By james art 
The South Carolina State Board of Education (SCSBE) has taken strong action against three educators, suspending the licenses of two and permanently revoking the license of a third after charges and convictions related to serious misconduct.
The action against the three individuals was announced by the board earlier this month…
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(Spartanburg County Detention Center)
GARY BURGESS
Gary Burgess67, a prominent figure in South Carolina education, resigned from his position as vice chairman of the Anderson County School Board following his arrest on Nov. 27, 2024. Burgess faced two charges of sexually abusing a minor in 1976. in Spartanburg County.
This is not Burgess’ first encounter with controversy. In 2009 he was arrested and charged with solicitation for immoral purposes, but was acquitted later that year. Burgess previously served as principal, superintendent and candidate for the state board.
Burgess was released on November 27, 2024 after posting a 10,000 dollars suretyship. His preliminary hearing is scheduled for March 13, 2025.
According to SCSBE’s suspension order (.pdf), Burgess “may pose a threat to the health, safety and welfare of students.” Consequently, his educator certification is “summarily suspended pending a due process hearing and/or this matter is otherwise resolved.”
Like anyone accused of any crime, Burgess is presumed innocent until proven innocent by our criminal justice system — or until he is willing to enter into some form of disclosure in connection with a plea agreement of fault with prosecutors related to any of the charges filed against him.
Burgess’ suspension is set for January 14, 2025.
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(J. Reuben Long Detention Center)
CHAD HORSLEY
Dr. Chad Nathan Horsley47-year-old teacher in McDonald Elementary School in the Georgetown County School District (GCSD), was placed on administrative leave on December 18, 2024. following his arrest on five felony counts of sexual exploitation of a minor.
On or about December 18, 2024. Horsley was arrested on five counts of third-degree sexual exploitation of minors. Dr. Horsley is alleged to have knowingly and voluntarily possessed a material visual representation of minors engaging in sexual activity or appearing in a state of explicit sexual nudity. The material was allegedly located on an electronic device at Dr. Horsley’s residence.
GCSD has been placed on administrative leave on December 18, 2024. from the school district. On January 7, 2025 The SCSBE voted to suspend Dr. Horsley’s educator certification pending the outcome of the court proceedings.
As with Burgess, the board determined in its order (.pdf) that because of his arrest on the aforementioned charges, he “may pose a threat to the health, safety and welfare of students.”
Horsley is currently locked in J. Reuben Long Detention Center awaiting trial. Like Burgess, he is presumed innocent until proven guilty by our criminal justice system — or until he chooses to enter into some form of disposition in connection with a plea agreement with prosecutors related to any of the charges , raised against him
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(Kentucky Department of Corrections)
CHARLES WEBER
On January 7, 2025 The SCSBE has permanently revoked the 44-year-old’s teaching certificate. Charles Harold Weber of Inman, SC
Weber’s certification has been suspended since 2022 after he was arrested in Kentucky on charges of using electronic communications systems to secure a minor.
Weber — who had more than 12 years of teaching experience — was convicted of that charge in March 2023. He was previously suspended in 2018. for inappropriate communications with a minor, but his certification was reinstated in 2019. During his arrest Mr. Weber was employed by High Point Academy in the South Carolina Public Charter School District.
He was suspended from the school after his arrest in 2022.
According to its suspension order (.pdf), the state board found Weber to have “engaged in unprofessional conduct, immorality, conduct involving moral turpitude, and a crime against the law of this state or the United States because of his conviction on a felony charge of unlawful use of electronic means originating or obtained to induce a minor to engage in sexual or other prohibited activities.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR…
Callie Lyons is a journalist, researcher and writer. Her 2007 book Stain-resistant, non-stick, waterproof and deadly, it was the first to permanently cover chemicals and their impact on communities, a story later told in the film Dark Waters. Her investigative work has been featured in media, publications and documentaries around the world. Lyons also appears in Citizen Sleuth, a 2023 documentary exploring the true crime genre.
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