TNT Academy drops accreditation quest

But late Thursday, an AdvancED spokeswoman announced the Stone Mountain area school was no longer participating in the process.

Why?

TNT Academy officials didn’t say. Jay Mathis, a spokesman for the school, asked The Atlanta Journal-Constitution to email him questions regarding the decision. He did not respond to requests for comment via email and telephone Friday afternoon. An AdvancED spokeswoman referred any questions about TNT Academy’s application to the school.

Gordeuk made national headlines last month when when she made racially offensive comments at the school's graduation ceremony. Frustrated when some attendees left the ceremony before it ended, Gordeuk blurted "look who's leaving, all the black people." Her remark, which was videotaped, stunned the audience and created widespread outrage. Gordeuk later apologized for the remarks, but was removed as principal a week later, according to Heidi Anderson, who identified herself as TNT's board chairwoman.

Gordeuk's role with the academy is still unclear. A woman who answered the telephone at the academy earlier this week said she was no longer involved with the school. Gordeuk, though, was listed as an officer at TNT Academy in the most recent records maintained by the Georgia Secretary of State's office. Georgia NAACP officials have pressed for more proof that Gordeuk is no longer involved with the academy.

TNT Academy applied last year for accreditation from AdvancED, which is the primary accrediting agency for Georgia public schools. Some colleges only accept students who have a diploma from an AdvancED-accredited school. AdvancED is the parent company of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.

TNT Academy is not part of the Gwinnett school system and is one of about 140 non-traditional educational centers in the state. Such schools are private entities intended to offer tutoring, social activities and select courses to children being schooled at home. TNT Academy still has its standing as a non-traditional educational center, through the Georgia Accrediting Commission.

GAC executive director Phil Murphy said Friday the organization will send a consultant to the school once it gets notice there’s been a change in leadership at TNT Academy. Murphy said Gordeuk’s comments will have no bearing on its accreditation status.

“Her behavior at that graduation is a personnel issue, not a standards issue,” Murphy said.

Some parents and relatives of TNT Academy students said they disapproved of Gordeuk’s comments but they should have no bearing on the school’s future.

“I’ll fight for the program 100 percent because it turned my son around 100 percent,” said Capricia Kegler, whose son, Jamar Tindall, will be a senior at TNT Academy this fall.

Patsy Gurganus, whose grandson attends TNT Academy, said she was disappointed the school did not pursue accreditation. Gordeuk, she said, hired extra teachers and tried to improve standards to get accreditation.

“I hate that because I know (Gordeuk) worked really hard to get that and the children are the ones who will suffer,” she said.