A parent of a former student is defending Jefferson Middle School teacher and coach D’Leasha Abram Arnold, saying people have taken a social media post the wrong way.
Last week as state testing began, Arnold put a joke on Facebook that included a warning to boys not to pucker up to give her mouth to mouth nor grab her breasts if she passed out while monitoring, and several parents complained to school officials about the statements.
But Sandoria Hartwell, whose 11th-grader daughter is a former student of Arnold’s, called it a “witch hunt by a group of individuals that do not know her” in a letter to the editor published in today’s newspaper (see Page 5A for the full letter).
Hartwell credits Arnold with Jefferson having a basketball program, saying when she was asked to serve in that position that no one else would.
“After my many requests, she took the position and has served well in the capacity because she loves the kids,” Hartwell wrote. “In 16 years of teaching, she has never been accused of such a heinous act. To think such is a reflection of the mind of those individuals, not her. Anyone that knows her knows there is no malice nor misconduct in her character as an educator. She has always worked to be the best educator she can be, keeping the success of her students at the forefront of her mind.”
Hartwell said she thinks Arnold is owed an apology for the story about the Facebook post that appeared in Saturday’s newspaper.
Arnold has not responded to a request for comment.
The Facebook post was a possible violation of school district policies that prohibit sexually oriented jokes by staff members and also say faculty should “exercise care and good judgment” on social media.
Superintendent Jason Harris said previously in an emailed statement that behavior that goes against the district’s core values would be addressed but that he could not comment on personnel action taken.
