Teacher Suspended Amid Allegations

Friday, May 11th 2007, 2:50 pm

By: News On 6

NORMAN, Okla. (AP) _ A science teacher and former basketball coach at Norman North High School was suspended for alleged inappropriate behavior with a female student, school officials said.

Norman Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Joe Siano confirmed Lynn Lewallen, a science teacher at the high school, was suspended with pay on May 4.

``The teacher was immediately suspended until the investigation is completed,'' Siano said.

Siano said school officials notified the Norman Police Department, Department of Human Services and parents of the 16-year-old student involved in the accusation.

Lewallen's attorney, Steve Stice, confirmed Friday that a referral was made to the Norman Police Department but said his client has not been charged with any crime.

``We don't have any comment until we get further information and see exactly what the allegations are, and we'll address them at that time,'' Stice said.

Lewallen has been employed by Norman Public Schools since 1996, when she replaced Sherri Coale as the girls' basketball coach at Norman High School, and went 28-0 and won the Class 6A state championship.

The following year, she became the first girls' basketball coach at Norman North High School.

She previously coached at Skiatook and was an assistant coach at Ponca City, Sand Springs and Coweta.

In 2004, she left coaching but continued as a teacher at Norman North.