Assistant principal at John Stockton Elementary School arrested, according to school district

Duval County Public Schools confirmed Duval County Public School police arrested the assistant principal of John Stockton Elementary School, Jamall Collins, Thursday.

UPDATED STORY: Jacksonville assistant principal arrested, accused of stealing from school donor

Collins is facing two counts of grand theft, according to the school district.

The school district said Collins was arrested without incident at the Duval County School Police Department headquarters.

A Jacksonville Sheriff's Office report says Ortega Orthodontist made a donation to the school and that donation check was handed to Collins.

An Ortega Orthodontist employee noticed several unauthorized bank charges on the business' bank statement, and after a closer look the employee found one of the transactions was an insurance premium payment for $525 with the name 'Jamall Collins' attached to it, according to the report.

The report says another transaction was a rent payment to an apartment complex where Collins' lives. The Sheriff's Office said a payment made by Collins to the apartment complex matched the amount of the fraudulent charge to that same apartment complex.

According to a news release sent from the school district Friday, Collins was appointed as the assistant principal of the school on Aug. 6. Collins has worked with Duval County Schools since August 2017.

“Educators are role models for children and must demonstrate a very high level of moral character,” Superintendent Dr. Diana Greene said. “The alleged misconduct is highly disappointing and totally unacceptable in this school district. We have already initiated the process to pursue his termination.”

Duval County Public Schools sent out this statement:

Duval County Public School Police arrested a school administrator Thursday on two counts of grand theft.

Jamall Collins was the assistant principal at John Stockton Elementary School. He was reassigned from the school to a district level assignment on Nov. 30 while the investigation took place. He was arrested without incident at Duval County School Police headquarters, away from the presence of any students.

“Educators are role models for children and must demonstrate a very high level of moral character,” said Superintendent Dr. Diana Greene. “The alleged misconduct is highly disappointing and totally unacceptable in this school district. We have already initiated the process to pursue his termination.”

Collins was appointed as the assistant principal of the school on Aug. 6. His service to the district began as a teacher last year, Aug. 7, 2017.

School Principal Stephanie Brannan informed parents of Collins’ arrest through an automated call. Brannan told parents that she too was disappointed in the behavior leading to Collins’ arrest. In her call, Brannan said to parents that educators must “set the best possible example for children.”

In addition to the criminal investigation of Collins, the district’s office of professional standards will conduct an independent investigation as required by district policy and procedure. It is the superintendent’s intent to pursue termination. The Duval County Public School Board must approve terminations.

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