New details emerge regarding teacher resignation; death threats made toward school officials

Barrow County Schools received this photo of Ashley Payne from a concerned parent who said her daughter accessed the picture through Payne's Facebook page.

New details emerge regarding teacher resignation; death threats made toward school officials

Posted by

Kristi Reed

in News, Top Stories

Friday, November 13. 2009

Comments (38)

Documents released by the Barrow County School district contradict several claims made by former Apalachee High School teacher Ashley Payne in her lawsuit against the school system. The lawsuit, which is garnering international media attention, has generated both hate mail and death threats directed towards school officials.

Payne resigned August 27, 2009 after Apalachee High School principal David McGee confronted her regarding questionable online activity on the social networking site Facebook.

According to documents provided by the school system, Payne’s online activity was brought to their attention by a concerned parent.

In an email to Superintendent Ron Saunders, the parent complained that her daughter used profane language and, when reprimanded, defended herself by saying her teacher, Ashley Payne, used the same language on her Facebook page. According to the email, the daughter and Ms. Payne were Facebook friends. The parent further complained that Payne had “unacceptable pictures of herself smiling with alcohol for all her online friends to view.”

The parent provided Saunders with a copy of the photograph and requested the matter be investigated saying, “I am repulsed by Ms. Payne’ profane use of language and how she conducts herself as an example to my teenage daughter. Her behavior is intolerable.”

While the school system has yet to publicly identify the parent, Barrow County Schools public relations coordinator Lisa Leighton said, “To the best of my knowledge, the administrators are aware of who this parent is and who this student is.”

Payne denies that any student or parent of a student had access to her Facebook page.

“She was not friends with any student or parent,” said Richard Storrs, Payne’s attorney.

In his response to the allegations to Payne’s lawsuit, principal McGee said his teachers are advised each year not to post anything on Facebook, MySpace or any other site that they would not want viewed by parents or students. McGee said teachers are specifically advised not to “friend” parents and students on web-based social pages.

McGee denies warning Payne that a suspension would adversely affect her chances for future employment and maintains he did not tell her to resign.

In her lawsuit, Payne claims McGee said her online conduct was unacceptable and that if she did not resign, she would be suspended. McGee further advised Payne that she “could not win this” and that resignation was her best option.

Both McGee and assistant principal Dorann Mansberger dispute Payne’s claim that she was forced to make a decision during the August 27 meeting. In written statements provided by the school district, both McGee and Mansberger claim Payne was presented with several options and asked several times if she would like time to consider her decision.

According to Mansberger, Payne opted to resign saying “she knew how small towns were.”

Since Payne’s lawsuit was made public, Superintendent Ron Saunders, McGee and other school officials have received over a dozen emails which Leighton categorized as “hate mail.”

Leighton said she and other school administrators have met with investigators from the Barrow County Sheriff’s Office regarding “more than one” death threat directed at McGee.

Due to the nature of the threats, Sheriff Jud Smith advised the school system to file a report so that his office can initiate an investigation.

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#1 Kim on 11/14/09 at 05:51 AM [Reply]

I would love to know a teenage girl was allowed to have private access to a computer for her to find this information in the first place. I guess this "concerned parent" was not not so concerned about predators or on-line peer harrassment, just the fact that they were not smart enough to win an arguement with their teenager. All this drama and money wasted by the county because a lazy parent did not want to take a look in the mirror and make changes in their home.

#1.1 Shannon Ponder on 11/14/09 at 08:59 PM [Reply]

I think the school was wrong is firing her! I agree if the parent is so "concerned" does she allow the student to go to other people's house and spend the night? Does she do a full inspection of the parent's house before her chils is allowed to sleep there? Does she not have a clue KIDS are drinking? What this teacher does on her time is her business just so long as she doesn't bring it in the class room in front of my child. This parent needs to take responsibility for her own BAD judgements when it comes to the internet and a child. BARROW COUNTY needs to give the teacher her job back OR FIRE EVERY TEACHER, PRINCIPAL, SECRETARY, JANITOR and EMPLOYEE that comes in contact with our children if they have EVER had a drink! Give the woman her job back, I know she is an excellent teacher and we don't have many of those teachers! LET HER COME BACK!

