While we're on a roll on principals here, we get a chance to bring back one of our personal favorites. Complete with update.
Principal and wife arrested for battery. On each other, this time. Banham resigns.
Dec 30, 2006 - Michael Banham, 36, principal of Calumet High School was arrested for chasing his wife and shooting at her. He is charged with three counts of battery, three counts of criminal recklessness and one count of intimidation. A passenger in his car was charged with public intoxication.
UPDATE: Jan 2, 2007 - Banham was suspended by the Lake Ridge school system.
UPDATE: Jan 8, 2007 - The wife, Nichole Banham, is an exotic dancer at the Deja Vu strip club. "Nichole was performing under the name Mariah at a strip club in 2000 when Banham, then a Hammond High English teacher, walked into her life." The incident occurred on her 29th birthday.
He is scheduled to appear Friday to answer to felony battery, intimidation and reckless driving charges. Chicago Sun-Times wonders, "Did principal shoot at his stripper wife?"
TT - Makes you wonder how she fit in at school functions.
UPDATE Jan 9 - Banham has been ordered to stay away from the school and students. He has been suspended. Still some parents wondered why the restraining orders of his recent past did not raise red flags.
The estranged wife of Banham said last week that the principal had anxiety and anger management issues and that the two had an "extreme" history that involved drugs, double personalities, abuse, and psychiatric treatment. Banham and his attorney declined to comment on those allegations.[School district attorney Monica J] Conrad declined to confirm rumors that Banham might be getting a buy-out from the district.
ARRESTED Feb 17- Banham and his wife were both arrested for battery. Some drug paraphernalia also was in the home, neither claimed it. Child Protective Services took custody of the child.
RESIGNED Apr 10 - Banham formally resigned as principal of Calumet High School Monday just hours before a public hearing to discuss his firing.
THE ABSOLUTE LATEST July 25, 2008 - In a story about the resignation of the third principal of Calumet High School, (they've hired five principals in seven years) the newspaper mentions that Michael Banham is serving a 10-year probation for dealing in cocaine.
He got the fabulous deal on the felony charge in April after pleading guilty to to a charge of dealing cocaine to a Gary police informant. Branham testified against Gary resident Richard Kelly in Kelly's trial last year. Kelly was one of two other defendants in the same case who faced possession and dealing drug charges. Kelly was given 18 years.
TT - Banham lost his teaching license, which in any other state would be a given, but it's Indiana.
