Two former Atlanta high school teachers are accused of giving students answers to district tests, in one case boosting scores on the test used to evaluate teachers’ job performance.
These latest cases took place at Grady High School, one of Atlanta Public Schools’ higher-performing high schools.
The cheating allegedly took place this spring, soon after 11 former Atlanta educators were convicted for their roles in a districtwide cheating conspiracy.
When Atlanta Public Schools superintendent Meria Carstarphen took office last year, she pledged to root out a culture of corruption within APS.
But allegations of unethical behavior — including cheating and grade-changing — have continued to emerge.
“It’s bizarre to me that we still have adults that think this kind of behavior is okay,” Deputy Superintendent David Jernigan said. Jernigan said the district moved quickly in response to the Grady allegations — a difference, he said, from past practices.
In one instance, basketball coach and physical education teacher Harlen Graham admitted giving students answers for an exam used to evaluate teachers, according to a district report. But he denied cheating, saying he modified the questions’ phrasing and didn’t read all the multiple-choice options aloud.
In another instance, science teacher David Olorunfemi was investigated for giving students a “study guide” with questions and answers for their final biology exam, a standardized test designed by APS, according to a district report.
A follow-up investigation by the state Professional Standards Commission in October of 2015 cleared Olorunfemi of wrong-doing. His records with the commission is expunged.
Graham resigned and Olorunfemi retired after district investigators recommended firing them.
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