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	Huffman High Band Director Arrested for Sexually Abusing Students, Put on Administrative Leave By Marie Leech and Erin Stock Birmingham News April 20, 2009 http://www.al.com/news/birminghamnews/metro.ssf?/base/news/124021534953640.xml&coll=2 he Birmingham Board of Education will place the Huffman High School band director on paid administrative leave when classes resume Tuesday and will investigate charges he sexually abused a student at the school, school officials said Sunday. Huffman's band director, Patrick Jerome Whitehead of Pinson, who also is minister of music at Sixteenth Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, was arrested Saturday and charged with sexual abuse by force and sodomy. He was released from the Jefferson County Jail the same day on $75,000 bond, jail records show. Michaelle Chapman, spokeswoman for Birmingham city schools, said interim Superintendent Barbara Allen became aware of Whitehead's arrest Saturday, but because it is a weekend and schools are out today, she could not place him on leave until Tuesday. "He will be placed on paid leave effective immediately, pending an investigation by the school system," Chapman said. Board member Virginia Volker confirmed the case involved a Huffman student. Meanwhile, board member Martha Wixom, whose district includes Huffman High School encouraged the school community to "let the process work" as system officials investigate charges of sexual misconduct against Huffman's band director. "There is a structured process for how to handle something like this," Wixom said. "The best thing to do at this point is to let the process work, and when that process comes to an end, you've got your answer." Wixom, who said she has met Whitehead once or twice, said the charges against Whitehead surprised her. "It was my understanding that he was an excellent band teacher and very well-liked among the students," she said. Whitehead also was placed on leave at Sixteenth Street Baptist until more information comes forward, said the church's pastor, the Rev. Arthur Price Jr. "Our No. 1 focus is to exalt Jesus," Price said. "He brought us through slavery and bombings, and he'll bring us through this as well." E-mail: mleech@bhamnews.com.
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