#2 Parent on 11/14/09 at 09:18 AM [Reply]

This is ridiculous what a teacher does on her own time is her business .I am sorry but what is the difference if a child goes into a eating place and sees her teacher or a school administrator drinking .This has been blown out of proportion .BCS can not tell you what you can do on your own time .For goodness sake people wake up and stop sheltering your children .I could understand if it was pornographic material but its not .She went on vacation on her own time ....

#3 Anonymous on 11/14/09 at 10:31 AM [Reply]

WHO CARES WHAT THIS TEACHER DOES ON HER OWN TIME? Do you think doctors, judges, lawyers, and most of all PARENTS haven't had a drink on vacation? Some parents brag about smoking pot with their kids. I can not believe this is happening ... forced to quit because she chose to enjoy her vacation. She ought to sue everyone involved and any lawyer and judge will rule in her favor (because they've done the same thing) ... and to the so called PARENT ... pay better attention to what your child is doing ... were u having a drink while he/she was in their room on the internet?

#4 anonymous on 11/14/09 at 10:55 AM [Reply]

Barrow County still living with a 1950's mindset and we wonder why no major companies will relocate here and help reduce the property tax burden on the citizens. O' well just keep paying those high property taxes and a little more "not keeping up with the times tax".

#5 Annie O on 11/14/09 at 10:58 AM [Reply]

While I do not support the BCS in many of their actions, I cannot condone persons making death threats towards the BCS. Makes you wonder why people would do such a thing. Possibly there are a lot of disgruntled parents and that should raise some red flags to the Dept. of Ed. Lots of people have been posting on numerous websites their experiences/opinions and majority is unflattering.
I also find it odd that a teenager between 14-18 yrs old would tell their mommy or daddy that the teacher says bad words and that's where he/she got those words to repeat. Most of the time, you hear that kind of excuse from 3-8 yr olds! Children of all ages have filthy mouths now a days and I highly doubt this would have been the first time this "child" heard this; they say it all over TV for goodness sake! The music they listen to has much worse words and phrases. Heck, the kids on the school buses say worse that this. Just saying.... doesn't add up to me!

#6 Guest on 11/14/09 at 12:58 PM [Reply]

Don't you find it more odd that a TEACHER would befriend a STUDENT! That is a violation of the Professional Standards Commission. She cannot be friends with a student online and then say/post those things. That is a clear violation. Which means she should have been reprimanded. And you can argue all day long with Barrow County...but the Professional Standards Commission is Statewide. So, start arguing against that. Barrow County followed State policy...just like many others counties have in the past.

#6.1 Annie O on 11/14/09 at 09:13 PM [Reply]

Sorry, but I do not find it odd, I find it doubtful, that the teacher and student were friends. Never know these days though with all horror stories of teachers behaving badly. I do find it odd that the parent emailed directly to Super. Saunders and not Principal McGee too. A parents first logical place to complain would be to McGee and not to the head honcho Saunders. Two wrongs do not make a right, if you are to believe she violated the PSC you cannot forget the school also violated her rights. And the story continues...

#7 Anonymous on 11/14/09 at 07:22 PM [Reply]

Oh Look - she has a glass of wine in her hand(s). OMG, it's a typical tourist picture! There's no T or A showing, her blouse in the picture is modest - no low cut, v-neck.

She looks like she's having fun.

Ms. Payne I really hope you win and win BIG

#8 Joe Christmas on 11/14/09 at 07:50 PM [Reply]

I find a lot of things odd about this story. First of all teachers shouldn't have students as facebook friends. Second what teachers do in private is nobody's business. The fact that the teacher put pictures of herself drinking and using the word b*tch on the internet shows that the teacher is immature and probably not professional enough to have a teachers position. Add to this the fact that the teacher resigned and then wants to sue to get money seems to show that the teacher has trouble making good decisions. If the teacher had kept her mouth shut, she probably could have riden out this year with a short suspension and then got a teaching job at another school next year without any controversy.

#8.1 Another on 11/14/09 at 08:44 PM [Reply]

You said it! Amen!

