Victoria E. Freile – Rochester Democrat and Chronicle USA TODAY NETWORK – in the D&C on page A3
Kirk Ashton — the school principal at Northwood Elementary in Hilton accused of sexually abusing nine students — has more than two decades of experience at local schools as an educator.
Hilton parent Scott Upham, whose daughter attended Northwood from 2010-2014, remembers his daughter’s former principal as professional and courteous with parents. He reflected on a dozen or so interactions with Aston, who attended and hosted several school events.
“They were all positive, and that’s why this is kind of shocking,” Upham said.
Ashton, who has been principal at Northwood since 2004, was placed on administrative leave on April 8.
Earlier this week, the 51-year-old Ashton was arraigned on six counts of first-degree sexual abuse and five counts of second-degree course of sexual conduct, both felonies, and nine counts of endangering the welfare of a child, a misdemeanor.