Gwinnett teacher accused of sex abuse still in jail
A Gwinnett County high school principal worked Thursday to reassure parents that the school had taken steps to ensure student safety, after felony child and sexual molestation charges against a former teacher.
Gwinnett School of Mathematics, Science and Technology principal I.V. Bray told parents via email:
“From my conversations with our district staff, we have no current facts that support or information that would lead us to believe that any current GSMST student was ever treated inappropriately by this former employee or any other staff member,” Bray wrote.
Michael Appelbaum, 40, a band teacher from Roswell, was arrested Tuesday on allegations he had sex with a female student five times during a stretch in 2011 and 2012. An arrest warrant says he also fondled the buttocks of another female student in 2013. Appelbaum, who taught there for about eight years, was held Thursday without bond at the Gwinnett County Jail. Appelbaum resigned his teaching job last month as authorities investigated him.
Counselors and administrators were at the school Thursday to provide assistance to students, Bray said.
GSMST was ranked Tuesday as Georgia's top academic high school by U.S. News & World Report.
About the Author
Eric Stirgus joined The Atlanta Journal-Constitution in 2001. He currently writes about higher education and has assisted in the newsroom’s COVID-19 vaccine coverage. Born and raised in Brooklyn, N.Y., Eric is active in the Atlanta Association of Black Journalists and the Education Writers Association and enjoys mentoring aspiring journalists.
