Two More Top APS Officials Step Down

Two more educators involved in the Atlanta Public School cheating scandal stepped down Tuesday, bringing the total to four. Wednesday is the last day for 178 educators implicated in the state investigation to turn in their resignations or face termination.

APS Administrators Proclaim Their Innocence

In an exclusive interview with Channel 2 investigative reporter Mark Winne, the four suspended administrators denied falsifying CRCT test results and are vowing to fight for their jobs.

“The public is looking for someone to take responsibility,” Dr. Sharon Davis Williams told Winne. “The current administration is trying to deliver without being thorough.”

Williams and three other area superintendents, Michael Pitts, Dr. Robin Hall and Tamara Cotman are accused in a state investigation into misreported test results. The report said “Tamara Cotman either knew or should’ve known cheating and other misconduct was occurring within schools,” but she said she had no way of knowing.

“As I shared with the investigators, any time cheating was reported there's a record of that. How I should’ve known, someone would have to explain that to me,” Cotman said.

Hall said any cheating that existed was not directed by her.

“I can provide a conducive environment for teaching and learning and model integrity and ethics, but when it boils down to it, I cannot predict what any individual will do behind closed doors,” she said.

Williams said she was shocked upon notification that APS wants to fire her.

In the meantime, the four have been placed on paid leave and face a hearing, according to their lawyer.