Patton High School teacher suspended following felony charges

A Patton High School teacher was suspended without pay on Friday after being charged with felony committing a sex act by a substitute parent and felony incest, according to the Morganton Department of Public Safety. Christopher Coolidge Bailey, 47, who teaches exceptional children at Patton High School, was arrested earlier that day.

Burke County Public Schools was notified of Bailey’s arrest Friday afternoon. He was issued a notice of termination, and it was recommended that the Burke County Board of Education move forward with firing him. The board will make a final decision during its monthly personnel report, according to school spokesperson Cheryl Shuffler.