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An unexpected incident led to the suspension of a Florida principal after a lyric from rapper Fetty Wap was mistakenly attributed to her in the school’s yearbook. Despite her claims of not authoring the quote, the issue has resulted in her temporary removal from duty.
Katie O’Connell, who heads Trout Creek Academy in St. Johns County, was placed on administrative leave with pay on May 20. This action is part of an ongoing investigation into alleged “inappropriate conduct” linked to a quote that appeared on the opening page of the 2025-26 yearbook.
The quote in question read, “Everybody hatin’, we just call them fans though! — Mrs. O’Connell.” This line is drawn from Fetty Wap’s 2015 chart-topping song “Trap Queen,” known for its themes involving drug trafficking and nightlife.
The inquiry was initiated following a complaint from a concerned parent to Superintendent Dr. Brennan Asplen. The parent criticized the quote as being “inappropriate and unprofessional” for someone in a leadership position at a K-8 educational institution, according to a report by Jacksonville’s News4JAX.
The investigation began when a parent complained to Superintendent Dr. Brennan Asplen and called the quote “inappropriate and unprofessional” for a K-8 school leader, Jacksonville outlet News4JAX reported.
“A principal represents leadership, maturity, and professionalism,” the parent wrote. “Referring to criticism or concerned parents as ‘haters’ in a school publication sends the wrong message to children and families.”
But emails and interviews included in the district’s investigation suggest O’Connell may not have known the quote was included.
The school’s yearbook teacher said O’Connell reviewed the yearbook before publication and that the quote was not present in the final proof she saw.
“Katherine O’Connell was not aware that quote was going to be used in the 2025-2026 school yearbook,” the teacher wrote. “Ms. O’Connell wasn’t aware that quote was used until the yearbooks arrived.”
When questioned by investigators, the teacher said, “The quote may not have been there. When Ms. O’Connell reviewed it with me, she mentioned her quote was not there. I mentioned it to the students who must have then put it in.”
Assistant Principal Samantha Sawruk also defended O’Connell, writing that administrators helped proofread the yearbook before submission and that the quote did not appear on the page at that time.
“The quote on the first page … was not there during the proofreading done on April 9,” Sawruk wrote.
She also noted that the quote was attributed to “Mrs. O’Connell,” while the principal typically signs communications as “Ms. O.”
O’Connell has denied selecting or approving the lyric.
“I approved the yearbook twice on April 9, and so did my assistant principal, and that quote in that area was not even in the book,” she said.
She said parents never contacted her directly before taking complaints to district officials, social media and local news outlets.
“All I needed was the time or the opportunity to have fixed an error that was made, and it wasn’t made by me,” O’Connell said.
According to district documents, O’Connell was informed she would be placed on paid administrative leave and barred from school district property, Action News Jax repoted.
A separate letter stated the district was moving toward not reappointing her for the 2026-27 school year.
On Tuesday, Trout Creek Academy’s PTO announced retired educator Dr. Patrick Carmichael as interim principal while the investigation continues.