Shelby Schools Meet Parents Over Teacher’s Photos
District says student photos were not graphic; former Calera teacher faces 16 counts tied to child sexual abuse material
TL;DR: Shelby County Schools met with parents after learning a former Calera teacher had unauthorized classroom photos of students. The district says those images were not graphic.
Shelby County Schools has met with parents after investigators found unauthorized photos of Calera Intermediate School students in a former teacher’s possession.
The district said Friday, Oct. 9, that the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office notified school officials that Justin Daniel MacMahon-Sessions had photographed students during classroom activities without their knowledge, ABC 33/40 reported. Officials said the images were not graphic and that they promptly notified and met with the students’ parents in coordination with law enforcement.
The district did not identify those classroom photos as the child sexual abuse material behind the criminal charges.
MacMahon-Sessions, 26, of North Shelby County, was arrested Oct. 7 on 16 counts of possession with intent to disseminate child sexual abuse material. According to ABC 33/40’s initial report, the sheriff’s investigation began after a tip in early April.
Investigators said they had no information indicating that the material involved in the criminal case was produced in or near Shelby County. Additional charges are possible. MacMahon-Sessions was booked into the county jail on a $480,000 bond.
The district said it hired him as a STEAM lab teacher Aug. 5. He was placed on leave after officials learned of his arrest and then resigned in lieu of termination.
Calera father Lucas Payne, whose daughter was in the teacher’s class, began protesting Thursday and plans to address the school board.
“If we do not stand together and demand answers for this, then this is just going to continue to happen,” Payne told ABC 33/40.
Anyone with information can call Investigator Watkins at 205-670-6153 or the sheriff’s office at 205-670-6000.
Anonymous tips can go to Crime Stoppers at 205-254-7777.
The charges remain allegations. MacMahon-Sessions is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.
