DOTHAN, Ala. — Dothan City Schools released a statement Tuesday following the arrests of Assistant Principal Sophia Hedrington and Title IX Coordinator Nicole Guilford on charges related to failure to report child abuse.
According to the statement, Hedrington, assistant principal at Jerry Lee Faine Elementary School, and Guilford, Title IX coordinator for Dothan City Schools, “were arrested on a warrant for one count of Failure to Report Child Abuse.”
The statement, issued by Dothan City Schools attorney Dustin J. Fowler, said Board Chairman Dr. Turner, board members Dr. Franklin Jones, Aurie Jenkins, Scott Childers and Ashley Davis, along with Superintendent Dr. Garrick Askew, “have fully cooperated with law enforcement and will continue to do so throughout the course of this investigation.”
The release also emphasized that student safety remains the district’s top priority.
“The safety, security, and well-being of Dothan City Schools students remain the foremost concern of Board Chairman Dr. Turner, Dothan City Board of Education Members Dr. Franklin Jones, Aurie Jenkins, Scott Childers, Ashley Davis, and Superintendent Dr. Askew, and will continue to be the administration’s highest priority,” the statement said.
School officials said no additional information will be released at this time because the matter remains under active investigation.
The arrests are connected to the ongoing investigation involving former Jerry Lee Faine Elementary School employee Johnny Mark Dunaway. Authorities have said the investigation remains active.
Editor’s Note: The statement released by Dothan City Schools included a notation indicating it had not been approved by board members Taisha Walton and Brenda Guilford.