#8.2 Been There on 11/15/09 at 07:55 AM [Reply]

No, I'd be willing to bet a months pay that when McGee called her into the office, she was met with a panel of people; that she was told she could resign or be fired. Or suspended pending an investigation, that would affect her ability to get another teaching position and possible include the loss of her licenses.

As far as the pictures on facebook -- she's over 21, she can drink. And as far as Bitch Bingo, it's played in several local eateries (Athens - Atlanta area).

I hope she wins and takes Barrow County BOE to the cleaners. I'm behind her 200%.

#8.3 Anonymous on 11/19/09 at 05:34 AM [Reply]

thanks Joe! that sounds about right, I may be wrong but That teacher probably thinks she is so far above the people in the community she "serves" that she doesn't have to worry about her actions and it came back to bite her-all she could do is paint herself innocent and try to sue the "dumb rednecks". Glad someone could see through the story. Now the death threats are most likely those same "rednecks" defending someone who dislikes and looks down on them. Go figure.

#9 This is sad!!! on 11/15/09 at 12:25 AM [Reply]

Sounds to me that we have one of those Religious Nut job parents who can not control their child so they chose to try and control something else. I as a Facebook user find it hard to believe that a teacher would be a "friend to a student". It is possible that the student used an assumed name and age to be friends with the teacher without the teacher’s knowledge. I think this could have been handled much differently if everyone would have taken a deep breath before over reacting. I hope MS Payne sues the BOE for all its worth and she finds a job with a county not living in the 1950's with Andy and Opie.

#10 Jell Us on 11/15/09 at 12:49 AM [Reply]

Where were all these hot, drunk teachers when I was a student? All I remember are blue-haired menopausal old biddies. One thing that hasn't changed: Education majors are the dumbest creatures ever to creep out of college with diplomas.

#11 Unbelieveable on 11/15/09 at 01:58 AM [Reply]

So thats what the fuss is all about. What a complete and total waste of time and taxpayers money. These school administrators obviously have way to much time one their hands. The self-rightousness is appalling...

#12 Johnny Friendly on 11/15/09 at 08:48 AM [Reply]

It's patently obvious that pretty Miss Payne and her hired gun shyster have spun the facts and twisted the truth in order to make her the poor pitiful victim. She's out for jackpot justice. I hope she gets a jury trial, where she'll find that her pot o' gold still eludes her. Then, she can return to her favorite pursuit: drowning her sorrows in a liquor-induced haze.

#12.1 SideShowBob on 11/15/09 at 11:16 AM [Reply]

I hope she gets her jury trial as well, were they can reward punitive as well as actual damages.

#13 Tired on 11/15/09 at 05:24 PM [Reply]

Ok, enough is enough. Let me tell this "parent" and all others like them one thing they should already know. Tell your children adults can do things that children can't. Its that simple. Grow a set and let them know what is acceptable and what isn't (regarding their behavior). If you raise a child under the guise that everything is equal then you are raising them to fail. Adults can vote, work, fight wars, enter contracts and even (heaven forbid)drink and use "adult language". If you can't get that through your child's head then they will never see the world as it is and chances are you don't either. As for the word "bitch", you can't listen to top radio or watch TV without hearing that word. It's used at prime time on network stations. It's a female dog. Say it with me,"adults can use words you can't, Susie". As for the picture, who gives a rats a$$. You (BOE) keep cutting the teachers days (violation of contract by the by), taking their money and treating them like this you won't have to worry about small things like Facebook anymore. Hey BOE, don't you think FaceBook has their attorneys chomping at the bit on this one? Now you're against big money too.
To sum it up, you wayyyy over reacted. You're in over your head. Settle this thing down before its too late.

#13.1 Anonymous on 11/15/09 at 07:12 PM [Reply]

Thank you for the laugh, and well put.

#14 Truth Seeker on 11/15/09 at 09:10 PM [Reply]

No one should be surprised by any of this. Remember, this is the same BOE which is trying to cram a Bible class down the throats of students in clear violation of the law. Why would they not be against someone of legal age holding a class of wine or a beer?
Too many people in Barrow County are still living in the 1950s. It's time to arrive in the year 2009, McGee, Saunders and the like.
This is not a reason for a teacher to be forced out and is certainly no reason to put taxpayers in a position to have to shell out who knows how much? Remember the Ten Commandments fiasco here?

