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June 19, 2009

Rome school board fires teacher charged with sexually assaulting student

Elizabeth Cady, Rome News-Tribune

The Rome Board of Education unanimously voted to fire Rome High math teacher James Rodney Lee on Thursday, three months after he was charged with sexually assaulting a student at the school.

During the session, Rome City Schools Superintendent Gayland Cooper recommended Lee be fired for two reasons: the Floyd County Superior Court restricted Lee in April from having any contact with any present or former Rome High students; second, for lying on the record to school officials.

During the due process hearing, Cooper’s attorney, Phil Hartley, asked the superintendent whether Mr. Lee could perform his duties as a Rome City Schools employee after the court bond order was given in April. Cooper responded, “Absolutely not.”

Hartley later argued in his closing statement that the fact Lee was unable to teach because of his bond charges was good and sufficient cause for his termination.

Lee, 27, was charged with sexual assault against a person in custody, cruelty to children and sexual battery and was arrested in March.

Police reported the male student involved was 16.

The other reason presented to the board for termination by the superintendent was that Lee admitted lying about giving money to a student to school system personnel director Pam Hamilton and Rome High Principal Tygar Evans in an interview at the school on March 20, days before he was arrested.

Lee’s attorney, Borquaye Thomas, argued that lying is not a valid reason to fire a teacher.

Cooper disagreed.

Thomas also pointed out to the board, and had Hamilton affirm, that Lee had received all satisfactory marks after several years of teaching at Rome High.

The hearing was held because Lee did not accept the superintendent’s recommendation to resign, Cooper said. He did not attend the hearing.



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