© 2024 Blaze Media LLC. All rights reserved.
They Co-Taught an AP English Class. One Was Teacher of the Year. Now Both Are Accused of Sexual Crimes Involving Students.
May 17, 2014
"She believed in me and I always wanted someone to believe in me."
Colleagues Debra Tanksley and Ashley Ashe co-taught a class for AP Literature and Mythology at Burke County High School in Waynesboro, Georgia.
Debra Tanksley (Image source: Burke Co. Sheriff)
One of their former students, Kandice Goddard, said both were great teachers and noted the efforts of Tanksley — who's taught in the district for seven years — in particular.
“If I ever went to sleep, you know, she’d be like, 'you better wake up. Don’t you sleep,'" the 2012 graduate told WJBF-TV in Augusta. "She believed in me and I always wanted someone to believe in me."
Indeed Tanksley was the district's 2012-13 Teacher of the Year.
So it's a huge surprise to Goddard, and many others, that Tanksley and her colleague Ashe are both in hot-water over alleged sexual crimes involving students.
“I’m shocked," Goddard told the station. "I’m having a hard time believing they did it.”
Tanksley, 37, is charged with criminal attempt of sexual assault and electronically furnishing obscene material to minors — just a week after an investigation revealed Ashe had an alleged sexual relationship with a student.
In addition Tanksley is also accused of fixing grades for the student investigators say she had inappropriate contact with at the school, WJBF reported.
Ashley Ashe (Image source: Burke Co. Sheriff)
More from WJBF:
The content of the messages or photos were not described by authorities, but Sgt. Dedric Smith, a spokesman for the Sheriff’s Office, confirmed that contact had been made between Tanksley and a student.
"The text messages were very detailed as to what they wanted to do," Smith told WRDW-TV in Augusta, adding that the messaging "started back in January" and there were "several thousand" of them.
Ashe, 25 and married, was charged with aggravated child molestation on May 6 after being accused of having a sexual encounter with a 16-year-old student at the school. Authorities said it was the probe into Ashe's alleged crime that led police to Tanksley's reported activities.
Both teachers have been placed on administrative leave, according to a statement released by Burke County School Superintendent Rudy Falana on Wednesday, WJBF noted.
WJBF-TV ABC 6 Augusta-Aiken News, Weather, Sports
This story has been updated.
(H/T: New York Daily News)
Want to leave a tip?
We answer to you. Help keep our content free of advertisers and big tech censorship by leaving a tip today.
Want to join the conversation?
Already a subscriber?
Sr. Editor, News
Dave Urbanski is a senior editor for Blaze News.
DaveVUrbanski
Dave Urbanski
Sr. Editor, News
Dave Urbanski is a senior editor for Blaze News and has been writing for Blaze News since 2013. He has also been a newspaper reporter, a magazine editor, and a book editor. He resides in New Jersey. You can reach him at durbanski@blazemedia.com.
@DaveVUrbanski →more stories
Sign up for the Blaze newsletter
By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use, and agree to receive content that may sometimes include advertisements. You may opt out at any time.
© 2024 Blaze Media LLC. All rights reserved.
Get the stories that matter most delivered directly to your inbox.
By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use, and agree to receive content that may sometimes include advertisements. You may opt out at any time.