Youngstown teacher on paid leave, pending investigation

Larry Ellis

A Youngstown City School District teacher is on paid leave on Tuesday, pending the outcome of an open investigation.

The district is telling 21 News that Larry Ellis, a teacher at Choffin Career and Technical Center in the Youngstown School District, is on paid leave for a pending investigation. 

Ellis works in the district as a student organizations coordinator, which, according to the district, is a teacher in a special assignment position. Ellis previously worked as an instructional coach in the district.

"As this is an open pending investigation, the district is unable to provide additional information or comment at this time," said Stacy Quinones, Communications and Public Relations employee with the district. 

While it is unclear why Ellis was placed on paid leave, 21 News has confirmed that Ellis received a parking violation in Youngstown in the early hours of September 5. 21 News reached out to the Youngstown Police Department, who confirmed there was an additional police report involving Ellis from last Friday. That report hasn't been released to 21 News as of Tuesday afternoon. 

21 News is working to get more information on why Ellis is on leave and is working to get the police report. 

Ellis was a former YEA union president who resigned from that position in 2021, but is not employed as a YEA union member, according to YEA president Jane Haggarty.