Teacher Arrested at Ocala Christian Academy Faces Parent Demands for Transparency

Parents in Marion County are demanding answers from Ocala Christian Academy after a fifth-grade teacher, Joel Gould, was arrested last week. Officials say Gould admitted to voyeurism involving a young girl at the school.

Parents say the concern is also about what happened before the arrest. According to Gould’s arrest report, school leaders were told about a parent’s concern on a Friday. Gould was allowed to return to the classroom until he was arrested the following Tuesday, because administrators said they had found nothing on his phone. Schools entrusted with children’s safety carry a weighty responsibility to act promptly on a complaint (Luke 12:48).

Stephenee Pearson, whose daughter participated in safety patrol with Gould, was among those protesting outside the school. She said she is sickened that Gould was ever around her child.

“She talks about him 24-7. And to say that he groomed these children is an understatement. They are obsessed with him,” Pearson said.

Pearson said she believes the school should have contacted law enforcement immediately after the initial complaint, rather than conducting its own review. “I would like them to take some accountability. Instead of, you know, facing what happened, they deleted their Facebook. They’re not answering questions. They’re not speaking to the parents,” she said.

Parents at the protest are also pushing the school to allow girls to wear pants instead of skirts. In a letter, the school said girls may wear skorts or solid-color leggings underneath, but pants remain off-limits.

News 6 Community Correspondent Kayla Lewis emailed the principal four questions, including why Gould was allowed to return to the classroom after the initial complaint. The principal did not respond. When Lewis called the school, a representative said the school had already issued a statement, namely the letter sent to parents last week informing them that Gould was no longer allowed on campus.

Pearson told News 6 she is considering pulling her daughter from the school. Other parents at the protest said they have already done so.

Source: Read the original report