I have had the privilege of working as a substitute teacher for the Norwich Free Academy for the last couple of academic years. In the process, I have covered assignments in virtually every building and department on this remarkable campus, including the athletic department. Without exception, I have been incredibly impressed with the dedication and creativity of the faculty and staff with whom I have interacted. I also have to say that NFA has the best security presence of any of the eight schools I have worked at in the region.

With that being said, as a former investigator with the Department of Children and Families, I also appreciate the importance of the mandated reporting requirements in this state.

NFA is an amazing community with wonderful students and a very academically rich offering of courses and opportunities for growth and exploration of career opportunities. It is unfortunate that the school is going through a rough episode right now, but I trust that ultimately the right decisions will be made regarding this incident and the school will regain their well-deserved reputation as an institution of educational excellence.

Timothy Bowles

Preston