JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Duval County Public Schools is continuing to face the fallout of a culture at Douglas Anderson School of the Arts that alumni and former employees say, for years, let teachers get away with bad behavior.
RELATED: Another Douglas Anderson teacher reassigned, accused of inappropriate communication with a student
The district has already paid a $1.45 million settlement to three former students of Jeffrey Clayton, a longtime music teacher at the school now serving a 10-year prison sentence for crimes related to grooming and inappropriately touching a student.
The attorney who represented two of those former students, Chris Moser, told News4JAX she plans to file another lawsuit soon, this time about the teacher recently removed from the classroom at Douglas Anderson School of the Arts as he is investigated for allegations that he engaged in inappropriate communication with a student during the 2022-23 school year.
Moser said the teacher sent communications to a student that were “one-sided,” “wildly inappropriate,” “unwelcome,” and “offensive.”
News4JAX is not naming the teacher as he has not been charged with any crimes.
DA Principal Timothy Feagins emailed families at the school to notify them the teacher was reassigned to duties at a district site with no student contact as he was under investigation.
The principal also noted the school and district have taken steps to ensure students, families, and employees are aware of the boundaries for appropriate behavior with students with the “Know the Line” campaign.
Principal Feagins also wrote that members of his administrative team will report misconduct complaints to legally required internal and external authorities and noted there is an online form where students can report inappropriate behavior.
News4JAX reached out to the teacher currently under investigation for comment but did not immediately receive a response.