School Board cites ‘lying with impunity’ as part of sprawling justification for unanimous vote to fire Southern Wayne science teacher

It started with conflicting narratives.

On the one hand, there was a veteran teacher who, with his administrator’s blessing, brought a pocketknife onto the Southern Wayne High School campus. He unknowingly kept it in his pocket and when a school resource officer noticed it at a basketball game and asked him to remove it from school grounds, a confrontation ensued that resulted in an unprovoked “assault.”

The deputy told a different story — that when he asked the man to hand over the knife or put it in his car, he did not comply and instead, walked back into the gym. The teacher, according to the officer, “was holding the knife” and resisted his “attempts to secure” it, leading to a struggle.

Then came the video, published on social media and on news sites, including this one.

The footage, which did not contain audio, enflamed supporters of Anthony Williams — a man characterized since the incident as a beloved educator, coach, family member and congregant.

And it raised a series of questions.

Why was such a use of force necessary?

Where were school administrators?

If Williams was seen as such a threat to the school, why was he allowed to go back into the gym after the incident?

Why, if he would later be charged with possession of a weapon on campus and resisting arrest, wasn’t he handcuffed and arrested right then and there?

If we were to walk onto a random Wayne County high school campus tomorrow, would we find teachers in possession of pocketknives, multitools or pepper spray?

Some of those questions remain unanswered.

But when, despite significant public outcry, the Wayne County Board of Education voted unanimously to both terminate Williams and revoke his teaching license after a marathon personnel hearing last week, it seemed that, perhaps, there might be more to the story — details that could allow the community to make a more informed judgment about what unfolded during and after the February incident.

So, we requested a copy of the official “Resolution of Dismissal” — the only public document related to a matter that is otherwise protected under state statute.

Wayne County Public Schools complied with the request Wednesday.

The resolution cited seven policy violations.

And based on the report, it was Williams “repeatedly lying with impunity to the Superintendent during an investigation” — not the altercation between him and School Resource Officer Deputy Albert Wood that unfolded at a Saints basketball game — that drew the ire of the board, leading to a unanimous vote for both his dismissal and revocation of his teaching license.

Here are a few of the district’s assertions:

“Mr. Williams was untruthful during the personnel investigation after this incident”

• District officials contend that Williams was asked if he had permission from then-Southern Wayne principal Kevin Smith to bring a knife onto campus. He said he did. “Upon further questioning, Mr. Williams said he did not think he had been given permission by Mr. Smith to have the knife on campus.”

• Williams then claimed, according to the report, that his former principal, Dr. John Boldt, had given him permission. “Finally, Mr. Williams stated that no one had ever given him permission to have the knife on campus.”

• Board member Len Henderson advised board attorney Richard Schwartz that on Feb. 18, Williams stopped by his home and showed him the video footage of the altercation. But during questioning, when asked if he had met with any members of the Board of Education after the incident, “Mr. Williams said he had not.”

• When asked specifically about his alleged encounter with Henderson, “Mr. Williams said he did not recall.”

• When asked if he had shown a video of the incident to Henderson, “Mr. Williams said ‘no.’”

• When asked where he went after his meeting at Central Office with Felicia Brown Feb. 18, “Mr. Williams said he went straight to (Southern Wayne High School).” He was asked if he stopped anywhere on his way back to school and “said no.” Later in the interview, “Mr. Williams admitted that he had stopped by Len Henderson’s house before returning to SWHS.”

The section concludes that Williams “lied to the Superintendent during both investigative meetings” — that when “confronted with his lies and misrepresentations, he denied lying before ultimately admitting he had not been fully honest.”

“Clearly, the evidence supports a finding of dishonesty on the part of Mr. Williams during an official LEA inquiry,” the report reads.

“Inadequate performance”

• According to the report, “Mr. Williams performed at a standard below what is expected and required of a WCPS employee under the Board’s published standards for employees. He brought a knife to campus, which could have endangered the safety of his students. He was untruthful during the subsequent personnel investigation and repeatedly lied to the Superintendent. His actions displayed a clear lack of judgment and a lack of acknowledgement of the severity of the conduct.”

“Immorality”

• According to the report, “the facts on the record show that Mr. Williams lied repeatedly during his two interviews with the Superintendent, Dr. Lewis, and WCPS attorney Mr. Schwartz. He lied when he claimed that Principal Smith had given him permission to have the knife on campus. He lied about meeting with Board member Mr. Henderson and about showing a video of the incident to Mr. Henderson. His lie about meeting with Mr. Henderson was materially related to the incident because, had it not been discovered, Mr. Henderson may have heard a suspension without pay or dismissal case where he was a direct witness. This could lead to serious due process concerns. These lies were clearly intended to deceive and to prevent discovery of truth. They were clearly immoral and impact Mr. Williams’ ability to maintain his professional reputation and continue teaching.”

“Insubordinate behavior”

• District officials contend that throughout the investigative process, Williams was “insubordinate.”

• “He was unwilling to admit any wrongdoing, unwilling to tell the truth in an LEA investigation, and unwilling to acknowledge that he lied and misled the Superintendent during an official school investigation,” the report reads.

• Officials also claim that during his meeting with Lewis April 13, “Mr. Williams behaved in an insubordinate manner, standing in a small conference room with the Superintendent across the table, and raising his voice and ranting at the Superintendent for nearly ten minutes.”

“Failure to fulfill the duties and responsibilities imposed upon teachers and school administrators by the general statues of this state”

• The district contends that General Statute forbids any person to possess or carry, openly or concealed, “any … sharp-pointed or edge instrument except instructional supplies, unaltered nail files and tools used solely for preparation of food, instruction, and maintenance, on educational property.” Williams, the report states, “brought a knife onto education property without authorization.”

• Officials also noted that state statute requires educators to “maintain order and discipline” and “requires that the teacher serve as a positive role model by exhibiting temperate and moral behavior.” Williams, in the board’s view, “failed to fulfil the duties and responsibilities imposed by the general statutes, by possession of a knife on campus, at a ballgame, by not complying with the directions of a school resource officer, by repeatedly lying with impunity to the Superintendent during an investigation, and displaying insubordinate and immoral behavior.”

It is unclear what next steps, if any, Williams will take.

Earlier this year, his attorney, Habekah Cannon, suggested that all options, including a civil lawsuit, were on the table.

To date, neither Sheriff Larry Pierce nor Williams have taken the New Old North up on its offer to tell their respective sides of the story.