Staffer at Valley Forge Military Academy fired over alleged inappropriate contact with cadets

By Richard Ilgenfritz
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A guidance counselor from the Valley Forge Military Academy and College was fired Tuesday and police are investigating alleged inappropriate contact with two cadets.

According to a statement from VFMA spokeswoman Jennifer Myers, school officials were first notified Sunday “of possible inappropriate actions involving Academy Guidance Counselor, Mrs. Symantha Hicks and two cadets that occurred the night before.”

Hicks was immediately suspended pending an investigation. The parents of the cadets were also notified.

Radnor police confirmed late Wednesday that they were investigating the report.

“Valley Forge Military Academy & College enforces very high standards of character among its Corps of Cadets and staff and faculty members. As a matter of policy and good leadership, Valley Forge does not tolerate behavior that jeopardizes the safety or well-being of any member of our community. Because of this high standard, when conduct unbecoming occurs, the administration will take immediate action, as it did in this instance,” Myers wrote in a statement to Main Line Media News.

According to her biography that had been on the VFMA web site, Hicks ran the National Honor Society and the National Juniors Honor Society at the school. She lives with her husband and three daughters. She was in her first year at the school and was a graduate of Gwynedd Mercy College with a B.S. in Psychology and an M.S. in Secondary School Counseling. By Thursday morning her Bio was no longer on the school’s web site.

“On December 6, 2011, the administration determined there was enough evidence to immediately terminate Mrs. Hicks from duty permanently due to a violation of the school’s code of conduct and ethics policy, and alcohol policy.” Myers wrote.