October 16th 2025.
Dr. Devon Horton, the superintendent of DeKalb County Schools, has resigned from his position following indictments from Illinois authorities. These charges include wire fraud, tax fraud, and embezzlement. Dr. Horton has been at the helm of the Metro Atlanta school district since 2023. However, his resignation was accepted by the county's school board during a special meeting held on Oct. 15. This came after prosecutors accused him of receiving kickbacks from businesses owned by personal associates, who had contracts with two other school districts where he previously served as superintendent - Evanston-Skokie School District 65 and Chicago Public Schools.
According to the allegations, Dr. Horton failed to disclose his financial ties or involvement with these companies. This news sparked outrage, and State Sen. Emanuel Jones even demanded that the district terminate him immediately. Initially, the board had placed him on administrative leave with pay during an emergency meeting held on Oct. 9, the day after he was indicted. However, after facing backlash, the board unanimously approved a forensic audit of district contracts and purchasing card expenditures.
Board Chair Deirdre Pierce released a statement saying that the board believed this action was in the best interest of the DeKalb County School District, given the recent federal indictment against Dr. Horton related to his previous employment. She also stated that the board remained committed to transparency, accountability, and maintaining public trust. Despite the changes ahead, the board is determined to continue with their ongoing work, including key initiatives such as the Student Assignment Project, and providing a high-quality education for all students.
In light of Dr. Horton's resignation, the board has named Dr. Norman C. Sauce as the acting superintendent. Dr. Sauce previously served as the district's chief of Student Services. The charges against Dr. Horton are serious, with the potential of a 10-year prison sentence and a fine of $100,000 or twice the amount stolen for the embezzlement charge, and a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for the wire fraud charge. His arraignment is scheduled for Oct. 23 at 11 a.m. in the Northern District of Illinois.
This news comes just days after another highly publicized case of a professional resigning due to fraud charges. Wendy Osefo, a professor at Wesleyan University, also stepped down from her position following similar allegations. It is a reminder of the importance of upholding transparency and accountability in all aspects of our lives, especially in positions of leadership and trust.
[This article has been trending online recently and has been generated with AI. Your feed is customized.]
[Generative AI is experimental.]
