Once accused, APS teachers now focus on forgiveness

After almost a year of anxiety, anger and embarrassment, some Atlanta teachers accused of cheating in a state investigation say they are excited about returning to work but concerned the stigma of the scandal will follow them back to the classroom.

Thursday, Atlanta Public Schools reinstated 12 teachers implicated in a July 2011 investigation that uncovered perhaps the largest educator cheating scandal in history. APS said there was not enough evidence to prove the reinstated educators cheated or knew about cheating. It's the first time the district has reinstated any of the approximately 180 educators named in the case.

Two reinstated Finch Elementary teachers, Sharona Thomas-Wilson and Joya Florence, told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution they're relieved to return to the job they love, and say they have forgiven those responsible for the "devastating" allegations made against them.

"I was angry initially," said Florence, 32. "This was a trial and it was tough, but it grew me a lot. I'm not harboring any anger toward anyone."

Investigators concluded Florence and Thomas-Wilson cheated based on the statistical improbability of wrong-to-right erasures on exams and the "inconsistent" testimony given in interviews. Investigators said Florence was emotional when they suggested she changed answers. She says she's emotional by nature, and was having a difficult day with a student.

Both teachers say it's possible cheating took place at their school, but they don't think teachers were involved. They believe the investigation was irresponsible for ruining the reputation of innocent people.

"They've done something they can't take back and we have to live with for the rest of our lives," said Thomas-Wilson, 36.

Ten other teachers will also be reinstated, Pamela Ringer from Fain Elementary, Erica Turman from D.H. Stanton, Jamie Manning, Bess Mae Paschal, Milo Morris, Cernitha Battle, Enolar Callands, Travis Brown, Angela Campbell and Karen Patterson all from Peyton Forest Elementary.

Patrick Moore, who represents eight Peyton Forest teachers reinstated, said the district did a good job evaluating the cases individually and "bravely" deciding to reinstate the teachers.

But Moore took issue with the 400-plus page investigative report, which he said wrongly accused his clients based on faulty eyewitness testimony. One witness claimed she saw the eight Peyton Forest teachers cheat on the fifth-grade writing test and again on a district benchmark test. Moore said only half of his clients were fifth-grade teachers and what was witnessed was an interactive writing workshop, not a test. The other half had nothing to do with the fifth-grade tests, he said.

As for the benchmark exam, Moore said it was a practice test, and therefore the teachers had no reason to cheat. He said investigators failed to check the facts.

"It’s atrocious what my clients had to go through for over year because of very sloppy investigation, he said. "Certain improprieties may have occurred in APS. But whoever was responsible for investigating my clients dropped the ball."

The special investigators who led the cheating probe could not be reached for comment Friday to respond to Moore's claims. But Attorney Bob Wilson, one of the lead investigators, spoke to the AJC Thursday when the reinstatements were announced and said he stands by the investigation's results. If anything, he said, the report fell short of identifying all educators who participated in cheating. But standards of evidence must be met in order to fire teachers, and that’s not what the investigation set out to do.

"The investigation uncovered massive cheating," he said. "Does that mean all the standards that need to be met for the purposes of a tribunal hearing can be met? Not necessarily. That doesn't change our findings."

Educators named in the report were placed on paid leave while the school district investigated the claims against them. But that process was delayed for several months because the district did not have access to critical evidence needed to build a case against the educators.

Those named in the report could eventually face criminal charges, and many have already lost their teaching certification. About 30 educators remain on the payroll and face termination. Some may still be cleared and returned to work, according to school officials.

Thomas-Wilson said she is a little apprehensive about returning to work because she's unsure how parents will receive her. But despite a tough year, she's glad she stayed on and fought for her job. Both she and Florence are members of the Georgia Association of Educators, which covered legal expenses associated with the case.

"I knew I was innocent, and that allowed me to hold my head high. I knew one day I would be able to clear my name," she said. "I would encourage the teachers remaining who know they are innocent to stand strong and don't give up."

Where the cases stand

1 Number of educators whose recommended firing was not upheld by a tribunal.

10 Number of educators whose recommended firing has been upheld by a tribunal.

12 Number of educators cleared by the school district and notified they will be reinstated.