Latest news with #JessicaChapman
Yahoo
7 hours ago
- General
- Yahoo
'Natural realignment': Principal quits Tallahassee Collegiate Academy, top staff follow
The Tallahassee Collegiate Academy at Tallahassee State College is without a leadership team: Its principal tendered her resignation in March and its other two administrators resigned June 16. Jessica Chapman, the school's principal, submitted her resignation March 21 to focus on her family and health. It is effective June 30. She has led the charter high school since its inception in 2023, alongside Assistant Principal Patricia Pagozalski and Dean of Students Matthew Gregory, who themselves both resigned June 16. Kim Kelling, a retired media professional and member of the board of governors for the school, told the Tallahassee Democrat that a search for a new principal is underway. "We've been actively interviewing candidates and are encouraged by the caliber of applicants," Kelling said. "We expect to make an announcement soon." As the school prepares for a new academic year, Kelling said it stands firmly on the foundation and standard of excellence and perseverance the three administrators set. "It's not uncommon for school administrators to transition to new opportunities following a change in principal," Kelling said. "These shifts often reflect the natural realignment that occurs with leadership changes." "We appreciate the contributions of Jessica Chapman, Patricia Pagozalski, and Matt Gregory, whose leadership during the first two years of Tallahassee Collegiate Academy helped establish a strong foundation. Their efforts have positioned TCA for continued success as we move into the new academic year." "I am very grateful for the opportunity to serve as the inaugural Principal for Tallahassee Collegiate Academy, and to have the hard work of our students and teachers recognized so visibly," Chapman wrote in her resignation letter. Tallahassee Collegiate Academy serves high school students as a tuition-free public charter school overseen by the TSC board of trustees. The school earned an A grade from the Florida Department of Education in its latest assessment. The June resignations of Gregory and Pagozalski come days after TSC trustees approved an application from Charter Schools USA Inc., to open an AI-integrated middle school separate from TCA. The new school doesn't play a role in the resignations based on the letters from the administrators. Pagozalski is returning to the Tallahassee School of Math and Sciences, which is where she worked for 15 years before arriving at TCA in 2023. She will serve as the school operations engagement coordinator, which is less strenuous than an assistant principal role. "My time at TCA was absolutely wonderful and it was such an exciting school," Pagozalski said. "There are great things to come for the school for sure." Gregory did not list specific reasons for his departure in his resignation letter, but he did say he would continue his career in education. "While this separation is bittersweet for me as I leave to pursue other opportunities in education, I can't wait to see what the future holds for this school and the student body as it builds on this foundational success that we all created," he wrote in the letter. Alaijah Brown covers children & families for the Tallahassee Democrat. She can be reached at ABrown1@ Follow her on Twitter/X: @AlaijahBrown3. This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Leadership team exits Tallahassee Collegiate Academy
The Sun
15-06-2025
- The Sun
I watched pitiful Soham killer Ian Huntley sob like a baby after going undercover in jail… how his arrogant mask slipped
WHITE as a ghost, overweight and sobbing uncontrollably, this was a side of Ian Huntley the cocky child killer never wanted anyone to see. And as David McGee wheeled the pitiful monster away in a golf buggy, he could barely believe the extraordinary chain of events that had led him to this moment. 11 11 11 11 As part of a shocking investigation into the lax security of Britain's jails, the former investigative reporter had landed a job as an officer at Woodhill Prison in Milton Keynes in early 2003. At the time the all-male Category A jail in Buckinghamshire held 650 prisoners. It had housed hostage taker Charles Bronson, 'Hannibal the Cannibal' killer Robert Maudsley and murderer Michael Sams, who had eight years added to his four life terms after taking a probation officer hostage at Woodhill. And just two weeks into his new role, David found himself left in sole charge of one of Britain's most notorious killers. The previous year, former school caretaker Huntley had lured ten-year-old schoolgirls Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman to their brutal deaths at his home in Soham, Cambs. Languishing in a Woodhill prison cell awaiting his trial for double murder at the Old Bailey, the brute was on suicide watch and needed to be monitored round the clock. Incredibly, that duty fell to David, who grew to know Huntley's "arrogant" and "slimy" character first-hand over a number of intimate encounters. Now, as part of The Sun's new true crime series, Meeting a Monster, which sees those who have met the UK's most infamous criminals reveal their darkest secrets, the former journalist recalls their incredible meetings. One occasion still sticks vividly in his mind: when he was tasked with escorting the killer to a visit with his distraught parents, Kevin and Linda, which saw his egotistical mask well and truly slip. Having driven Huntley to and from the visitors' suite in a golf buggy, David recalls him sobbing hysterically after the dramatic reunion. Soham killer Ian Huntley makes chilling comment during interview with Maxine Carr which helps snare him in Channel 5 thriller Maxine He tells The Sun: 'I was in the room while he spoke with his parents, and although I was not close enough to hear what they were saying, it was clear his parents were very upset too. 'By the time they left they were absolutely wrecked. I put my hand on Huntley's shoulder to steer him back to the buggy. "It was only a distance of about 100 yards back to his cell but I was told he had to be driven both ways. 