#14.1 Slob Bob on 11/16/09 at 09:57 PM [Reply]

This is just another reason for Private School Vouchers.
To reply to your comment "Truth"...
Though I am not against a Bible class being taught at any school, I do believe that it should be applied as a High School Elective ONLY. Our countries foundation of freedom should not be bypassed because people like you and I do not believe in Christianity. I agree that the Christian desire to smother us in Bible verse is appalling, and that they do not recognize my freedom or individuality, but I am not going to deny them their freedom because I do not like it. That is not the American way.
As for Miss Payne, you get them girl!
If Barrow County (my county) does not listen to the people of this county who believe that we have taken another step backwards into Antediluvian times, they may find themselves voted out.

#15 Are you kidding? on 11/16/09 at 07:18 AM [Reply]

Oh my goodness! You mean teacher's have a life outside of the school? BOE; "release" some pictures of the administrative staff that fired her. Odds are; this teacher was hit more for her youth and looks than for her (GASP!) drinking.... On another note: Mommies and Daddies need to do the PARENTING for their children. Don't like what little Susie is looking at on the internet AFTER THE FACT? Well shame on you! You should KNOW what your kid is looking at BEFORE they find something you don't like. ALSO, "little Susie" What kind of BS is that? "I can say whatever I want because my teacher said it." I bet mommy has said some bad words before too, and mommy isn't trying to get herself fired from mommyhood for it. TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR YOUR ACTIONS. Honestly, it sounds like mommy made up that little Susie said that. I bet if you interview Susie, her story and mommy's don't quite match up.

#16 Annie O on 11/17/09 at 08:59 AM [Reply]

Wonder if this "concerned" parent ever considered the rammifications of total embarassment/humiliation this will have on her teenaged daughter once this info is released?

#17 Annie Omus on 11/17/09 at 02:40 PM [Reply]

Well... the story does continue and keeps getting uglier as it spins. Very interesting and indepth article outlining the fact that the "parent" of said "child" did not even sign her name to the anonymous email sent to Dr Saunders. Very interesting usage of the word "pupil and alliertation" were contained in this anonymous email. check out this blog on AJC:
blogs.ajc.com/get-schooled-blog/2009/11/13/... - 163k

#18 truth on 11/17/09 at 04:58 PM [Reply]

Right from the AJC. "someone had sent an anonymous e-mail to the Barrow superintendent. The e-mailer claimed to be a parent whose daughter had access to Payne’s Facebook page. The daughter had allegedly seen both the note about bingo and “unacceptable photos” of Payne “smiling with alcohol for all her online friends to view.”

“Her behavior is intolerable,” wrote the e-mailer.

Less than two hours later, Payne was sitting in the assistant principal’s office, where she was pressured to resign. According to Barrow spokeswoman Lisa Leighton, the incident demonstrates the high standard of conduct to which school employees are held.

Initially, the school system told me that it would not reveal the name of the mother who sent the e-mail to protect her privacy. But it turns out that Barrow has no idea who sent the e-mail or whether the parent or daughter even exist."
read it for your self.
http://blogs.ajc.com/get-schooled-blog/2009/11/13/facebook-flap-in-barrow-raises-troubling-fairness-issues/
Now who the concerned parent I bet a fellow teacher mad at her

#19 Anonymous on 11/17/09 at 06:46 PM [Reply]

Drinking in Europe and posting pictures of herself doing so among several other pictures of her trip does not make her unprofessional or immature. She's 24, so she grew up with facebook, and like most facebook users, she uses it to share her pictures with her friends and family. Since it was set to private, she had every reason to expect that only friends and family were seeing her page.

#20 HOMEBODY on 11/17/09 at 09:55 PM [Reply]

THE SAME THING HAPPEN TO A BUSDRIVER IN JACKSON COUNTY. BUT THE EMAIL MAIL HAD NAMES ON II . DRIVER WAS FIRED. FEDERAL COMPLAINT FILED. JACKSON COUNTY BOE WON'T GIVE HEARING IN THIS CASE EITHER. SUE,SUE,SUE.

