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Former teacher reprimanded
By Jeremy Styron News Editor
A former South Rabun Elementary School teacher has been reprimanded by the Georgia Professional Standards Commission.
Jessica Bunker was under investigation for alleged abuse toward a student stemming from an incident near the end of the 2006-07 school year.
"Basically, it came down to one person said she did it, and one person said she didn't," said Gary Walker, director of the commission's ethics division. He added that the committee "determined there was a minor violation." He also described the measure as a "light sanction."
A reprimand does not affect or revoke a teacher's certificate. Rather, it is recorded in an instructor's file and serves as caution toward future questionable conduct.
Bunker also has been investigated by the Rabun County Sheriff's Office for possible battery charges of a student. She has not been charged, and the case will be relinquished to the district attorney's office, said school resource officer Kendrick Maxwell.
"With what I've got, I'm just going to have to carry it before a grand jury and (allow a jury to decide a) no bill or true bill," said Maxwell, who is now handling the case. A true bill decision would mean a jury found probable cause for indictment.
The initial incident report was filed May 17, and Bunker resigned from the school on May 24. She wrote in a letter to Superintendent Matt Arthur that she was leaving to "pursue other interests."
After two reporters from The Tribune could not locate the incident report from the sheriff's office on Aug. 23, the document surfaced later that day.
Sheriff Don Page recently said Investigator Meg Krockun was no longer working the case. When asked for a reason why Maxwell had been given the case, Page said, "I've got her (Krockun) working on something else."
Maxwell said he had no evidence with which to charge Bunker. "I haven't gotten anything. I haven't gotten a witness to this. ... This needs to be dealt with mittens and gloves. You're dealing with people's livelihoods and careers."
He did note a large time discrepancy between when the incident report was filed and the length of the investigation process.
"There was a big time lapse," he said. "At this point and time, I have not been told why there was a big time lapse or why nothing was done."
He also said only one student's family had been interviewed, according to records. "There's nothing in this case file to show that they have" been questioned, Maxwell said about other families. Bunker had six students in her special needs class.
Krockun previously interviewed Diane King of Clayton, whose 7-year-old son was in Bunker's classroom during the 2006-07 school year.
King previously voiced concerns to The Tribune that her child had been the victim of abuse by Bunker. Her son is unable to talk, but he made hand movements toward his chin and mouth when his mother asked what happened to him in the classroom.
Bunker previously worked at North Habersham Sixth Grade Academy and the Hart County school system.
Bunker's attorney, Morris Wiltshire of Athens, could not be reached for comment Tuesday.
Jessica Bunker was under investigation for alleged abuse toward a student stemming from an incident near the end of the 2006-07 school year.
"Basically, it came down to one person said she did it, and one person said she didn't," said Gary Walker, director of the commission's ethics division. He added that the committee "determined there was a minor violation." He also described the measure as a "light sanction."
A reprimand does not affect or revoke a teacher's certificate. Rather, it is recorded in an instructor's file and serves as caution toward future questionable conduct.
Bunker also has been investigated by the Rabun County Sheriff's Office for possible battery charges of a student. She has not been charged, and the case will be relinquished to the district attorney's office, said school resource officer Kendrick Maxwell.
"With what I've got, I'm just going to have to carry it before a grand jury and (allow a jury to decide a) no bill or true bill," said Maxwell, who is now handling the case. A true bill decision would mean a jury found probable cause for indictment.
The initial incident report was filed May 17, and Bunker resigned from the school on May 24. She wrote in a letter to Superintendent Matt Arthur that she was leaving to "pursue other interests."
After two reporters from The Tribune could not locate the incident report from the sheriff's office on Aug. 23, the document surfaced later that day.
Sheriff Don Page recently said Investigator Meg Krockun was no longer working the case. When asked for a reason why Maxwell had been given the case, Page said, "I've got her (Krockun) working on something else."
Maxwell said he had no evidence with which to charge Bunker. "I haven't gotten anything. I haven't gotten a witness to this. ... This needs to be dealt with mittens and gloves. You're dealing with people's livelihoods and careers."
He did note a large time discrepancy between when the incident report was filed and the length of the investigation process.
"There was a big time lapse," he said. "At this point and time, I have not been told why there was a big time lapse or why nothing was done."
He also said only one student's family had been interviewed, according to records. "There's nothing in this case file to show that they have" been questioned, Maxwell said about other families. Bunker had six students in her special needs class.
Krockun previously interviewed Diane King of Clayton, whose 7-year-old son was in Bunker's classroom during the 2006-07 school year.
King previously voiced concerns to The Tribune that her child had been the victim of abuse by Bunker. Her son is unable to talk, but he made hand movements toward his chin and mouth when his mother asked what happened to him in the classroom.
Bunker previously worked at North Habersham Sixth Grade Academy and the Hart County school system.
Bunker's attorney, Morris Wiltshire of Athens, could not be reached for comment Tuesday.
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