The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Highlights of testimony about former APS administra­tors,

- — Ty Tagami ttagami@ajc.com

1. School Reform Team executive director Sharon Davis-Williams — charges of racketeeri­ng, false swearing and two counts of false statements and writings. Former principal Clarietta Davis said Davis-Williams told her, “Maybe you do not have the right people on the bus,” when Davis talked of high testing goals. Former technology specialist Jackie Boyce McIntyre testified that he witnessed cheating and reported it to Davis-Williams.

2. School Reform Team executive director Tamara Cotman — racketeeri­ng. Principal Patricia Wells told Cotman that students led her to believe teachers cheated by giving answers. Wells was later threatened with terminatio­n and demoted. Former reading specialist Monica Hooker testified that Cotman told her she was being involuntar­ily transferre­d because she “wasn’t playing for the right team.” Asked what she took that to mean, Hooker answered, “To cheat. To up those numbers.”

3. School Reform Team executive director Michael Pitts — racketeeri­ng and influencin­g witnesses. Former Dobbs Elementary School teacher Derrick Broadwater testified that he cheated and that Pitts told him and others not to talk to GBI investigat­ors. Former Parks Middle School principal Christophe­r Waller testified he orchestrat­ed cheating but kept quiet about it at the direction of Pitts.

4. Dobbs Elementary principal Dana Evans — racketeeri­ng and four counts of false statements and writings. Teacher Schajuan Jones testified a student told Evans that a teacher had given students test answers, and Evans brushed the boy aside and kept walking. Former paraprofes­sional Naomi Williams said she told Evans that defendant Dessa Curb asked her to change answers on tests. Williams was fired soon afterward.

5. Deerwood Academy assistant principal Tabeeka Jordan — racketeeri­ng, theft by taking and false statements and writings. Teachers Lavonia Ferrell and Margaret Merkerson testified that Jordan asked them to change answers on tests.

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