#21 Hypocrisy Rules on 11/17/09 at 11:53 PM [Reply]

this is so absurd it's almost comical. What isn't comical is the self-righteousness of the people who hold the real power in this county.

What's most appalling is that the BOE took such draconian action against one of their employees for such an innocuous act, while turning a blind-eye to more egregious moral transgressions such as....."allegedly"....adulterous affairs between administrators of a high-profile local school.

I guess only in Barrow County is having a glass of wine in Europe worse that workplace adultery. But why am I not surprised?

#22 Oh NO! on 11/18/09 at 01:06 AM [Reply]

I drank one beer at the Georgia game this weekend. Should I be worried about my job? The Board of Education may retaliate and perhaps not allow me to pay my school taxes this December. I would be devastated to miss out on paying taxes.

Sound ridiculous, Yes. But this whole incident is ridiculous. Shame on the Board of Education & good luck Ms. Payne!

#23 Are you kidding? on 11/18/09 at 07:33 AM [Reply]

I am SO thankful that someone added the AJC comment on here! I just read it and got the "rest of the story". Barrow BOE, say you are sorry and just write the check! I can't believe that you forced someone out of a job on an email from a fake account, with no name, that you can't confirm. You do realize that Barrow County is in the United States and that one of our rights is to be able "to be confronted with the witnesses against him." (Excerpt from the Bill of Rights). What’s more, you fired a member of the Protected Class (woman) with no real proof. Great work on having your “ducks in a row”, and speaking of fowl, looks like this will be a “turkey shoot” for the lawyer representing this woman. I’d thank you for the joke except that TAX MONEY will go to represent the idiots that did this, and TAX MONEY will pay this teacher for what you did to her. I hope that the administration at BOE has a couple openings for this travesty…

I can't help but add this comment from their blog...

"So glad there is not a picture of the Last Supper on Jesus’ facebook page."

#23.1 Paul Varjak on 11/19/09 at 12:23 AM [Reply]

Are you really that stupid? The "right" to confront an accuser applies in a court of law -- not in an employment situation. Similar to how cretins scream about freedom of speech, which applies to GOVERNMENT abridging the same. similar to how ignorant yahoos continually bleat "innocent until proven guilty," a presumption of innocence that applies to a jury inside a courtroom. Anywho, the alleged victim resigned, in her own words, for "personal reasons." The burden of proof is on her to adduce coercion. Lots of luck with that.

#23.1.1 Are you kidding? on 11/19/09 at 08:12 AM [Reply]

Hey Idiot, I believe that the Barrow County Board of Education IS Government. Your rant about "innocent until proven guilty" is specifically what the point is on this issue considering that the BOE ran her off with NO proof so she was "guilty" in their eyes. Now TAX DOLLARS are going to pay for those same people who ASSUMED guilt without the consideration that she was "innocent until proven guilty". This is not a private business, it is Government. If you want to fire someone or run them off because they wore the wrong shoes you can in the private sector. YOU will pay the legal fees if they sue and win, YOU will pay for the lost business if the community turns on you. In her case, it will be US that pays for the legal fees and settlement. That is the problem with these administrators; they didn't apparently think about who would have to pay if they were wrong OR they didn't care since it won't be their money. Now can your feeble mind wrap itself around that concept? And since you brought it up... the right to confront an accuser is only applicable in CRIMINAL cases, not civil lawsuits so you are wrong. I simply put that in my previous posting to show that the United States was founded on that and other principles that intended to PROTECT us against TYRANNY and OPRESSION; tyranny such as a teacher that doesn't like another teacher who just so happens to be a "friend" on her facebook and prints a picture, makes up an email address, then makes up a "concerned parent", then gives this information to two other idiots that see an opportunity to be “Big-shots” and use their authority to intimidate this woman. These administrators apparently needed to learn and little more about Leadership. Do you know what supervisors, managers, administrators, etc are for? They are there to LEAD. Disciplinary Action should be a last resort. They confronted her and threatened her within one hour of receiving that email. I believe that they should have spent that hour working FOR their teacher looking for PROOF that their employee was innocent or guilty. Here is a quote for you to chew on while you fume over my response: “It is by no means enough that an officer of the Navy should be a capable mariner. He must be that, of course, but also a great deal more. He should be as well a gentleman of liberal education, refined manners, punctilious courtesy, and the nicest sense of personal honor.
He should be the soul of tact, patience, justice, firmness, kindness, and charity. No meritorious act of a subordinate should escape his attention or be left to pass without its reward, even if the reward is only a word of approval. Conversely, he should not be blind to a single fault in any subordinate, though at the same time, he should be quick and unfailing to distinguish error from malice, thoughtlessness from incompetency, and well meant shortcomings from heedless or stupid blunder.
In one word, every commander should keep constantly before him the great truth, that to be well obeyed, he must be perfectly esteemed.” – John Paul Jones
Thanks for trying to "correct" me.

