ATLANTA,None — For the first time, Channel 2 Action News caught up with a minister accused of being at the heart of Atlanta's cheating scandal.
The Rev. Christopher Waller previously worked as a principal for a school once celebrated for its academic success.
Channel 2's Rebecca Lindstrom went to Wallers church, Christian Methodist, Sunday to ask him about the cheating investigation.
According to the governors investigation, Waller is accused of recruiting, encouraging and rewarding teachers to cheat.
Lindstrom and her photographer only got a brief look at Waller as he entered his church Sunday, before one of his congregants covered the camera with his hand and pushed it away.
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Lindstrom asked Waller if there was anything he wanted to say to parents or to teachers, and he only replies No comment.
The governors investigation into CRCT cheater said Waller started recruiting teachers to change test scores when he became the principal of Parks Middle School in 2005. Channel 2 Action News found a banner inside the school congratulating students on their achievements.
But teachers testified Waller would hold changing parties to correct answers.
In the 800-page report, investigators said one year 89 percent of the classrooms at Parks Middle were flagged for having so many erased answers. When Lindstrom confronted Waller about it, he had nothing to say.
Waller had little to say to investigators as well, telling them under oath he was not aware of anyone erasing answers. He also defended his character pointing out he was a reverend at a Methodist church.
Lindstrom asked a congregate, Has the pastor talked at all with you guys about the cheating scandal investigation? The woman would only reply, No comment.
That was the response Lindstrom said she got from every church member she talked with Sunday.
Channel 2 Action News tried to talk with Waller at his home earlier in the week, but no one came to the door.
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