Grovetown High School instructor charged with simple battery after incident with student

Photo from Grovetown High School website

Date: September 08, 2023

A Grovetown High School instructor was arrested on Wednesday, Sept. 6 for allegedly striking a student.

According to the Columbia County School District, on Sept. 5, JROTC Instructor Cecile Williams, allegedly struck a student during class and has been suspended pending further investigation by the Human Resources Department. The Columbia County School District Police arrested and charged Williams with simple battery.

As required, the incident will be reported to the Professional Standards Commission for further review.

“Safety of students and staff is a top priority and any inappropriate physical contact is not tolerated. We take allegations such as these extremely seriously and will investigate fully. Inappropriate or suspicious behavior should be reported immediately to an administrator, Columbia County School District Police, or by contacting the Columbia County School District Anonymous Tip Hotline at 706- 541-3600. If you see something, say something. Working together, we can continue to provide a safe, positive environment for students and staff,” the school district said in its press release.

According to the bio for Williams on the Grovetown High School website, she enlisted in the Army in June 1994. She completed Basic and Advanced Individual Training at Fort Jackson, S.C. and served 12 years as a senior paralegal noncommissioned officer prior to attending Officer Candidate School (OCS). She earned her commission through OCS 2006.

Stephanie Hill is the managing editor and covers Columbia County government for The Augusta Press. Reach her at stephanie@theaugustapress.com.  

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The Author

Stephanie Hill has been a journalist for over 10 years. She is a graduate of Greenbrier High School, graduated from Augusta University with a degree in journalism, and graduated from the University of South Carolina with a Masters in Mass Communication. She has previously worked at The Panola Watchman in Carthage, Texas, The White County News in Cleveland, Georgia, and The Aiken Standard in Aiken, S.C. She has experience covering cities, education, crime, and lifestyle reporting. She covers Columbia County government and the cities of Harlem and Grovetown. She has won multiple awards for her writing and photos.

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