Former York City school board member Gary Calhoun said he felt pressure to leave that position because of teacher complaints.

Calhoun, 49, was elected in 2009 and had a year remaining on his term before unexpectedly resigning through a letter to the school board last week.

Calhoun said he had recently heard complaints about his involvement at Ferguson Elementary. Calhoun's therapeutic support job with an outside company involved him working inside Ferguson classrooms. Calhoun has been doing the job for 15 years.

This fall, Calhoun alleges that unidentified staff members said he was ordering them what to do. School board members are prohibited from giving classroom directions.

Calhoun said he denies getting in the way in the classroom. He'd rather resign from the board than have his company deal with more allegations, he added.

“I didn't want to make (negative) reflections on the company,” Calhoun said.

Teachers “know I didn't do anything. That's on their guilty conscience,” he said. “The truth always comes out.”

Nothing filed: Lauri Rakoff, a spokeswoman for the Pennsylvania State Education Association, said no York City teachers have filed a complaint against Calhoun and that his allegations are “surprising.”

When Calhoun was first elected, Rakoff said the union inquired with state officials about whether Calhoun working in the schools created a conflict of interest. Calhoun works with individual students to provide additional support for their needs beyond what the classroom teacher provides.

The union was told there were no issues, Rakoff said.

Calhoun's position may be filled by appointment or through candidate interviews.

“I gave it my best. I fought well for the children of York City. I still do that,” Calhoun said.

— Reach Andrew Shaw at ashaw@yorkdispatch.com.