15-year-old student. He was sentenced to 10 years in prison.
• Melvin Tart, a teacher, was permitted to resign after investigators concluded he sent inappropriate text messages to a 17-year-old student, including discussing a sexual dream involving her.
• Ryan Nachtigal, a math teacher, was first disciplined after making a “Heil Hitler” comment and gesture in class, then later fired after investigators substantiated additional racially insensitive comments.
• Antonio “Tony” Garcia, a former KUSD Board member and bilingual community liaison, was terminated after investigators concluded he engaged in grooming-like behavior toward multiple students. He was later criminally charged with misdemeanor disorderly conduct.
• Kayla Estevez, the school’s cheer coach, was fired after leaving her two-month-old baby with students for approximately 90 minutes during practice. Her tenure also generated questions regarding cheer-related finances.
• Samuel Sauceda, an interventionist, was arrested following allegations he threatened a teenager with a handgun during a domestic confrontation. Although initially arrested on felony allegations, prosecutors ultimately pursued only a municipal citation.
• Jonathan Arnett, a teacher, was investigated after showing students a sexually charged video and conducting a classroom exercise that made students uncomfortable. The School Board initially rejected a recommendation to terminate him before later voting not to renew his contract.
• Mercilie Toney, an assistant principal, was investigated after a teacher alleged she asked him to award her son French credit he had not earned. The district deemed the allegations unsubstantiated, but Toney was later quietly reassigned to Bradford High School. District insiders told Kenosha County Eye that trust in her leadership had been lost.

The growing list of personnel controversies has unfolded while Kennow has served as principal of Indian Trail.

Whether that reflects bad luck, systemic management failures, inadequate oversight, or district-wide problems remains an open question. Many insiders blame Kennow, himself.

When asked directly whether he bears any responsibility for the repeated misconduct occurring under his leadership, Kennow did not answer.

Kennow sidestepped questions and ultimately made a comment about how he is hoping to “survive until retirement.”

He did, however, indicate that many important decisions are made above his level, telling Kenosha County Eye that there are numerous matters that are “above my pay grade,” suggesting that ultimate authority rests with district administration.

That response appears to place at least some responsibility on Superintendent Jeffrey Weiss and the district’s central administration.

But neither Weiss nor Kennow would explain who is responsible for ensuring teachers do not use grades as “weaponry.”

Neither would answer whether students have received improper grades, whether any teacher has been disciplined for weaponizing grades, how many incidents have occurred, or whether any allegedly weaponized grades have ever been corrected.

Those questions remain unanswered.