A Chiddix Junior High School teacher being investigated by police was disciplined by Unit 5 in December for “repeated unprofessional conduct in the classroom,” according to a Letter of Reprimand obtained by WGLT through a public records request.
An investigation by Unit 5, detailed in the Dec. 2 letter signed by Brandon Knapp, said Knapp was found to have engaged in “grooming behaviors” including “making comments of a sexual nature, telling inappropriate sexual jokes, making sexual innuendos, brushing up against female students as they enter your classroom and regularly interacting with female students in another classroom during their instructional time.”
The letter further alleges Knapp made physical contact with students during classroom demonstrations, mouthed profanities at students and engaged in conversations “not suitable for a classroom environment or students in junior high.”
The Letter of Reprimand references two prior incidents requiring district intervention in the past 18 months.
“You have previously received direction regarding maintaining professional standards, yet this behavior persists,” the letter said.
A student reported Knapp’s behaviors in November 2025, which prompted an internal investigation by the district. According to emails obtained by WGLT through a public records request, Knapp was notified of a Unit 5 investigation on Nov. 20 and required to attend a meeting with administrators and a union representative.
The leadership of Unit 5’s teachers union did not respond Monday to a request for an interview about its role in Knapp’s case.
Knapp returned to the classroom following the Dec. 2 letter confirming disciplinary action. He was directed to “cease all unprofessional, inappropriate and sexually suggestive conduct and grooming behaviors toward students,” refrain from physical contact with students and follow a corrective action plan.
DCFS investigation
The district’s internal investigation ran concurrently to a DCFS investigation. DCFS was contacted after several students reported to a school counselor what they saw as disturbing behavior by Knapp, several days after school administrators were alerted, according to sources familiar with the matter.
Sources familiar with the DCFS investigation confirmed it concluded Jan. 16, when records requested by WGLT show Knapp was placed on paid administrative leave again. WGLT previously confirmed DCFS found credible evidence Knapp had engaged in sexual exploitation and sexual molestation. A district spokesperson said they have not received any written communication from DCFS confirming their investigation concluded.
DCFS declined to answer whether they’d sent a final report to Knapp or Unit 5.
“As a general matter, we can tell you that it is DCFS policy to contact alleged perpetrators and share our findings. If the alleged perpetrator was an employee of a school and investigated by DCFS for action taken in their professional capacity, the school would also be notified of the final finding,” a DCFS spokesperson said. “In the event that an alleged perpetrator does not provide a home address, a verbal finding of our investigation is shared with that person.”
All school personnel are mandated reporters and required by law to report any suspected abuse to DCFS.
A days-long delay in reporting a student’s disclosures to DCFS would appear to violate mandated reporting guidelines and Unit 5’s own handbook, which requires all district employees who suspect or receive knowledge that a student may have been abused to “immediately report or cause a report to be made” with DCFS.
A spokesperson for Unit 5 previously told WGLT there was an “initial investigation” into the allegations and “additional information was shared five days later that prompted a call to DCFS.”
According to the state’s mandated reporter training course, “The most reliable indicator of abuse or neglect is the child’s own spontaneous disclosure.”
The training advises mandated reporters to “limit the number of times a child is questioned or interviewed about an abuse or neglect incident.”
A source familiar with the investigation said a group of students met with school officials on several occasions to discuss their concerns.
“Multiple interviews can traumatize the child and should be avoided at all costs,” the state's mandated reporter training said, "and can compromise a DCFS and criminal investigation.”
The Normal Police Department said it anticipates sending the case to the state’s attorney soon.
Knapp is the second teacher at Chiddix on paid leave for alleged inappropriate behavior after written reprimand by the district. Seventh grade language arts teacher Andrew Miller was sanctioned with a Notice to Remedy during a 2020 school board meeting for alleged sexual misconduct with a minor outside his role at Unit 5. Miller was placed on leave last month following multiple search warrants executed by Bloomington Police, including at Chiddix Junior High.
A day after WGLT first reported on Knapp and Miller’s removals from the classroom, Chiddix families received an email signed by the school’s principal, Mariana Nicasio. The email acknowledged that “recent events and media coverage surrounding them have raised questions and concerns. We also understand that it can be frustrating when information feels limited and you are hearing conflicting information.”
The email obtained by WGLT cites legal confidentiality requirements which “make it difficult to provide clarity, even when there is misinformation,” and directs families to counseling and other support services available at the school.
Knapp has not responded to requests for comment.
Knapp Timeline
- 11/13/25: An initial complaint related to Brandon Knapp was filed with Chiddix administrators.
- Mid-November: Knapp is placed on paid administrative leave. The exact date is unclear.
- By 11/19/25: A Chiddix official calls DCFS after “an initial investigation and additional information” was gathered related to allegations against Knapp.
- 11/20/25: Unit 5 works to schedule a meeting for 11/21/25 with Knapp and his union representative to discuss the allegations, district records show. Knapp was served with a “Notice Regarding Investigation and Directive” and provided details of the allegations.
- 12/2/25: Unit 5 sends a reprimand letter to Knapp, which he signs/acknowledges on 12/4/25, then returns to work.
- 1/16/26: Knapp notified by phone he’s been placed on leave again, around the same time the DCFS investigation into his conduct concludes.
- 1/19/26: Knapp is formally notified by email he’s been placed on leave. Unit 5 apologies for not sending a formal written notification earlier.
- 1/27/26: Parents in Knapp’s class are told Knapp will be out of the classroom “for the foreseeable future,” with no explanation as to why.
- 2/24/26: WGLT reports on the allegations against Knapp -- the first time that many parents at Chiddix become aware of why he was placed on leave.
- 2/25/26: An email to Chiddix families from the school’s principal notes “recent events and media coverage surrounding them that have raised questions and concerns.”
