Latest news with #TeacheroftheYear
Miami Herald
19 hours ago
- Miami Herald
Kindergarten ‘Teacher of the Year' accused of sending child porn, MO cops say
A woman who in 2024 was named Teacher of the Year at her Missouri school is accused of sending child porn on social media, authorities say. Erika Morton, a kindergarten teacher in St. Francois County, is charged with five counts of promoting child pornography and five counts of child pornography possession, according to a probable cause statement. Using the social media platform Kik, Morton sent the videos in January and February during a 'sexually charged' conversation with another user, Missouri State Highway Patrol said. She acknowledged the victims in the videos are under the age of 18, troopers said. Morton admitted to sending the content during an interview with troopers, saying she sent them using her phone at her home in Ste. Genevieve, according to the charging documents. 'The suspect is employed as a kindergarten teacher at a public school in St. Francois County and has expressed a sexual interest in children,' authorities said. Farmington R-7 School District did not name the teacher but said in a statement to KSDK that a Truman Learning Center staff member 'is no longer employed' by the district after it learned of the allegations. The district does not believe the 'alleged incidents took place on school grounds or involved any Farmington R-7 students.' As first reported by KSDK, Morton was recognized during a December school board meeting as the school's Teacher of the Year. She taught in the district for 10 years. Records show Morton was jailed on a $1 million bond. Truman Learning Center is in Farmington, about a 70-mile drive south from St. Louis.
Yahoo
12-06-2025
- Yahoo
Beloved Sussex teacher's contract not renewed; parents rally in support
The Brief The Hamilton School District isn't renewing Woodside Elementary School teacher Cate O'Connell's contract. Ten instances of what the district calls "unprofessional behavior" were presented in a recent meeting. But parents call her a beloved teacher who cared about each of her students. SUSSEX, Wis. - The last day of school is truly the last for a teacher in Sussex. What we know The Hamilton School District isn't renewing her contract, and parents are rallying around her. They call her a beloved teacher who cared about each of her students. But district leaders say Woodside Elementary School teacher Cate O'Connell had a list of unprofessional behavior. In May, the Hamilton School Board made the unanimous decision not to renew O'Connell's contract. What they're saying Parents like Joe Fuller came out to show support for O'Connell. "We thought she was one of the absolute best in the district," Fuller said. "Cate was very proactive in her approach to helping these families – and not just the students. She was faulted for it." FREE DOWNLOAD: Get breaking news alerts in the FOX LOCAL Mobile app for iOS or Android O'Connell was with the district for 11 years and was named "Teacher of the Year" during her time at another school district. "I just wish that more kids here could experience her as a teacher – because it hands down made it one of the best years he could have had," Hope Orvold, a concerned parent, said. When asked about what was going on, Hamilton superintendent Paul Mielke responded, "It's a personnel thing." Through an open records request, the school district did provide an hour-and-a-half-long audio recording of last month's non-renewal meeting. Ten instances of what the district calls "unprofessional behavior" were presented. She recorded a TikTok on company time, did not alert administrators when reporting a student concern to Child Protective Services, and she showed a tampon to students outside a human growth and development class. SIGN UP TODAY: Get daily headlines, breaking news emails from FOX6 News Valery Jahn's daughter, Gigi, died by suicide last November. O'Connell was her former teacher. "She was a safe person, and I'm sure she will continue to be a safe person for many young people," Jahn said. "That is taking away a safe person for many students." Dig deeper O'Connell declined to speak with FOX6 News on camera, but shared more than 30 letters of support submitted by parents to the district. FOX6 reached out to O'Connell's attorney but never heard back, and her union representative did not return our calls. The Source The information in this post was collected and produced by FOX6 News.
