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York School Board Unanimously Fires High School Assistant Principal Over Explicit Video
York School District One's board voted unanimously Tuesday to terminate York Comprehensive High School assistant principal Charles Drakeford after a social media video appeared to show him watching sexually explicit content on his phone at school. Superintendent Heath Branham said the district will act decisively when staff fail to meet professional standards.
YORK, S.C. â The York School District One board voted unanimously Tuesday to fire a York Comprehensive High School assistant principal, formally ending the employment of Charles Drakeford after a social media video appeared to show him watching sexually explicit material on his phone while at school.
The district announced its intent to terminate Drakeford in a news release on Nov. 10, stating the dismissal was pending board approval. That approval came hours later at the board meeting.
Drakeford, who had served as an assistant principal at York Comprehensive since 2022, was placed on administrative leave before the termination was finalized. The district would only confirm that it investigated what it described as a "personnel matter," declining to elaborate on the specifics of the investigation.
The controversy began after a post circulated on social media that appeared to show Drakeford viewing a sexually explicit video on his phone on school grounds.
Superintendent Dr. Heath Branham addressed the firing in the district's release, framing it as a matter of maintaining public trust.
"The trust our students and families place in us carries an obligation that we will not compromise," Branham said. "Every employee is expected to uphold the professional and ethical standards established by our Board, and those entrusted with leadership have a particular responsibility to model those standards."
He added: "When those expectations are not met, we will act decisively and in accordance with Board policy. The safety, well-being, and best interests of our students come first. That commitment is non-negotiable."
The decision follows mounting concern among York community members, some of whom spoke out as news of the pending dismissal spread.
"It's crazy," one resident said. "Kids, they're our future. We need to do a little better."
Another community member described the situation as unsettling. "It's unnerving," the person said, "because we shouldn't have any kind of inappropriate actions going on from people that deal with children."
Residents said they want schools to be environments where students feel safe and where concerns raised by families are taken seriously â a standard the district said it is committed to upholding through its personnel policies.
The termination is effective following the board's vote. It was not immediately clear whether Drakeford has legal representation or plans to challenge the dismissal. The district did not release further details about the investigation or the evidence it reviewed.