A three-judge panel was asked Tuesday to recommend firing a teacher accused of questioning the sexuality of one of his students and then telling another student he wanted the teen killed.

"We recognize that is a weighty thing to do, and something we do not do lightly," said a school board attorney Winston Denmark.

Randolph Forde, a 33-year-old special education teacher at Clayton's Mundy's Mill High School is facing prosecution for making terroristic threats against the 16-year-old after the teacher and student clashed in September and October.

The teen testified that in their first run-in Forde twice asked him if he was gay.

"I was really offended," the teen testified. "... was really uncomfortable."

School officials said Forde later approached another student and said he would pay him 50 to "put a hit" on the 16-year-old.

About the Author

Featured

Lt. Gov. Burt Jones — pictured at an August rally in Peachtree City that also featured Vice President JD Vance — appears to have scored another legal victory over gubernatorial rival Attorney General Chris Carr in their battle over campaign finance issues. (Arvin Temkar/AJC 2025)

Credit: Arvin Temkar / AJC