#23.1.2 Steve on 11/19/09 at 01:18 PM [Reply]

Paul you used alot of very fancy words, to make a completely false statement. There is language in a teachers contract that specifies exactly what must happen, in order to terminate that employee. The only problem it seems for this teacher is to convince a judge or jury that her resignation was made under duress. If the account stated in the paper is true, then unfortunately for the tax payers of Barrow County we will see more of OUR dollars go for something other than it was intended for. As a christian I do not condone of defend this young woman for her personal choices. If she in fact did not have any student listed as a friend, she has done nothing to warrant being forced to resign. She has done nothing illegal and as much as we would like to live in a utopia, we all have to interact with people that have a different value system than our own. If in fact these "concerned parents" even exist, they need to come forward and apologize for such immature and irresponsible behavior. It may have very well cost this county a good deal of money, that we definitely do not have. Plus the principal and vice principal involved should be terminated for gross incompetence, and for breaking the rules that they are in their positions to enforce.

#24 Jennifer on 11/18/09 at 09:59 PM [Reply]

If (and I repeat... IF) Ms Payne accepted this anonymous student as a friend on her FaceBook page where Ms Payne behaved in a way other than as "teacher", than that is crossing the line.

Teachers and students should not interact in social situations.... and FaceBook generally IS a "social situation". Whether Ms Payne drinks or uses foul language is her own business....until she allows a student into that part of her private life.

While this needs to be addressed and cleared up, I just wish there was a way to do it in a manner that didn't use our precious tax dollars.

Barrow County has bigger issues than this.

All that said, I'd like to mention something that we all need to think about...

NOTHING you put online is "private" - NOTHING.

I've worked online doing website work and internet marketing for a few years and I can promise you that I put NOTHING sensitive online - even if it's behind the "locked" doors of a private FaceBook account.

Teachers, parents, government officials, students....we all need to know this and learn to be more careful.

Take for example that vacation photo of Ms Payne that is at the top of this page AND all over the internet now.

That photo WAS "safe" in her private FaceBook account meant to only be seen by friends and relatives. NOW, it is all over the internet.

Did anyone ASK Ms Payne for her PERMISSION to post that photo all over the internet?

All it takes is a simple right click/save as and ANYONE can get your sensitive photos and blast them all over the web.

Internet safety and online awareness are the real issues here that need to be addressed in every classroom and household. This situation with Ms Payne is just the beginning if things are not dealt with via education starting yesterday.

#25 Starr on 11/18/09 at 11:20 PM [Reply]

This is a joke. Right ??
A picture of someone drinking a beer ?
The use of a word, which some "self righteous" person believes to be profane?

Anything beyond a "verbal admonishment" would have to be considered "extreme & excessive" !

There has to be more to this situation then this!

So we either have a completely senile school superintendent, or a school system based on "collusion & rascalisim".

This must be addressed !

The teacher, clearly is not the problem !!

#26 Joe Christmas on 11/19/09 at 02:47 PM [Reply]

The only thing I can add to this entire comedy of errors by both sides is to the person who made the snide remark about no longer living in Mayberry with Andy and Opie. I'll have them know that Miss Crump was pretty hot for a school teacher. If facebook had been around then Emmit, Floyd and a few others would have been in an uproar.

#27 Anonymous on 11/20/09 at 10:41 PM [Reply]

another Barrow redneck BS

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