Indiana Teacher ‘No Longer Employed’ After Sexually Charged Messages Unearthed
Tony Kinnett /
Following an exposé from The Daily Signal about sexually charged text messages sent to a high school student, Indiana teacher Ben Yoder is no longer employed by Hamilton Southeastern Intermediate School, according to the Hamilton Southeastern Schools district.
Yoder, a 37-year-old teacher and LGBTQ+ advocate, taught at the school in Fishers, Indiana, for 11 years before being scrubbed from all websites connected to the school district after the screenshot of his alleged conversation was published by The Daily Signal. (The Daily Signal was unable to independently confirm the accuracy of the screenshot.)
Following an inquiry from The Daily Signal on Yoder’s employment status, communications director Emily Abbotts responded, “Ben Yoder is no longer employed by Hamilton Southeastern Schools.”
“We understand the community will seek more information about the situation,” Abbotts added. “However, federal privacy laws prohibit the school district from publicly releasing additional details about this matter.”
The Fishers Police Department told The Daily Signal that the investigation is still open, but they do not believe Yoder has committed a crime at this time.
Two teachers and one principal at Hamilton Southeastern Schools who wish to remain anonymous report that Yoder resigned this week before the school’s investigation could be completed.
The Daily Signal was unable to reach Yoder to request comment. The Daily Signal had previously attempted to reach Yoder via his school email and alleged Instagram account.
The Hamilton Southeastern School Board is expected to confirm staff changes that include Yoder’s possible resignation or termination on Feb. 8 at 7 p.m., which will be livestreamed. The Daily Signal plans to attend and report the board’s decision and comments from Superintendent Yvonne Stokes as they are given.
A concerned parent sent The Daily Signal a screenshot last week that he claims shows an Instagram private message conversation between a Hamilton Southeastern Schools student and Yoder. The Daily Signal is not naming the student to respect his privacy.
The Daily Signal has been unable to independently confirm the accuracy of the screenshots or that the Instagram account belongs to Yoder and is not an impersonation.
In the messages, Yoder asked the student if he was “out” of school yet.
The student responded that he had one year left, to which Yoder replied, “Well good to know. I guess it’s not time to invite you to get in trouble quite yet lol,” following up with: “I’ll do my best to wait haha.”
The student asked Yoder to describe what “trouble” meant.
Yoder responded, “Hahaha I’m not sure about that. Let your imagination run wild I guess lol,” followed by: “Trouble is pretty much whatever you want to make it lol.”
Yoder is believed to have operated this Instagram account, “@bennyboobooboo,” openly for over seven years but has not responded to The Daily Signal’s request for confirmation. The account has since been locked.
This private messaging session marks one of many concerns that parents have had with Yoder over the last several years. Tweets unearthed during Yoder’s bid for the vice presidency of the Indiana State Teachers Association from an account believed to be his show an aggressively sexual social media presence, including soliciting gay sex in traffic jams and describing male strippers he was watching at strip clubs.
These tweets, under the same handle as the Instagram account believed to be Yoder’s, and a host of racist and problematic posts were sent while Yoder was employed at the school. (The Daily Signal has been unable to independently confirm that Yoder ran the alleged Twitter account.)
At least one parent has claimed to have reported concerns over this content to staff at Hamilton Southeastern with no success.
Following my first report on Yoder’s alleged social media behavior in January 2022, Yoder stepped down from his position at the Indiana State Teachers Association and the Twitter account @bennyboobooboo was deleted.
Now a similar fate has befallen the @bennyboobooboo Instagram account. Before this account was locked, pictures were posted almost weekly that showed Yoder in drag with students promoting his work in LGBTQ+ activism and promoting the Indiana State Teachers Association.
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