Yahoo
09-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Atlanta Public Schools announces new first day of school, 13 new principals
Summer vacation may be just a couple of weeks old, but school districts are deep into planning for the new year. Atlanta Public Schools and the Atlanta Board of Education announced an updated first day of school for the 2025-2026 school year. It will be Monday, Aug. 4. The previous date was Friday, Aug. 1. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] APS has appointed 13 new principals for the new school year, effective July 1: Gerard Latimore, Benteen Elementary School: Latimore has more than a decade of experience in education and leadership, including as an assistant principal and former instructional coach at Benteen. Heather P. Stephenson, Bolton Academy: Stephenson's more than 20 years of experience includes serving Atlanta Public Schools since 2005 in a variety of roles, including teacher, special education lead teacher and assistant principal. She is currently interim principal at Bolton Academy. Holly Brookins, Burgess-Peterson Elementary School: Brookins has more than a decade of school leadership experience. As a principal in a neighboring district, she has led her school to achieve state recognitions. Keenya Jackson, Cleveland Avenue Elementary School: Jackson's wealth of experience includes roles as a teacher, instructional coach and curriculum support teacher. She is currently an assistant principal in a neighboring school district. Chendra Dupree, Herman J. Russell West End Academy: Dupree's experience includes school and district roles, including instructional and literacy coach, as well as intervention coach. She is currently a high school principal. Langston Longley, John Lewis Invictus Academy: Longley has served Atlanta Public Schools since 2004 in a variety of roles. He's been a principal for the past 10 years. He was named Principal of the Year by Communities in Schools in 2023. Chante' Blackwell, Perkerson Elementary School: Blackwell brings a wealth of experience at the school and district levels, including as a leader support specialist and assistant principal. She is currently supporting the assessment office in a neighboring district. Lami Ojezua, Scott Elementary School: Ojezua joined APS in 2007 and served in numerous roles, including continuous improvement coordinator, assistant principal, and most recently, interim principal. Stacey Welsh Perot, Smith Elementary School: Perot has three decades of education experience, including teaching, instructional leadership and school administration. She's a former 'Teacher of the Year' and currently a principal at Garden Hills Elementary. Phillip Braziel, South Atlanta High School: Braziel has been a classroom teacher, master scheduler, and assistant principal. He has been previously nominated for Assistant Principal of the Year and previously honored as a Teacher of the Year. Octavius Harris, Therrell High School: Harris has severed in multiple roles within APS, including teacher, assistant principal and principal. He's currently a principal in a neighboring district. Dante Edwards, interim principal, Garden Hills Elementary School: Edwards has served APS since 2002 in a variety of roles as a teacher and an administrator, including assistant principal, magnet coordinator and principal. Kimberly Latchman, interim principal, Maynard H. Jackson High School: Latchman has more than 20 years of experience in education. At Maynard Jackson High School, she has served as an instructional coach and, most recently, as assistant principal. The board previously announced seven other new principals last month: Brian Baron, Morningside Elementary School; Summer Clayton, E. Rivers Elementary School; Tiauna Crooms, Booker T. Washington High School; Shermain Jennings, Frederick Douglass High School; Angela Mitchell, North Atlanta High School; Kristy Reese, L.O. Kimberly Elementary School; and Adib Shakir, Michael R. Hollis Innovation Academy. TRENDING STORIES: Giant tree crashes into another, sends it toppling onto Cobb County rental home Swimmer seriously injured in boating incident on GA lake Atlanta-area rapper sentenced for bringing stolen loaded 'machine gun' into hospital labor unit [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]
Yahoo
07-06-2025
- Yahoo
Alabama kindergarten teacher, 49, accused of enticing teen into bathroom for sexual encounter
An Alabama kindergarten "Teacher of the Year" was arrested Friday morning on sex charges involving local teenagers. Heather Ozment, 49, who is an educator at Calera Elementary School, is charged with sexual abuse in the first and second degree and enticing a child to enter a vehicle or house for immoral purposes. The Calera Police Department said that the alleged conduct happened after school hours and did not occur at a school facility or with Ozment's students. Bodycam Shows Teacher Breaking Down During Arrest For Allegedly Molesting 15-Year-old Student Ozment was awarded Teacher of the Year for 2024-2025, per the school's Facebook page. "Allegations involving sexual misconduct with minors must be investigated immediately, thoroughly, and methodically, David Hyche, the chief of police at the said in a press release. Read On The Fox News App "Nothing we do in law enforcement is more important than protecting the most vulnerable in our community." Former Middle School Teacher Accused Of Sex Acts With Student As Police Believe There Are More Victims Hyche said that Owens House, a children's advocacy non-profit, partnered with police to conduct forensic interviews and examinations of the juvenile victims. Shelby County Schools officials said they were made aware of the allegations in April. It is unclear when the alleged crimes took place. "The teacher was immediately put on leave for the remainder of the school year while the matter was investigated by local law enforcement," according to a school statement provided to "The alleged conduct occurred after school hours and did not take place at a school facility. We are unable to provide more information as it is an employee matter." According to the Shelby County Jail, Ozment was booked into the facility on Friday and released on the same article source: Alabama kindergarten teacher, 49, accused of enticing teen into bathroom for sexual encounter
International Business Times
07-06-2025
- International Business Times
Female Alabama 'Teacher of the Year' Arrested for Engaging in Sexual Acts with Teens After School Hours
An Alabama kindergarten teacher who won the Teacher of the Year at her school was taken into custody Friday morning on sex charges involving teens. Heather Ozment, 49, is charged with first-degree sexual abuse, second-degree sexual abuse and enticing a child to enter a vehicle or house for immoral purposes, as reported by Ozment is listed on the school's website as a kindergarten teacher at Calera Elementary School. She won Teacher of the Year for 2024-2025, according to the school's Facebook page. Chief David Hyche said the allegations against Ozment involve teens, not her students, and happened after school hours. Details of the alleged crimes have not yet been made public. Hyche said school officials immediately placed Ozment on leave after they learned of the allegations. He said Owens House, a children's advocacy center, assisted in the investigation by conducting forensic interviews and examinations with the juvenile victims. "Allegations involving sexual misconduct with minors must be investigated immediately, thoroughly and methodically," the chief said. "Nothing we do in law enforcement is more important than protecting the most vulnerable in our community." Shelby County Schools officials said they were made aware of the allegations in April. "The teacher was immediately put on leave for the remainder of the school year while the matter was investigated by local law enforcement," according to the statement. "The alleged conduct occurred after school hours and did not take place at a school facility. We are unable to provide more information as it is an employee matter." Ozment is in the Shelby County Jail. Her bond is set at $45,000.
