Former Harding principal suspended over ‘inappropriate’ photo

CHARLOTTE, NC (Ann Doss Helms/The Charlotte Observer) - Less than two weeks after being reassigned in the wake of an inappropriate video, former Harding High Principal John Floyd has been suspended while Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools investigates the posting of a separate photo on social media.

WBTV, the Observer's news partner, reports that students and teachers have seen nude Instagram photos that are reportedly "selfies" taken by Floyd. CMS spokeswoman Renee McCoy said Monday that Floyd was suspended with pay on Thursday while the district investigates "the posting of an inappropriate image," but said it is not yet clear whether the photo brought to the district's attention is of Floyd.

While CMS doesn't monitor social media, officials investigate reports of inappropriate content and employees can be subject to personnel action, she said.

Floyd, who has worked for CMS since 2003, was principal of the west Charlotte high school in 2014-15. He was reassigned to work in a district administrative office, effective June 30, after showing some of his Harding staff a video of himself talking about a teacher, McCoy said.

CMS did not provide details of that video, but WBTV described it as Floyd threatening a teacher. The station showed brief clips with obscenities bleeped out.

"The principal deeply regrets the incident," a CMS statement released at the time says. "The Learning Community superintendent, when notified, took immediate action and the incident was handled in accordance with the code of conduct."

Harding is one of 14 schools taking part in the CMS "Beacon Initiative," which is designed to turn around chronically low-performing schools. School leadership is considered as a crucial part of the program. Eric Ward, who has been principal of West Mecklenburg High and Olympic's school of advanced manufacturing, took over at Harding on July 1.

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Harding University HS principal reassigned after caught threatening teacher on video