Deerwood's principal under review after state sanction

By Kristina Torres

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Atlanta school officials said Friday that Deerwood Academy Principal Lisa Smith remained in her job for now but may not during the entire appeals process related to Thursday's decision by the state to suspend her in the wake of a statewide test cheating scandal.

Smith is one of 13 educators overall sanctioned by the Georgia Professional Standards Commission, which acted after an audit by the Governor's Office of Student Achievement found evidence that four schools turned in questionable results for state tests taken in summer 2008. Deerwood was one of the four schools cited.

Smith's attorney, however, said she denies "any knowledge of or any participation in cheating." Attorney Warren Fortson also said Smith was not even on campus during the testing period because she was on vacation.

System spokesman Keith Bromery said Atlanta officials were evaluating the commission's decision and "will take actions based on this evaluation in the future."