He is the first teacher named in a groundbreaking special investigation into test cheating, and today Damany Lewis could become the first Atlanta teacher to be fired for his role in the scandal.
Lewis, a Parks Middle teacher, is the first of several educators scheduled to go before a tribunal to contest his termination. He admitted to cheating four years in a row and confessed to state investigators that he used a razor blade to cut into test booklets and make copies for other teachers.
Today’s hearing will be Lewis’ chance to tell his side of the story. But he’ll be up against a school system armed with state evidence and eager to rehabilitate its reputation by getting guilty teachers off the payroll.
Atlanta Public Schools is paying $1 million a month to educators accused of cheating who are on administrative leave. Superintendent Erroll Davis made a promise that those who cheated would not be allowed in front of children again. But keeping that promise has proved to be a challenge — educators have job protection rights, which means firing them is a long and costly process.
Almost nine months after the 400-plus page investigative report was released, none of the approximately 180 educators accused of cheating has been fired. About 70 have resigned or retired at the urging of the district.
Bo Spalding, co-founder of the public relations firm Jackson Spalding and an expert in crisis management, said these hearings will be APS’ chance to make a statement — to the public and other employees — about the lack of tolerance for cheating.
“What these school officials are doing is very important to how the school system is going to be perceived,” he said. “People want to see justice being done. People want to know the Atlanta school system is doing the right and responsible thing, and that’s holding people accountable.”
Most of the accused educators have refused to speak out publicly. Lewis did not return calls for comment. But teacher groups and attorneys advocating for some of the educators named in the report, say they are concerned the educators will not get a fair hearing.
“These teachers may be sacrificed so the district can protect its image,” said Verdaillia Turner, president of the Atlanta Federation of Teachers, which is providing legal assistance to members named in the investigation.
The teachers will go before a tribunal “jury” pulled from a pool of around 30 people approved and paid for by the APS school board. Most are retired educators with experience in APS or neighboring school systems. An impartial hearing officer will serve in a “judge” role.
Hearings can last for a couple of days. Attorneys for APS will outline the grounds for firing, present evidence and call witnesses to testify. The accused will be given a chance to dispute the allegations. The tribunal has five days to make a ruling, which is then upheld or rejected by the school board.
A teacher can appeal a local school board’s decision to the state school board, then to Superior Court, the Court of Appeals and up to the state Supreme Court. So far, the district has taken formal steps to fire 11 educators; three have chosen to resign rather than go through with hearings, which are scheduled through March 30.
Turner said attorneys for some teachers have not been given access by APS to records, tapes and witnesses needed to mount a solid defense. They also have concerns about how impartial the jury will be, especially given the attention the case has received.
“The court of public opinion has been turned against these teachers,” she said. “The public has no idea of the full story or the environment in these schools.”
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