'He was bawling his eyes out, the meeting had clearly been deeply traumatising for him. "Afterwards it took him quite a while to settle down. It was an astonishing day.' Chilling first meeting Using his real name and passport, which clearly stated he was a journalist, David incredibly still landed the job at Woodhill and worked there undercover for four months. When asked for references, he named his wife and mother - but nobody bothered to check. After some rudimentary training, in the spring of 2003, he was able to smuggle in a digital camera - which he concealed inside a personal organiser. His role involved guarding prisoners and ferrying them to and from court. He had access to keys for handcuffs, cell doors and the escape hatch in prison vans - meaning he could have freed inmates, passed drugs or weapons to them or even attacked them. 11 More than two decades later, David can still remember the moment he first came face-to-face with Huntley, known behind bars as Prisoner JG5778. Left alone with the Soham killer, David snapped a photograph of him slumped in his cell. They spent hours chatting together about football, running, and playing games of chess through the bars of his cell. 'I was shocked and amazed,' said David. 'I remember the day very clearly. I had just a fortnight's experience as a fully fledged warder and here I was doing one of the most vital jobs in the prison. 'When I first saw Huntley in the Health Care Centre where he was based my mouth went dry. 'I could see he was alone at the end of the corridor, his cell was at the end of a row of three and the others were kept empty. 'Huntley and his watcher were doing a crossword. I heard my colleague say a clue out loud: 'It's five letters and ends in stem.' 'I suggested 'brain' and it turned out to be right. I heard Huntley say from his cell: 'He's smart isn't he?' 'He seemed pale, overweight and had bags under his eyes. He was wearing a burgundy sweatshirt, trousers and a pair of trainers. 'I said: 'Hello, how are you doing?' In a soft quiet voice he simply answered: 'All right.' 'We talked about soccer and when he rolled up a cigarette I cadged one off him, which is against prison rules. 'I was involved in a number of conversations with Huntley covering a wide variety of subjects." He adds: "We were close enough to share a chess board, our hands touched as we moved the pieces and I looked closely into his eyes. "That was chilling." Guarding Huntley was a popular duty at the jail as warders would get overtime, called Extra Gratuity Payments. Later, on May 7, David found himself guarding the killer alone again, this time for five hours. He said: 'Even though I was a raw rookie, I was on a rota to mind him after I was allowed to place my name on the overtime list of warders needed to man his round the clock suicide watch. "He asked me lots of questions and was actively engaged in conversation. I think he liked me and wanted me to like him. "He wanted to know about my partner, and said he preferred blonde women. "He was really interested in the fact that I had recently run the London marathon, and said he was very impressed with the time I finished it in. 'I had to bat away his questions because I'd been trained not to engage with the prisoners, but that did not seem to stop him. 'He never mentioned anything about the crimes he was accused of. "It was clear he was trying to be matey because that would have served him well, although there were other moments when he was tetchy and prickly but fortunately there were bars between us.' Prisoner perks Huntley's cell was painted pale yellow and was adorned with cards sent from his fiancée Maxine Carr - some pinned to a notice board and others carefully arranged on the windowsill. Each week he would buy two pouches of Golden Virginia tobacco, Rizla cigarette papers, matches, Rich Tea biscuits and UHT milk. Outside the cell was a TV screen with a Playstation on top of it, and the wires to the handheld console were passed through the bars so Huntley could play video games. He was holed up next to the prison gym and would occasionally ask to use the rowing machine. Looking back on the extraordinary time they spent together, David adds: "I definitely got a sense of his arrogance, he thought he was smarter than everyone else. 'At that time, before his trial, he had not admitted his involvement in killing the girls or shown any remorse. "He was deluded. I found him quite slimy and I'm sure he believed he would get away with his vile crimes. 11 11 "He struck me as incredibly manipulative, and I could see how he would be able to intellectually dominate young children or someone he perceived to be intellectually inferior or impressionable - like his partner Maxine. Clearly she was not the brightest spark. 'All I could do was listen to him, and he was more than happy to talk to me. 'Of course I would have loved to ask him questions but I was not there for that, I was only there as a consequence of the poor security." When the photograph David had taken of Huntley in his cell was published, the scandal sparked a Home Office investigation into the shambolic security at the prison. Prison industry groups said underfunding and staff shortages could have led to the apparent security blunder. David faced two charges under the 1952 Prisons Act in relation to the digital camera he had used, which flouted a rule prohibiting the taking in of items to the prison without authorisation. But he was later cleared when Milton Keynes Magistrates Court dismissed the case against him and all charges were dropped. Who are the UK's worst serial killers? THE UK's most prolific serial killer was actually a doctor. Here's a rundown of the worst offenders in the UK. British GP Harold Shipman is one of the most prolific serial killers in recorded history. He was found guilty of murdering 15 patients in 2000, but the Shipman Inquiry examined his crimes and identified 218 victims, 80 per cent of whom were elderly women. After his death Jonathan Balls was accused of poisoning at least 22 people between 1824 and 1845. Mary Ann Cotton is suspected of murdering up to 21 people, including husbands, lovers and children. She is Britain's most prolific female serial killer. Her crimes were committed between 1852 and 1872, and she was hanged in March 1873. Amelia Sach and Annie Walters became known as the Finchley Baby Farmers after killing at least 20 babies between 1900 and 1902. The pair became the first women to be hanged at Holloway Prison on February 3, 1903. William Burke and William Hare killed 16 people and sold their bodies. Yorkshire Ripper Peter Sutcliffe was found guilty in 1981 of murdering 13 women and attempting to kill seven others between 1975 and 1980. Dennis Nilsen was caged for life in 1983 after murdering up to 15 men when he picked them up from the streets. He was found guilty of six counts of murder and two counts of attempted murder and was sentenced to life in jail. Fred West was found guilty of killing 12 but it's believed he was responsible for many more deaths.
