Professor Elam

Thursday April 2 2015

Eleven of the twelve former Atlanta public school educators accused of conspiring to cheat on student tests were found guilty Wednesday. Interestingly they were convicted using the RICO statute designed to catch organized crime. 

35 were indicted March 2013, the others struck plea deals while this group gambled on a jury trial. Whoops, the judge denied bail and the eleven were ushered to jail in handcuffs. Beverly Hall the District Supt. denied culpability, to her dying day. Like Ken Lay at Enron, she died before going to trial herself. 

No doubt  none of the eleven ever dreamed they would end up losing their jobs much less going to jail for test tampering. 

But the tone is set at the top. Here is an example of a Judge sending a message.