Former Kinston High School teacher Amanda Grady worked at the school only a year and two days before she resigned amid an investigation involving what turned out to be a bogus presidential inauguration field trip this year.
On Monday, officers with the Kinston Department of Public Safety arrested the former social studies teacher for allegedly using money she collected from high school students for personal use.
Grady, 32, was charged with obtaining property by false pretense and placed under a $10,000 bond on Monday. Lenoir County Jail officials were unable to confirm to The Free Press whether Grady was still in custody Tuesday evening.
She resigned from Kinston High on Jan. 25.
Lenoir County Schools officials reported Grady to the KDPS on Jan. 30 for collecting funds from nearly 30 students in exchange for an inauguration trip that never happened. The total $1,450 she gathered was reimbursed to students and parents by Kinston High School, Principal Angela Bryant told The Free Press on Jan. 30.
She said nearly 30 students were charged $300 a piece for the trip, although many did not pay the full price.
Bryant was contacted for a secondary interview Tuesday, but questions for the KHS principal were deferred to system’s central office where only Grady’s start date and subject were released.
Robin Roberson, LCS director of human resources, said the system advertised the vacant position and hired someone this week. The opening was filled by substitute teachers until someone was hired, but Roberson was unsure of whether or not multiple substitutes were used.
“Ms. Grady acted totally on her own,” LCS Superintendent Steve Mazingo said. “When the school administration discovered they may have been a problem, the school administration took prompt action to rectify the situation.”
Suspicions were raised about the Washington, D.C. trip when students returned from holiday break on Jan. 2 and the school investigated. The situation was later turned over to law enforcement.
Sgt. Keith Goyette, Cmdr. Jennifer Canadyand Ofc. Woody Spencer of KDPS were contacted multiple times but could not be reached before the time of press.
Jessika Morgan can be reached at 252-559-1078 or at jessika.morgan@Kinston.com. Follow her on Twitter @JessikaMorgan.
