Two Assistant Principals Suspended by Manatee Schools

BRADENTON – Two Manatee Schools assistant principals – Greg Faller and Matt Kane – were placed on paid administrative leave Thursday, the 4th and 5th administrative employees to have been suspended in connection with the Rod Frazier scandal at Manatee High School. Frazier, a parent liaison and football coach who recently resigned, faces multiple charges for alleged sexual abuse of a Manatee student. Kane was arrested Thursday on two charges related to not reporting abuse allegations and one for knowingly giving false information to a law enforcement officer. 

Matt Kane's mugshot Manatee Sheriff's Office

“As a result of information obtained in an internal Manatee County School District investigation of the Rod Frazier case at Manatee High, I have decided to place Palmetto High Assistant Principal Greg Faller and Southeast High Assistant Principal Matt Kane on paid administrative leave," wrote Superintendent Rick Mills in a statement. "Mr. Faller and Mr. Kane previously served as assistant principals at Manatee High School. At the conclusion of the investigation, if disciplinary action is warranted, I will bring that before the School Board of Manatee County.”

The district conducted an internal investigation, which was led by Troy Pumphrey, the new investigator in the office of professional standards. Following Frazier's arrest, district attorney Scott Martin and assistant superintendent Bog Gagnon were placed on leave, followed shortly after by former OPS director Debbie Horne.

Florida State law requires that any allegations or suspicions of abuse are reported to the state. The district failed to report any of the concerns regarding Frazier, which only became public through a story in the Herald Tribune, which prompted a criminal investigation.