Sean Thomas Eckert, a 37-year-old former Cumberland County teacher and assistant football coach at Portland High School, was arrested and charged with one count of grooming of a minor.

Court records indicate that Eckert, who previously taught in Cumberland County as well as Hendersonville and Upperman, was taken into custody following an investigation triggered by a report from another county. Investigators state that Eckert communicated inappropriately with a 15-year-old female student in August 2026, admitting in messages that he was attracted to her and asking her to keep their interactions hidden from her boyfriend.

Sumner County Schools has suspended Eckert without pay, and Portland High School Principal David Woods confirmed he is removed from the school indefinitely. Eckert is currently being held on a $150,000 bond and is scheduled to make a general sessions court appearance on September 28, 2026.