Sex, lies, and video led to the professional undoing of three Banks County educators. As Now Habersham first reported last Friday, the principal and physical education teacher at Banks County Elementary School resigned amid allegations of misconduct. Now, an investigative report has been brought to light showing the two were involved in an extramarital affair and engaged in sexual activity on school grounds.
On January 27, the Banks County Board of Education announced the resignations of Banks County Elementary School Principal Dr. Dana Simmons and teacher Dylan Charles. Since then, another faculty member has resigned – third-grade teacher Kelsey Charles, Dylan’s wife.
Now Habersham obtained a copy of the independent investigative report that ultimately led to those resignations. The investigation was conducted by John W. Grant and Dr. Paul Shaw at the request of Banks County School Superintendent Dr. Ann Hopkins.
Hopkins requested the independent investigation on January 17 after allegations began surfacing of alleged sexual misconduct among staff at the school. She says she asked for an independent investigation because she considered herself and members of her administrative team “too familiar with all parties involved to conduct the investigation.”
Dr. Simmons, ironically, spurred the investigation when she complained to the superintendent that Dylan Charles had allegedly “bugged her office” or was otherwise receiving information he should not have had regarding Board of Education activities.
Hopkins followed up on that complaint by convening a meeting with top school system administrators, Simmons and Charles. During the meeting, they determined Charles was not receiving information that he was not entitled to receive. Afterward, Charles asked to speak to the administrators without Simmons present. It’s at that time, the investigative report reveals, that Charles told school system leaders he had been having an extramarital affair with Dr. Simmons for “several years.”
Simmons denied Charles’ claim but did state that she and Charles had an “inappropriate friendship.”
Three administrators, five faculty members, and a former employee were interviewed during the course of the investigation. All of them said they were surprised by the allegations. The Banks County Elementary School Assistant Principal at the time, Dr. Leigh Ann Perry, said she had only learned two days earlier of the relationship between Simmons and Charles.
The investigative report reveals that Charles was at first reluctant to cooperate, but he later wound up showing investigators several pictures and videos of a sexual nature, confirming his claims. One image was of a naked woman taken in a bathroom that appeared to be adjacent to Simmons’ office at the elementary school. Charles also showed investigators what appeared to be texts from his wife to Dr. Simmons.
During the course of the investigation, Simmons admitted having a sexual relationship with Dylan Charles but not on school property. She, too, shared with investigators pictures of a sexual nature that she told them came from Kelsy Charles.
Investigators say Simmons told them Kelsey Charles arranged and attended the sexual liaisons between her husband and boss.
According to the report, Kelsey Charles admitted to investigators that she was “aware of the sexual relationship Dr. Simmons had with Dylan (her husband), and she watched them have sexual relations and recorded/videoed sexual encounters.”
The video evidence and interviews corroborated much of what was circulated publicly about the alleged sexual misconduct, actions that ultimately resulted in the resignations of Simmons, Dylan, and Kelsey Charles. Following their resignations, the Banks County Board of Education promoted Dr. Perry to principal and named former lead instructional teacher Amanda Grier Assistant Principal.
