The Columbia County Board of Education decided to uphold the school district administration’s decision to fire a Grovetown ROTC instructor in a special called meeting on Thursday.
On Sept. 6, 2023, Columbia County School District Police arrested Grovetown High School JROTC teacher Cecile Williams for striking a student during class, charging her with simple battery.
Since Sept. 7, Williams, an Army veteran who retired after serving for 25 years with the rank of Major before pursuing a career in education, has been on paid administrative leave, pending an investigation.
On Dec. 21, Superintendent Steven Flynt issued a letter to Williams via certified mail recommending Williams’ contract with the school district be terminated, citing violations of the district’s ethical code, including “conduct that impairs and or diminishes [the educator’s] ability to function professionally in… her employment position, behavior and conduct that is detrimental to the health, welfare, discipline or morals of students.”
Thursday, starting at 9 a.m., the school board convened for a public employee termination hearing.
According to the school district, on Sept. 5, 2023, during a seventh period JROTC class at Grovetown High, Williams took cadets outside the building and, while the students were in formation, struck one of the cadets in the face, grabbed him and pulled him to the back of the line.
This narrative is based on reports of eyewitness testimony from students, security camera video footage and Williams’ own admission of the incident, in person with, and via email to, school administration and district human resources.
The details of the incident, which neither side disputed, were that Williams slapped the cadet about the left side of his head after seeing him gesture with his tongue as if he were about to lick the student standing in front of him in formation, also a male, which she interpreted as potential sexual harassment. She quickly apologized for having struck him — the student would testify “about two or three times” —removed him from his spot in line and counseled him for the behavior. The class then continued as normal.
The hearing lasted several hours, as attorneys Will and Larry Fletcher, representing the school district, and Williams’ lawyer Daniel Woodrum, called and questioned 11 witnesses between them, other than Williams herself. Seven of these were students, including both the alleged victim and the student Williams believed was about to be assaulted.
The ninth-grade student whom Williams was accused of striking said he was only trying to lick his itching chin, but thought that to Williams it might have looked like something inappropriate. He also said that, other than some ringing in his ear that lasted “five to 10 minutes,” said the open hand slap didn’t hurt.
The other student testified that he did not feel as if the stricken cadet was about to lick him or assault him. Both students testified that they were friends, who sometimes engage in joking and horseplay, but nothing that either would take as intending harm.
The other student witnesses, who were in the same class and present during the incident, largely corroborated the details, save for things they had not seen or heard (such as whether Williams used the term “sexual harassment” when counseling the cadet) and most described Williams as a good, if firm, teacher who cared about her students.
The Fletchers argued that Williams’ admitted physical contact with a student, regardless of why, was grounds for termination.
“No one questions the character of Maj. Williams, no one questions her desire and her devotion to wanting to teach,” said Larry Fletcher to the school board. “However, and unfortunately, we’re here with a Fair Dismissal Act hearing, and the evidence is overwhelming that she struck a student without justification and without taking other means to deescalate the situation.”
The school district’s counsel bolstered their case with facts regarding an earlier incident for which Williams was disciplined.
Grovetown High School Assistant Principal Zachary Watson testified that on Jan. 12, 2023, Williams had been accused of touching a student in a “horseplay” or “joking” manner, and briefly continued to after the student asked her to stop. For this, Williams was suspended without pay for one day.
Woodrum’s case emphasized Williams’ character, as he asked witnesses about her ethics, truthfulness and professionalism, positing that her actions were in good faith, within a very short time (all witnesses asked timed the incident as happening anywhere from 10 to 20 seconds), insufficient to contact administration for assistance.
“She’s always been very clear that that contact occurred,” Woodrow said. “But it’s always been the point of dispute… if that contact was justified under the laws of the state of Georgia, statutory law, educators are providing an immunity to intervene and maintain discipline in their classrooms.”
Williams herself was the final witness called before closing arguments, underscoring that she acted from “instinct.”
The board went into executive session to deliberate, and returned to say they were upholding the school district’s recommendation to terminate.
“To you, Ms. Williams, you’re an honorable lady, and this is a very unfortunate circumstance, [for] our hearts go out to you,” said Columbia County School Board Chair David Dekle. “But because this is an employment matter, we had to do what we had to do.”
Dekle noted that he and his fellow board members would send a written statement of the decision for the record within five days.
Criminal charges against Williams, which both counsels agreed to not incorporate into the hearing, are still pending.
Skyler Q. Andrews is a staff reporter covering business for The Augusta Press. Reach him at skyler@theaugustapress.com.
