Local

Coach resigns after cheerleader sleepover

CLAYTON COUNTY, Ga. — A Clayton County cheerleading coach has resigned amid claims that cheerleaders took off their clothes during a sleepover at her house.

Channel 2 Action News spoke to the mother of one of the Lovejoy High School cheerleaders who attended the sleepover back in July. The girl's mother recently learned about the incident because her 9th-grade daughter was too ashamed to talk about it.

"I'm just totally pissed off. It's past upset. I'm pissed off," the mother said about the "Judge and Jury" game they played at the sleepover, intended to be a bonding experience for the team.

The older cheerleaders were the jury, the coach was the judge and each team member was on trial, according to an incident report obtained by Channel 2's Eric Philips.

If the student did not answer the question correctly, they would have to either run laps around the school track or remove an article of clothing. (The school official) said the student could have their laps reduced if they choose to remove an article of clothing.

Off-camera, the woman's daughter said about a dozen girls were crowded in a closet, stripped down to their underwear.

Her daughter said at one point, she got a question wrong and was told to expose herself.

"What child ain't going to try to fit in? They telling her this is what we do every year ... Y'all do this every year? Really?" the mother said.

Although the parents signed permission slips for the kids to attend, she said she didn't know the kids would be participating in activities like that.

Clayton County school officials said they cannot speak on the matter, which is under investigation.