Georgia GBI Arrests Claxton Elementary Staff on Child Abuse Charges

Two staff members at Claxton Elementary School, Tanesha E. Herrington and Courtney Anne Dutton, were arrested and charged following a child abuse investigation led by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI). Herrington, a Pre-K teacher, faces eight counts of Cruelty to Children in the First Degree based on video footage showing her hitting, grabbing, slapping, pushing students, and throwing a bookbag at a seated child. Dutton, a classroom paraprofessional, is charged with one count of Failure to Report Child Abuse after witnessing the abuse and not reporting it, as required by law. The footage reviewed spans incidents from both the current and previous school years, and the investigation is ongoing with the possibility of additional charges if more victims are identified. The Evans County School System placed both employees on administrative leave and is cooperating fully with authorities to ensure a thorough review. Authorities are urging anyone with information to contact local law enforcement or submit anonymous tips online.