A local high school band director who resigned because of sending inappropriate text messages to an 11th grade girl told school police he made a serious error in judgment and promised not to do it again.
Channel 2 investigative reporter Richard Belcher found that and the offending text messages in the files of school police.
There is no criminal investigation and no allegation of actual sexual misconduct, but William Earvin's promising career at Mays High School in Atlanta evaporated almost overnight when his text messages to a student were discovered by the student's sister, who called school police.
Belcher has been trying to find Earvin for the better part of a week, hoping to get his explanation for the text messages that cost him his job.
Belcher did track down the police file for Earvin which included his statement that reads in part:
"I believe she trusted me to involve me in advice-giving about her friendships. In no way was I trying to do anything sexual with her. I understand the problems that have arisen ethically. And this -- I made a serious error in judgment and promise to never do it again."
Earvin's efforts to describe the Mays Marching Band as a family in which he wore several hats, that was not enough for him to hold onto his job.
It was apparently overcome by the content of those text messages.
In one, it's 1:45 a.m. when Earvin apologizes for missing an earlier message.
"Goodnight babe! Sorry I was at dinner."
The next morning, the student writes Earvin saying, "Good morning. I love you and have a good day."
He responds: "Likewise. Do your hw."
On Sept. 23, Earvin writes:
"I wish I could hug you, fr fr (for real, for real). I feel so ashamed telling you this. Delete!!!"
At 10:16 p.m. on Sept. 24, the band director writes:
"I had two naughty dreams of you."
"Really?" the student responded.
"Yesssss," Earvin said.
"No, your not," she said.
"I'm embarrassed," he writes, then adds, "Yes, I am fr fr."
The Atlanta school system referred the matter to the professional standards commission, the state agency that licenses and disciplines teachers.
The PSC will conduct its own investigation of the former Mays band director and it will likely be months before we know the outcome.
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