An assistant principal at a Fulton County high school has been suspended while the district investigates allegations of an inappropriate relationship with a student, the school announced Wednesday.
Fulton County Schools police launched a full investigation into the Chattahoochee High School administrator, Jonathan Adel, after the allegations surfaced, Principal Michael Todd said. No details about the investigation were provided and district officials did not say when or where the alleged inappropriate conduct occurred.
“This allegation is disturbing,” Todd said. “Be assured I take the health and well-being of our students seriously and this is a top priority.”
According to a video posted in 2020, Adel began working at the Johns Creek high school in January of that year and oversees the English and fine arts departments. Officials did not say how the school became aware of the allegation, but Todd confirmed it was immediately reported to the district’s human resources division.
In a statement, a spokesperson for the district said the principal took the appropriate actions, and the district and school police department will take the next steps. No criminal charges have been filed as of Thursday, and no arrests have been made, the spokesperson confirmed.
“In Fulton County Schools, it is never acceptable for an adult in a role of authority to be in an inappropriate relationship with a student or young person,” the statement read. “We are very concerned about the allegations made against a Chattahoochee High School assistant principal involving a student.”
While the school district reiterated its commitment to due process, the spokesperson said it “will move forward with the strongest possible action to enforce the law and protect our students” if charges are filed.
Johns Creek police said Thursday they are not involved with the investigation.
In 2018, another Chattahooche staff member was removed from his post after allegations surfaced he raped a 13-year-old girl who attended the same Cobb County school as his daughter. Preston Paris, a former social studies teacher and swim coach, was sentenced to 25 years in prison after admitting guilt in 2020.
Paris was convicted of child molestation, enticing a child for indecent purposes and statutory rape, court records show. He remains in the Riverbend Correctional Facility.
— Staff writer Chelsea Prince contributed to this article.
