A Richmond County teacher accused of selling marijuana and having a gun while committing a crime may be out of a job, but negotiations with her were continuing.
The Richmond County Board of Education Human Resources Committee was expected to have a termination hearing Jan. 23 for alternative school math teacher Dorcas Cloud, according to a meeting notice.
Cloud, 52, was charged Sept. 22 in Columbia County with possessing 3,558 grams or nearly eight pounds of marijuana with the intent to sell it, as well as two THC vape cartridges, a bottle of THC syrup and a 9 mm handgun, according to an incident report.
She most recently was employed as a math teacher at Morgan Road Alternative School, where state records show her earning $50,515 last year. A state-certified teacher, her name was recently removed from the school’s website.
According to Columbia County warrants, deputies found Cloud in possession of a THC vape cartridge during a traffic stop around 2:30 p.m. on Mullikin Road. The stop led to a search of her Hamilton Court residence, where they reported finding the gun, remaining drugs and digital scales.
Cloud’s son, Jalen Cloud, 23, was also charged with possession with intent to distribute a similar amount, 3,538 grams of marijuana, in the incident.
The following Monday, schools Chief Human Resources Officer Cecil S. Clark II informed Cloud she was being placed on leave with pay for displaying “unprofessional behavior” while the system investigated.
Now represented by attorney Keith B. Johnson, Cloud was set to have a Jan. 23 termination hearing before the board’s Human Resources committee.
The committee consists of Trustees Venus Cain as chair, Helen Minchew as vice-chair and members Jimmy Atkins, Walter Eubanks, Charlie Hannah, Charlie Walker and Shawnda Griffin. The committee serves as a sort of “jury” at the hearings, typically conducted by board attorney Larry Fletcher.
Just before the hearing, the board sent a notice it was canceled for negotiations agreed on by both parties to continue.
Cloud’s LinkedIn profile said she owns a transportation business and worked as an adjunct instructor for Aiken Technical College.
Her history includes a 1989 conviction for stealing a tank of gas and a 2012 DUI charge that was reduced to reckless driving in 2017.
Susan McCord is a staff writer with The Augusta Press. Reach her at susan@theaugustapress.com
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