OCALA, Fla. – Parents in Marion County are pressing Ocala Christian Academy for answers after a fifth-grade teacher was arrested last week and accused of admitting to photographing beneath a young girl’s skirt.
Joel Gould was taken into custody after authorities said he acknowledged the alleged voyeurism. But parents’ anger centers largely on the days before his arrest. According to the arrest report, school administrators were notified of a parent’s concern on a Friday, yet Gould returned to the classroom and remained there until his arrest the following Tuesday because officials said they found no evidence on his phone.
Parents protest outside school
Stephenee Pearson, whose daughter worked with Gould in the school’s safety patrol program, joined the protest outside the campus. She said she is horrified that Gould had access to her child.
“She talks about him 24-7. And to say that he groomed these children is an understatement. They are obsessed with him,” Pearson said.
Pearson said the school should have immediately alerted law enforcement when the first complaint was made instead of handling the matter through an internal investigation.
“I would like them to take some accountability. Instead of, you know, facing what happened, they deleted their Facebook. They’re not answering questions. They’re not speaking to the parents,” she said.
School’s response draws criticism
Parents protesting the arrest are also challenging the school’s dress code, specifically asking that girls be permitted to wear pants rather than skirts. In a letter, the school said students may wear skorts or solid-color leggings beneath skirts, but pants are still prohibited.
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News 6 Community Correspondent Kayla Lewis sent the principal four questions, including why Gould was permitted to return to class after the initial complaint. The principal did not respond. A school representative said during a phone call that the school had already released a statement: a letter sent to parents last week notifying them that Gould was no longer permitted on campus.
Parents at the protest said that response falls short.
Pearson told News 6 she is considering withdrawing her daughter from the school. Several other parents said they have already made that decision.
Gould has pleaded not guilty and is scheduled to appear in court again Dec. 1.
News 6 will continue reporting on the case.
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