- May 18, 2024
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Wadsworth Elementary School Principal Paul Peacock, who had been on administrative leave for the past month pending an investigation by an outside law firm, was informed on June 8 that his contract will not be renewed for next year.
Florida Schools Superintendent Cathy Mittelstadt wrote an email to Wadsworth’s teachers and staff on June 8 informing them of the decision.
“I want to thank Paul Peacock for his service to Flagler Schools, and specifically Wadsworth Elementary School, over the past year. At this time, we are moving forward in a different direction for leadership at WES,” she wrote.
Mittelstadt, whose contract expires on June 30, went on to say that Interim Superintendent LaShakia Moore will lead the search for Wadsworth’s next principal.
Peacock had been with the school district for 18 years, including eight years as the principal at Indian Trails Middle School.
He filed a grievance with the district in December based on pay he thought he was owed as a district negotiator. He had been removed as a negotiator and from his position as the district’s chief of operations and reassigned to Wadsworth a year ago.
Peacock said the investigation was based on six complaints from teachers and staff that were all made before the start of this past school year.
David Delaney, a Gainesville attorney of education law, performed the investigation because Peacock had lodged a complaint against the district’s internal investigator.
Peacock said he received a letter of reprimand based on his complaint.
School Board Attorney Kristy Gavin said the complaints against Peacock will not become public record until June 19, 10 days after the investigation was closed.
