Souhegan High School Music Teacher Placed On Leave

AMHERST, NH — An embattled music teacher, who has been on leave, off and on, since September, has been placed on leave again after allegations of inappropriate contact with a former student.

Carl Benevides, a music teacher in the SAU 39 school district for more than two decades, was placed on leave on Sunday by Adam Steel, the superintendent of schools. In a statement, Steel said the leave was in response to a New Hampshire Department of Education investigation.

“Because this investigation was initiated by the NHDOE, SAU #39 has no further information to share and will await the result of their investigation,” he said. “While the alleged misconduct does not involve a current student and no determination has been made by the NHDOE about these allegations, SAU #39 recognizes the severity of these allegations and does not tolerate nor condone inappropriate behavior towards students.”

The statement was also signed by Diana Fenton, an attorney with the NH DOE.

Kimberly Houghton, a communications administrator with the department, offered no specific comment about Benevides, due to the educator being involved in an open investigation.

“The department’s top priority is always ensuring the safety of children,” she said. “All allegations of educator misconduct — regardless of when they might have occurred — are of paramount importance, and the department works diligently with its partners to address any and all such claims swiftly and with fairness to all involved.”

Benevides was on leave for a little more than three months at the beginning of the school year and was reinstated in early December 2021. A number of students, in posts online and in the school newspaper, expressed concern and disappointment about the decision. A petition at Change.org, which is still active, was launched and had nearly 1,300 requests to bring him back to class. The petition claimed the issue was about Benevides taking home air purifiers that he later returned.

On Dec. 8, 2021, Steel and Benevides came to an agreement whereby Benevides would return to class for the remainder of the school year and he would resign on June 30 and find other opportunities.

“I am thankful for Carl’s 21 years of service to our school system and to its students,” Steel said at the time. “I thank him for being willing to teach the rest of this school year and will offer my support to his future endeavors. I acknowledge the difficulty the confusion that has been caused by this protracted matter, but trust that our community can accept that personnel matters are not able to be discussed in public and that the best interest of students will always be our first and greatest priority.”

According to his LinkedIn account, Benevides is the director of bands and music technology for the district and has been with the district since July 2000. He has also been the NH Youth Jazz Ensemble Director at the Manchester Community Music School since 2008 and director of the Jazz Ensemble and Combo at Phillips Exeter Academy since September 2013. Benevides also teaches at the Real School of Music in Andover, Massachusetts.

Benevides received his Bachelor’s in music at UMass/Lowell and his Master’s in Education at Plymouth State University.

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