Dr. John Murray, superintendent of Chesterfield County Public Schools (CCPS), announced that teachers at Chester Early Childhood Learning Academy and Elizabeth Davis Middle School have been arrested and face multiple felony charges related to child exploitation.
According to CCPS, a teacher at Chester Early Childhood Learning Academy was arrested and charged with eight counts of felony manufacturing of child pornography and two counts of indecent liberties with a child. Separately, an Elizabeth Davis Middle School teacher, previously arrested in July and on leave since, was charged with an additional 25 counts of felony manufacturing of child pornography and five counts of indecent liberties with a child.
In response, CCPS has taken immediate steps, including terminating both teachers, placing the CECLA principal and assistant principal on leave, and appointing Dr. Rachel Foglesong as interim principal. The school division has directed Human Resources to interview all CECLA staff and share findings with law enforcement. “The legal requirement for staff to report suspected child abuse within 24 hours,” says CCPS.
CCPS is coordinating closely with Chesterfield Police and Child Protective Services to investigate the cases fully. Police have encouraged anyone with information to come forward. The school division has communicated updates to staff and intends to continue sharing information with the school community while cooperating with authorities to ensure the safety and protection of students.
Chesterfield County Public Schools serves over 64,000 students across 67 schools with a $1 billion budget and full accreditation. The district reports a 91% on-time graduation rate with roughly 4,700 graduates annually and millions in scholarship awards. It includes seven National Blue Ribbon Schools, eight National ESEA Distinguished Schools, multiple Middle Schools to Watch, and 17 Virginia Index of Performance awardees. Each year, buses travel nine million miles, over nine million meals are served, and students use more than 64,000 devices. Governed by a five-member School Board, CCPS follows the strategic plan Imagine Beyond Tomorrow to promote lifelong learning, personal growth, and college- and career-ready graduates.
