Clayton teachers on leave after fight over Facebook love letter

By Megan Matteucci and Kristi E. Swartz

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Two Clayton County teachers -- who say they are romantically involved with the same man -- are on administrative leave after getting into a physical fight over a love letter posted on Facebook.

Rex Mill Middle School teachers Chaka Cobb and Ebony Smith were arrested on Monday, Clayton County Police Officer Kevin Hughes said.

On Thursday, district spokesman Charles White said the teachers had been placed on administrative leave with pay pending an investigation.

The fight broke out Monday morning after the women learned they both were involved with the same male teacher, who also teaches at the school.

Cobb, who told police she is expecting a child with the man, said she found a letter from Smith on the man's Facebook page.

"I am in love with you. I am tired of being your every blue moon [expletive]," the letter read.

Cobb responded on Facebook with a "tumultuous" message, police said.

On Monday morning, the fight moved from Facebook to the school halls. That's where Smith approached Cobb and told her to "never do that again," the report states.

Cobb summoned an assistant principal, but the fight didn't stop.

Instead, it spilled into a classroom where Smith began to swing at Cobb, the report states.

Several other teachers broke up the fight and Cobb stormed down the hallway while threatening to post the letter on the blackboard.

The assistant principal told police she pulled Cobb into another classroom, with the children present, to calm her down. But Cobb continued to curse in front of the students. That's when Smith ran into the room again and "attempted to attack" Cobb, the report states.

Police interviewed several students, who said they heard Smith yell "[Expletive], you don't want none of this" and "get the [expletive] off me" while teachers were holding her down.

After talking to students and teachers, police charged Smith with simple assault and disorderly conduct. Cobb was charged with disorderly conduct.

"Due to the serious nature and children being present during this altercation, it would have been inappropriate for me not to pursue prosecution into this matter," Officer K. Singleton wrote in the report.

Both women were released on citations and released on their own recognizance instead of being booked in the jail, police said.

Cobb, 33, teaches seventh and eighth grade language arts. Cobb did not return a phone call left at her Rex home Thursday night. Smith, who teaches family and consumer science, could not be reached.

School officials said they could not comment further.

“The incident is a personnel matter, which is presently under review by the district’s human resources office,” White said. "They are on leave while the district completes its review and determines an appropriate course of action."

The fight occurred the same week as Clayton school board member Trinia Garrett is scheduled to go on trial for assaulting her live-in boyfriend. Garrett, who remains on the board, is out on bond on charges of simple assault, simple battery and criminal trespass. Her trial is on the calendar for this week, but has not started yet, her attorney Herbert Adams Jr. said.

The fight also occurred while the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools is reviewing the school system's probationary accreditation.