SENTENCING **Lewd Conduct with Minor** Jeffrey Clayton, Douglas Anderson School of the Arts teacher

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Jeffrey Clayton, a former choir teacher at Douglas Anderson School of the Arts in Jacksonville, Florida, pleaded guilty to multiple charges of sexual misconduct involving a student. Clayton, 65, was arrested on March 22, 2023, after it was revealed that he had exchanged over 1,700 text messages with a student and engaged in inappropriate physical contact, including kissing the student. His arrest led to a public outcry from parents, students, and community advocates who criticized Duval County Public Schools (DCPS) for mishandling prior complaints about Clayton’s behavior.
Clayton was the first of five teachers at the school to be reassigned or removed since the spring of 2023 due to misconduct allegations. Following his arrest, DCPS launched an investigation, which led to the reassignment of additional staff members and sparked further complaints from students and teachers who said their previous reports of Clayton’s behavior had been ignored.
The case prompted a broader examination of DCPS’s handling of educator misconduct, culminating in the resignation of Superintendent Diana Green. Clayton was arrested after a phone call between him and the victim was recorded, confirming the inappropriate behavior. On April 24, 2024, Clayton pleaded guilty to two counts of offenses by an authority figure against a student, one count of lewd and lascivious touching of a minor, and unlawful use of a two-way communication device.
The scandal has raised important questions about accountability and transparency in handling allegations of sexual misconduct in schools, sparking a wider discussion on student safety and teacher conduct.